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Heidelberg's AFN station new playlist to include hip-hop, R&B; local GIs to host shows
By David Josar, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, August 5, 2002
courtesy U.S. Army
Army Sgt. Justin Wilson will host a daily show from 2 to 4 p.m. that will feature "the best music of yesterday and today," according to Armed Forces Network Heidelberg.
American Forces Network Heidelberg will unveil a new format next month that will eliminate most commercially produced shows during the daytime broadcast and replace them with more shows hosted by local soldiers.
AFN Heidelberg, which includes Heidelberg, Stuttgart and Mannheim in its broadcast region, also will add more hip-hop and rhythm and blues programming and try to get listeners more involved in the broadcasts, said the station commander, Army Sgt. 1st Class Darryl Leonard.
“Currently we’re not serving as wide an audience as we could be,” said Leonard, who took over July 1. “We only play rock, and my main concern is that during the duty day — from the time folks go to work until they go home — we were only playing one type of music.”
The format will be closer to what is known as CHR, which stands for “current hits radio” and “contemporary hits radio,” said Army Staff Sgt. Mike Lavigne, the broadcast noncommissioned officer in charge.
Shows that will go by the wayside are “The Greatest Rock & Roll Ever Made,” which had classic rock in the morning, and “Jonathan and Mary” in the afternoon, which featured popular music and banter.
The format will be unchanged from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. when AFN relies on “satellite feed” shows originating in the States, Lavigne said.
For the past several years, AFN Heidelberg was different from most AFN stations because the station programmed more classic, alternative and grunge rock than other AFN stations.
The new lineup, which features most of the AFN disc jockeys, also will have more audience interaction, Leonard said.
Leonard has added a call-in request show from 11 a.m. to noon. Whatever callers want, as long as the AFN DJs can find it, will be put on the air, he said.
“I want the community to be able to reach out and touch their announcers,” Leonard said. “The programs on the satellite are fine, but they don’t know what’s going on in Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Mann-heim.”
The format, which starts Sept. 3, is slated to run like this:
¶ Army Spc. Tom Arnholt will team up with Victoria Lutz, an AFN producer, for a drive-time show from 5 to 9 a.m.
¶ From 9 to 11 a.m. will be “The Best of the New and Gold,” the only daytime show that will be picked up from a commercial satellite feed from the States. That show is currently on from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
¶ From 11 a.m. to noon AFN will have the call-in show, followed by Army Spc. Eric Witmer, from noon to 2 p.m., which will feature hip-hop and R&B.
¶ Army Sgt. Justin Wilson will be on from 2 to 4 p.m. with adult contemporary songs and artists such as Billy Joel and Journey.
¶ Lavigne will be on from 4 to 6 p.m.
“We’re going to be playing the same classic great rock we’re playing now plus the best of the new stuff,” he said. “I’ll have more audience interaction. I like talking to people. I don’t care if they’re calling to rag me or what. We will put on the audience and their unit and their location.”
Leonard, who considers himself a jazz aficionado, said the new format probably would not change.
“There’s always room to fine-tune, but we think that unless there’s major outcry, we’re pretty well set,” he said. “We’re excited.”
The station name, which is known as HMS, will change its slogan to be more in line with the image of a commercial radio station in the states, Leonard said.
The station will now be called “Hot FM.”
By David Josar, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, August 5, 2002
courtesy U.S. Army
Army Sgt. Justin Wilson will host a daily show from 2 to 4 p.m. that will feature "the best music of yesterday and today," according to Armed Forces Network Heidelberg.
American Forces Network Heidelberg will unveil a new format next month that will eliminate most commercially produced shows during the daytime broadcast and replace them with more shows hosted by local soldiers.
AFN Heidelberg, which includes Heidelberg, Stuttgart and Mannheim in its broadcast region, also will add more hip-hop and rhythm and blues programming and try to get listeners more involved in the broadcasts, said the station commander, Army Sgt. 1st Class Darryl Leonard.
“Currently we’re not serving as wide an audience as we could be,” said Leonard, who took over July 1. “We only play rock, and my main concern is that during the duty day — from the time folks go to work until they go home — we were only playing one type of music.”
The format will be closer to what is known as CHR, which stands for “current hits radio” and “contemporary hits radio,” said Army Staff Sgt. Mike Lavigne, the broadcast noncommissioned officer in charge.
Shows that will go by the wayside are “The Greatest Rock & Roll Ever Made,” which had classic rock in the morning, and “Jonathan and Mary” in the afternoon, which featured popular music and banter.
The format will be unchanged from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. when AFN relies on “satellite feed” shows originating in the States, Lavigne said.
For the past several years, AFN Heidelberg was different from most AFN stations because the station programmed more classic, alternative and grunge rock than other AFN stations.
The new lineup, which features most of the AFN disc jockeys, also will have more audience interaction, Leonard said.
Leonard has added a call-in request show from 11 a.m. to noon. Whatever callers want, as long as the AFN DJs can find it, will be put on the air, he said.
“I want the community to be able to reach out and touch their announcers,” Leonard said. “The programs on the satellite are fine, but they don’t know what’s going on in Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Mann-heim.”
The format, which starts Sept. 3, is slated to run like this:
¶ Army Spc. Tom Arnholt will team up with Victoria Lutz, an AFN producer, for a drive-time show from 5 to 9 a.m.
¶ From 9 to 11 a.m. will be “The Best of the New and Gold,” the only daytime show that will be picked up from a commercial satellite feed from the States. That show is currently on from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
¶ From 11 a.m. to noon AFN will have the call-in show, followed by Army Spc. Eric Witmer, from noon to 2 p.m., which will feature hip-hop and R&B.
¶ Army Sgt. Justin Wilson will be on from 2 to 4 p.m. with adult contemporary songs and artists such as Billy Joel and Journey.
¶ Lavigne will be on from 4 to 6 p.m.
“We’re going to be playing the same classic great rock we’re playing now plus the best of the new stuff,” he said. “I’ll have more audience interaction. I like talking to people. I don’t care if they’re calling to rag me or what. We will put on the audience and their unit and their location.”
Leonard, who considers himself a jazz aficionado, said the new format probably would not change.
“There’s always room to fine-tune, but we think that unless there’s major outcry, we’re pretty well set,” he said. “We’re excited.”
The station name, which is known as HMS, will change its slogan to be more in line with the image of a commercial radio station in the states, Leonard said.
The station will now be called “Hot FM.”