The radio station has been broadcasting about “changes” coming to the station and messages that “change is good.” Apparently, whatever the change is coming is set to take place on December 31, 2011 at noon. ”New Year, new radio station is coming to 88.1 FM…” All the songs the station is playing have “change” in the lyrics or title. The website says nothing (at least as far as I can see) about these “changes.” The robotic female voice that keeps repeating “Change is good” sounds so Orwellian and eerie. Listening live now has all the charm and appeal as a message from Big Brother. Decide for yourself.
http://881theescape.com/listen
Will the “new radio station” be student radio with a different format? Has the frequency been taken over by a private radio licensee? I hope the station isn’t going corporate and boring. Not all “change is good.”
If the station is going the way of the dinosaur, I, for one, will miss it. It’s one of the few decent stations in this area and I’ve been exposed to some great new and different artists on The Escape.
Sean,
I’m a WSDP alum, so that drives my ability to comment on this.
WSDP will continue to be owned and operated by the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools and their students. It is just adopting a new music format. The existing format has been in place for at least 11 years, and the positioner “The Escape” at least 20. It should be exciting to see what happens next!
Thanks much. I’m glad to hear it’s only a music format change, and not a wholesale switch to something like commercial talk radio.
The New 88.1, Plymouth and Canton’s Hit Music
http://www.TheNew881.com
I’ve been listening this afternoon and I love the new changes. I also think its really cool that the students are asking the community to name the radio station.
I was able to listen a bit yesterday. Yeah, it’s a hits format. Not my cup of tea. I doubt I’ll like the format change as I continue to listen — based on what I’ve heard so far — but that’s not a matter of execution, it’s one of personal taste. I just don’t care for those kind of songs.
In terms of Michigan high school radio, WSDP’s news and local public affairs programming is unparalleled in terms of the level of student production. Also, the station continues to offer specialty programming in the evenings and Wednesday and Friday mornings.
Also, I’ve heard rumors the station will be offering “The Escape” as an online-only option.
The Escape online? Interesting.
As a WSDP staff member, I can say that this is a very exciting time for the station! Though the music is different, WSDP will still run its special programming, high school sports, Plymouth Whaler’s Hockey, news from around the community EVERY hour, etc. In fact, we are still looking for an official name for the station. We are taking our listeners suggestions, and the one selected will be the station’s new name! Plus, everyone who submits a name will be entered into the drawing for a $100 gas card!
As of this year’s Valentine’s Day, WSDP will have been serving the Plymouth-Canton community for 40 years by investing in the lives of its students. That’s 40 years of students that have been benefited by WSDP. I cannot stress enough that this is a STUDENT RUN radio station. Though we have the assistance of our station manager and assistant manager, the students are the ones who write and broadcast the news stories, create the production material, find ways to promote the station, host the shows, etc. We hope that with this change, our continued special features, community involvement, and the generous support of our neighbors, we will continue to stay around for years to come.
Dude,
Kudos to all of you on what you’re working through for the station. As I said before I’m a WSDP alum.
I love the renewed focus on hourly news.
Congratulations on the upcoming 40 year anniversary. I was on the air at noon on February 14, 2002 (during my lunch hour, in fact) and engineering and broadcast much of the afternoon the following weekend for our 30th anniversary celebration.
I love WSDP, and always will.
Brian Smith
Program Director (2003-04)
I’m bummed because I keep listening, hoping I’ll enjoy the new programming (the music side anyway), but I just can’t get into it. I’ve loved WSDP’s slightly edgy feel all these years and now all I hear is a lot of Autotune. To each his own, I guess. For every person like me that will not likely listen as much anymore, there might be two that love the hits format. I support WSDP and hope it does well. I like the opportunity it provides for students and the service it offers to the community.