KUOI FM Handbook

Last Updated: January 24, 2024

Contents

Welcome!

Welcome to KUOI 89.3 FM! We’re a free-format, student-run radio station that encourages creativity from anyone and everyone, with more than seven decades of history. Whether you’re a student DJ or staff member, a work study student, or a faculty, staff or community DJ, thank you for your contributions to our station. Whether it’s a radio show, a promo, a podcast or projects around the radio station, we encourage everyone to participate. Have fun and enjoy your experience at KUOI 89.3 FM!

About the KUOI Handbook

This handbook addresses KUOI-specific jobs, tasks and training. Be sure you also read the main Student Media Handbook (www.uiargonaut.com/student-media-handbook/). Click on section headers to return to the table of contents. A technical manual for KUOI can be found here.

KUOI Mission Statement

KUOI is a free format, student-run radio station owned and operated by the students of the University of Idaho. KUOI is a place for students to express themselves: play music, record podcasts, gain experience with professional radio and, most of all, have fun.

Expectations

Professional Standards and Operations

For Everyone

• Ethics: KUOI is a student-run station for students and by students. With that in mind, we have a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech, defamatory speech or speech that breaks FCC rules. Any comments falling under such categories will result in immediate termination as a DJ, staff member, or work study from KUOI. (For more, see the Guide to Ethics section of the Student Media Handbook.) 
• Discipline: In general, KUOI follows Student Media’s three-strikes disciplinary policy. However, due the sensitive nature of broadcasting and the high cost of FCC fines or damaged equipment, the KUOI station manager may choose to dismiss a DJ or terminate a staff member for any reason at any time. 
• Use of On-Air Studio: No one may operate the board or go on the air without completing DJ training (see DJ Basics and DJ Training Checklist). The Station Manager and Student Media adviser may make very limited exceptions for alumni and past DJs who would like to do special guest shows – but they must receive some training on our current equipment first. 
• Use of Production Rooms: People who want to use Prod A and/or B must complete the relevant sections of the DJ Training Checklist. 
• Use of Music Library: Anyone is welcome to tour KUOI’s music library. People who are not DJs or staff members may not remove any material from the library. DJs and staffers may take material home (to listen, work on labeling, etc.) with permission from the Station Manager, Program Director or Chief Librarian. 
• Use of the Lobby and Back Room: The lobby and back room are open to any student or KUOI DJ 24/7. You are welcome to work, listen to music or study. For access to the Pitman Center after building hours, talk to the Student Media adviser. 
• Food and Drink: ABSOLUTELY NO food or drink in the studio, production rooms or library – not even a water bottle. Food and drink may be consumed in the lobby, back room or staff office. 
• Misrepresentation: Staff and DJs are not permitted to represent KUOI in ways inconsistent with their job duties. For example, a DJ may not contact a record company on behalf of the station to request a CD. Staff are not allowed to request media passes without authorization from the Station Manager. 

For Staff

• Office Hours: All staff members are required to send their office hours to the Station Manager to be posted in the station. This must be done by the staff member’s second week of work. If a staff member will miss their office hours, they must notify the Station Manager as far in advance as possible.
• Teams, Email and Communication: Every KUOI staff member will have an @uidaho email address to use for access to Teams. KUOI staffers should check their Teams and email regularly and be swift to respond to DJs, their coworkers, the Student Media adviser, the Student Affairs Technician and people who want to connect with KUOI. Contact information for staff members should be posted in the station. (See the main Student Media Handbook for more information.) 
• Deadlines: Staff members assigned a deadline for a blog post, podcast, or other task must meet the deadline set by Station Manager. If they can’t meet their deadline, they must notify the Station Manager no later than 24 hours before the deadline. Failure to meet the deadline or communicate within the appropriate time set will result in a strike. 
• Training: All staff members must read this ENTIRE handbook. Every staffer should be trained to go on the air and operate the main studio equipment. The Station Manager and production staffers should be trained to use Prod A and Prod B. 
• Making Purchases: Staff members may not make purchases on behalf of KUOI. If you need supplies, equipment, stickers, promotional items, or anything else, work with the Student Media adviser.

For DJs

• Training: Before going on air, DJs MUST complete DJ training, including reading the following sections of this handbook:
  • KUOI 101
  • The FCC and its Guidelines 
  • The Logs 
  • Station Spaces and Equipment
  • DJ Basics 
  • Recording and Production (if they plan to use Prod A or Prod B or create a podcast).
• Evaluation and Test: A station staffer will evaluate every DJ’s learning by using the DJ Training Checklist. DJs may not go on the air until they pass each tasks in the relevant sections of the checklist (depending on how they will be producing their show). 
• Retraining: DJs should regularly refresh their knowledge of KUOI policies and operations. Returning DJs should re-read the relevant portions of this handbook every semester and refer to it whenever they have questions or uncertainties. 
• Timeslots: DJs are required to come into the station during their assigned timeslot. If for whatever reason they cannot come into the station at that time, they must contact the Program Director or Station Manager to inform them in advance. An occasional absence is acceptable, but DJs should not habitually miss shows. 
• Communication: Reach out to the Station Manager or Program Director whenever you have questions or concerns. Their contact information is posted in the station and on kuoi.org. 
• Guests: A DJ may have one guest in the studio. A guest is someone who has nothing to gain from being on air with you, like your sibling or your roommate. If you need to have more than one guest, you need to get prior permission from the program director. Remember that even though a guest is permitted, only have a guest when you are experienced enough to handle having someone else around. 
• Interviews: If your “guest” is a musician, promoter, business owner or anyone else who uses our airwaves to talk about the product or service the guest represents, that is an interview. Be sure to refer to the FCC Guidelines for payola/plugola and conflicts of interests before interviews. 
• Co-hosts: if the same person is with you week after week talking on air and helping select songs, that isn’t a guest – it’s a co-host. All co-hosts must be trained as KUOI DJs. 
• Unscheduled shows: Please don’t randomly drop in to DJ. We sometimes use unscheduled hours for routine computer and equipment maintenance or special programming. If you want to do a one-off DJ shift, please make your request with the program director or station manager one week in advance. 

Staff Job Duties

KUOI staff members receive weekly stipends, paid monthly through Student Media. (See Getting Paid section of the Student Media Handbook). KUOI staff work only during the academic year, except for the Station Manager. If the Station Manager is unable to be on-site for the summer (minus some vacation time), they should hire a summer manager. 

Station Manager

• Oversee the day-to-day management of KUOI and set station-wide goals for the semester/year 
• Hire and supervise KUOI staff members (except work studies) and collaborate with them to make sure they have the training and resources they need to do their jobs 
• Fill in or assign other staffers to fill in for unfilled positions 
• Respond to DJ applications and work with the Program Director to hire new DJs 
• Work with the Student Media Adviser to ensure FCC rules and requirements are met 
• Work with the Program Director to establish a schedule for the Robot, aka MegaSeg. You can rotate genres, play genres at different times of day, etc. Remember: Diversity reigns 
• Work with the Program Director and PR director to ensure MegaSeg is programmed with new Promos and national PSAs
• Approve concepts and serve as content editor for KUOI-sponsored podcasts 
• Approve scripts for all locally submitted PSAs and underwriting 
• Work with the Production Assistant to ensure MegaSeg is programmed with local PSAs and underwriting 
• Work with the Music Director to ensure MegaSeg is regularly programmed with new music
• Work with the PR Director to manage the website and edit/post IN CUE posts 
• Approve new DJs in Spinitron 
• Schedule DJs for campus events upon request (and DJ some yourself) and collaborate with campus departments to promote KUOI 
• Lead weekly or biweekly staff meetings 
• Request KUOI promotional merchandise orders from the Student Media Adviser and promote the KUOI store 
• Identify supply and technology needs and work with the Student Media Adviser to fill them 
• Serve as a member of the Student Media Board 

Program Director

• Oversee and act as the main point of contact for all DJs 
• Work with the Station Manager to hire new DJs 
• Ensure every DJ receives proper training (see DJ Basics and DJ Training Checklist) 
• Evaluate DJs on the DJ Training Checklist or appoint another staffer to do so 
• Set new DJs up with a Spinitron account 
• Lead DJ meetings once or twice a semester 
• Keep in contact with any remote DJs and ensure their shows are submitted and playing correctly 
• Work with the Station Manager to establish a schedule for the Robot, aka MegaSeg. You can rotate genres, play genres at different times of day, etc. Remember: Diversity reigns 
• Work with the Station Manager to make sure MegaSeg is updated with new Promos and national PSAs 
• Attend KUOI staff meetings

Music Director

• Evaluate all music that comes into the station and decide what to keep 
• Write brief album reviews for CD labels and occasional longer reviews for IN CUE 
• Work with the Chief Librarian to ensure new albums are entered into the library 
• Keep the New Music Shelf updated 
• Write Radio Billboard – a listing of local and regional live-music events – and post it in the station at least once a month. 
• Respond to emails/calls from music promoters and bands 
• Foster relationships between KUOI and the people who regularly send us music, and create new connections 
• Work with the Station Manager to ensure MegaSeg is regularly programmed with new music
• Work with other staffers and DJs to host live in-studio performances, musician interviews and other music-related events 
• Attend KUOI staff meetings 

Public Relations (PR) Director

• Work with the Station Manager to set goals for reaching KUOI’s audiences and spurring them to take action 
• Create and execute a social media plan in support of those goals 
• Create and execute contests, events and other promotions in support of those goals 
• Maintain and update the website
• Promote the sale of KUOI merchandise 
• Work with the News Director and station-sponsored podcast hosts to promote KUOI News and podcasts 
• Attend KUOI staff meetings 

News Director

• Report, record and host at least one episode of KUOI News a week (preferably two) 
• Supervise the Assistant News Director and/or reporters and work with them to plan stories 
• Edit KUOI News episodes or work with the Production Assistant to edit 
• Understand and apply journalistic standards and ethics to all KUOI News work (see the Student Media Handbook Guide to Ethics) 
• Work with the Program Director to determine a schedule for playing KUOI News on the air (typically each new episode airs twice a day for up to a week) 
• Upload episodes to the NAS server to be played on-air 
• Upload episodes to Spotify (and other podcasting platforms, if desired) 
• Work with the PR Director to promote KUOI News 
• Attend KUOI staff meetings

The Station Manager may chose to hire an Assistant News Director. Assistants are typically paid $15/show. 

If students are interested in recording stories for KUOI News, they are paid $5 for a brief story or $15 for a longer story (with interview clips). Argonaut students can contribute to KUOI News with permission from their editors and the News Director – but stories must be rewritten for the audio format.

KUOI-Sponsored Podcast Host

KUOI sponsors one to three podcasts a semester – these are station-developed programs, not DJs’ individual work. Recent KUOI podcasts have included “The Vandal Scoreboard,” a sports show; “About That,” a pop-culture show hosted by station staffers; and “Palouse Runs Cold,” a true crime show co-sponsored by The Argonaut. 

KUOI-sponsored podcast hosts must: 

• Develop their show concepts with the Station Manager and/or News Director, who will serve as their content editor 
• Work with the Program Director to determine a schedule for playing podcasts on the air 
• Upload podcasts to the NAS server to be played on-air 
• Upload podcasts to Spotify (or work with the PR or News director to do so) 
• Work with the PR Director to promote their podcast 
• Attend KUOI staff meetings 

Production Assistant

• Help DJs and staffers record Promos 
• Record and edit local PSAs 
• Edit KUOI-produced podcasts as needed 
• Work with University Avenue Agency to record and edit underwriting, upon request 
• Attend KUOI staff meetings 

Chief Librarian

• Ensure KUOI’s physical library is tidy, organized and accurate 
• Work with the Student Affairs Technician to maintain the online library database 
• Enter new music into the online library database
• Label new physical albums with the appropriate library tag, FCC warnings and genre information, then shelve 
• Add FCC labels to old albums without them 
• Update the database to reflect missing or damaged albums 
• Coordinate with the Student Media adviser to train and find projects for assistant librarians 
• Attend KUOI staff meetings 

Work Study Assistant Librarians

Work Study Assistant Librarians are hired and supervised by the Student Media Adviser. Unlike all other KUOI staff, they are paid hourly (through state or federal work study funds, not Student Media funds). They are expected to work at least 5 hours a week, either remotely or in the station. 

The Adviser, Chief Librarian and Student Affairs Technician work together to assign Assistant Librarians with tasks that contribute to KUOI’s library. Potential tasks include: 

• Proofreading KUOI’s digital database to prepare for the switch to the Discogs library system
  • When the Discogs update is done, Assistant Librarians will work on the physical reorg of the CD section 
• Going through the physical library and adding FCC labels to CDs missing them 
• Repairing damaged record sleeves 
• Straightening shelves and checking album order 
• Sorting through donations to decide what the station should keep 
• Assisting the Music Director in reviewing new albums 
• Assisting the Program Director in selecting new music to upload to MegaSeg 

KUOI Weekly Stipends 2021-22

Station Manager	$100
Program Director	$45
Music Director	$55
News Director	$45 (for weeks w/ shows)
PR Director	$45
Chief Librarian	$45
Production Manager	$45
KUOI-sponsored podcast hosts	$15/show

KUOI 101

About KUOI

KUOI is a 24-hour, free-format, non-commercial educational FM radio station owned and operated by the students of the University of Idaho and governed by the UI Student Media Board. We broadcast a vertically polarized signal at 400 watts ERP on 89.3 MHz in glorious stereo. We also simulcast live online at kuoi.org using the service Radio.co. 

KUOI has been on the air in some form since Oct. 29, 1945. We have (by reputation, at least) one of the largest physical music libraries at any college in the West, with more than 70,000 hard copy items. For a history of KUOI, check out www.kuoi.org/about-2/history/. An archive of historical photos is in the KUOI OneDrive under KUOI > Archive > Historical Photos from WordPress.

As a free-format station, our slogan is “Where Diversity Reigns” — that means that, within the bounds of FCC regulations, our DJs can play whatever they love. DJs aren’t limited to music, either. They can do talk shows, sports shows, variety shows or whatever they dream up. DJs can pre-record podcasts or music shows. 

DJs can be students, staff, faculty or community members 18 years or older. All DJs are volunteers.  

The paid KUOI staff positions must be filled by students. (See Staff Job Duties).  

When we don’t have live DJs on the air, we automate programming using software called MegaSeg, nicknamed the Robot. The Robot isn’t cold and unfeeling, though – it’s programmed by students, for KUOI listeners.

KUOI Branding and Annual Events

Logo: The “meatball” logo on the station door has been part of KUOI for decades, with a few light redesigns. Official logo files are found in Teams in the Editors channel (and should also be stored in KUOI’s shared folders). 

Alt Logos: Station staffers are welcome to introduce alternative and temporary logos. Designs should emphasize KUOI FM 89.3 and kuoi.org 

Colors: KUOI generally uses red, black and white. The hex code for KUOI red is #EE141F 

Slogan: “Where Diversity Reigns.” Staff can add additional taglines and create new promotions. 

Birthday: KUOI first went on the air on Oct. 29, 1945. Celebrate our birthday with on-air and in-person events! 

College Radio Day: KUOI typically participates in College Radio Day. Learn more at www.collegeradio.org/college-radio-day/. 

Commercial vs. Non-Commercial Radio

Adapted from the WKNC Training and Operations Manual 

The term “radio” can be applied to many different kinds of radio stations – terrestrial (meaning landbased), internet, satellite and HD radio. KUOI is a terrestrial station that simulcasts its programming using an internet stream. There are two categories of terrestrial radio stations: commercial and noncommercial. Although the FCC makes this classification, both stations are businesses with the difference being in how they make their money.  

Commercial stations are located on the FM dial at frequencies 92.1 and above and are allowed to sell advertisements or commercials, charging businesses money in exchange for air time. Many of these stations are owned by large corporations like iHeartMedia, Entercom or CBS Radio that own multiple stations and are interested in having many listeners. These stations charge heavily to run commercials so that they can exceed the operating costs of running each station, pay its staff and generate a profit so the broadcast group can stay in business. Commercial stations are allowed to make a profit by broadcasting; non-commercial means non-profit.  

The second category of broadcasters are what the FCC labels non-commercial educational (NCE) stations, and their purpose is simply to serve the public without having to worry about catering to advertisers who have a vested interest in what is broadcast. They still need to make money, but only enough to offset what they spend. The FCC has reserved the lowest 20 channels on the FM band (88.1- 91.9) exclusively for non-commercial radio stations, although they may broadcast outside the reserved band.  

Although many commercial stations can afford “high profile” marketing to capture loyal listeners, NCE stations that feature NPR programming, other educationally-oriented or alternative programming remain extremely popular. Non-commercial stations have three different methods of making money to cover their operating expenses, and may use any combination of these resources:  

1. They are allowed to sell what’s called “underwriting” which involves a trade of money for air time, but with strict limitations on the length and content of such announcements.  
2. They are allowed to have fund raisers or “radio-thons” in which they solicit listeners who particularly enjoy their programming to donate money to support the station.  
3. They are partially or fully subsidized by a sponsor institution, such as the university that holds its license or receive grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.  

How KUOI Operates

KUOI is a business, and our business is having fun while sounding good on the air. Although that may sound simple, it isn’t. It requires business sense, responsibility, preparation and lots of practice. Being a DJ isn’t brain surgery, but creating “good” radio does involve study of FCC rules and regulations, memorization of mechanical operations, and the ability to do many different tasks simultaneously. Surprisingly, most of the work required to make radio happen occurs outside of the control room. Of course, what happens inside the control room is the most exposed and hence the most critical aspect of the station’s operation, but it is for this reason that the work done by KUOI staff and DJs to prepare material for broadcast is of paramount importance. In other words, what goes out over the airwaves should be thought of as the finished product of a large group working together rather than just the work of one DJ. DJs can only be as good as the station for which they work.  

A staff of the most dynamic DJs in the world does not make a radio station. DJs are powerless without a programming staff to determine the sound of the radio station; without a production staff to create that sound; without a promotions staff to develop exciting ways of getting the public’s attention; without a music staff that knows what’s hot and what’s not. This is true for commercial and non-commercial stations on the AM or FM band, satellite and internet radio stations. Teamwork counts.

The FCC and its Regulations

Adapted from the WKNC Training and Operations Manual 

The FCC is the acronym for the Federal Communications Commission, an independent United States government agency, created, directed, and empowered by Congressional statute. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 as the successor to the Federal Radio Commission and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. Your job as a DJ is to be familiar with the many rules for which the FCC holds stations and DJs accountable. The FCC consists of five commissioners who regulate all aspects of how the radio industry works – everything from issuing broadcast licenses, allocating call letters, regulating the Emergency Alert System (EAS), or sending inspectors to make surprise visits to stations to inspect the Public File. The FCC also relies on the public and regularly investigates complaints made against radio stations to determine if any rules have been violated.  

The KUOI station manager and UI Student Media adviser know a great deal about specific FCC rules and regulations. If you have any questions about anything, please contact one of these people. You will learn about some of the most important FCC rules while studying this section of the manual. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when studying these rules is that they are meant to be observed. Stations that fail to follow FCC rules are regularly fined large amounts of money and subsequently refused the privilege of broadcasting. 

The Legal ID

The FCC requires all stations to identify themselves in this specific way. Called the Legal ID, it must be played during a natural break as close to the top of the hour as possible. Within five minutes on either side of the hour is generally acceptable. You may either say it live or play a pre-recorded Legal ID from MegaSeg. You must say or play the legal ID as close to the top of the hour as possible. 

The FCC stipulates that the proper legal ID will have the station’s call letters followed by its city of license. Our station call letters, as listed on our license, are KUOI-FM, and we are located in Moscow, Idaho. 

You are permitted to insert the station’s frequency in between its call letters and city of license, meaning “KUOI 89.3 FM Moscow” and “KUOI FM 89.3 Moscow” are also acceptable. You are NOT allowed to insert any other information in between KUOI and Moscow. 

You may put whatever you want before or after it, but every legal ID must contain “KUOI FM Moscow.” Consistent failure to do a proper legal ID will lead to receiving a strike or suspension, and, depending on the blatancy of the infractions, could lead to your dismissal.

Obscene, Indecent and Profane Broadcasts

It’s Against the Law

It is a violation of federal law to air obscene programming at any time. It is also a violation of federal law to air indecent programming or profane language during certain hours. Congress has given the FCC the responsibility for administratively enforcing these laws. The FCC may revoke a station license, impose a monetary forfeiture, or issue a warning if a station airs obscene, indecent or profane material.

The FCC’s Obscene, Indecent and Profane Broadcasts information page is here: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/obscene-indecent-and-profane-broadcasts

Obscene Broadcasts Are Prohibited at All Times!

Obscene material is not protected by the First Amendment and cannot be broadcast at any time. The Supreme Court has established that, to be obscene, material must meet a three-pronged test:  

1. “The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest; 
2. Whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law; and 
3. Whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value” (Miller v. California, 1973).

Indecent Broadcast Restrictions

The FCC has defined broadcast indecency as “language or material that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium, sexual or excretory organs or activities.” Indecent programming contains patently offensive sexual or excretory material that does not rise to the level of obscenity.  

The courts have held that indecent material is protected by the First Amendment and cannot be banned entirely. It may, however, be restricted to avoid its broadcast during times of the day when there is a reasonable risk children may be in the audience. Consistent with a federal indecency statute and federal court decisions interpreting the statute, the Commission adopted a rule that broadcasts—both on television and radio — that fit within the indecency definition and that are aired between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. are prohibited and subject to indecency enforcement action. Indecency is prohibited on broadcast radio and television between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. 

Profane Broadcast Restrictions

The FCC has defined profanity as “including language so grossly offensive to members of the public who actually hear it as to amount to a nuisance.” Profanity is prohibited on broadcast radio and television between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. 

The “Seven Dirty Words”

FCC v. Pacifica Foundation (1978) identifies seven words specifically found to be actionably indecent. These words, collectively known as the “seven dirties,” are shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, tits, and the bonus word, asshole.  

Broadcast of any of these words or their derivatives outside “safe harbor” hours is a violation of KUOI policy and the student responsible is subject to disciplinary action.

KUOI’s Rules on Indecency and Profanity

If you are playing an album from the KUOI library, it should include an FCC label noting any indecent or profane tracks. Do not play these outside of “safe harbor” hours.  

KUOI recognizes the FCC-established “safe harbor” between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. DJs are allowed to air indecent or profane material – though they (and their guests) should never say anything profane or indecent on the air themselves.  

The indecency waiver must be played through MegaSeg or the Master Disc every hour on the hour from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (following the DJ Book). 

KUOI staff are held responsible for all material broadcast during their programs. This includes what DJs say on air, what their guests say on air, and the recorded music played during the program. Students who play music from their personal CDs or other sources are responsible for ensuring the music is acceptable for broadcast. 

All music in MegaSeg must be pre-screened and deemed acceptable for broadcast by a KUOI staff member. Do not upload any indecent or profane material to MegaSeg.  

If you are unsure or whether material is obscene (any time) or indecent (outside safe harbor hours), do not air it!!!! 

Public complaints need not be received for a student to be held in violation of this policy. Understanding the gravity of an FCC violation is an integral part of becoming a KUOI DJ. 

Payola/Plugola

Payola and plugola are two areas where it is very easy for the untrained DJ to get into trouble. Payola is the unreported payment to, or acceptance by, employees of broadcast stations, program producers or program suppliers of any money, service or valuable consideration in return for airplay of any programming. In simpler language, the DJ (or music director or program director) receives some form of compensation in exchange for playing a record over the air. Compensation can include cash, concert tickets, vacation packages, video games, computer equipment, extra copies of a CD (more than you would normally need for a giveaway) and even drugs and prostitutes. The Communications Act of 1934 requires the licensee to announce that the material being broadcast is paid for and to disclose the identity of the sponsoring individual or organization. A 1960 amendment requires any station employee who accepts cash or other consideration in exchange for broadcasting material disclose that payment to the station, who in turn ensures proper disclosures are made.  

Simply put, it is illegal for you as an on-air talent to receive anything from anyone except KUOI for broadcasting on our station. Payola is a crime punishable by one year in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.  

Plugola is the “plugging” (mentioning) of products, events, venues or services not paid for or underwritten by a sponsor. It occurs when someone responsible for program selection at a radio station gives on-air promotion for something in which the person has a financial interest. Plugola is similar to payola, except that it need not involve an outside party or monetary payment of any kind and can be accomplished by a single station employee. Some examples of plugola are when a local night club provides payment to a radio DJ to spin records at the club and the DJ in turn announces these appearances on the air, if the program director schedules additional donor announcements for a company for which a friend works, or when a station or DJ is provided with “gifts” such as concert tickets with an expressed or implied understanding that the DJ will hype the artist or event. Plugola is often considered a form of employee theft, as the DJ or other staff member is giving away announcements for which the company would otherwise need to pay. Bands and businesses will frequently ask the radio station to “plug” an upcoming event. DJs are free to talk about upcoming events if they so choose, but should be aware that excessively mentioning a business could be perceived as plugola even if the DJ is not receiving any direct benefit. DJs are also not allowed to play their own music on KUOI, as there is the public appearance that material would otherwise not have received airplay. 

To give you a better understanding of plugola and payola, here are some examples of situations you may encounter. 

• A DJ announces an upcoming public appearance. (“I’ll be hosting Tuesday Night Trivia this week at the Pinhook.”) Plugola. The DJ personally benefits from increased attendance at the event.  
• A DJ directs listeners to a personal website for booking information. (“If you want to book me for an upcoming gig, details are on my Twitter. Link in bio.”) Plugola. The DJ is blatantly promoting a personal business.  
• A DJ is a waiter at a local Italian restaurant. In his sign off, he tells the listeners he is going to work and if any listener wants to stop in, he’ll “treat you real nice.” While this might not be explicitly payola, the DJ is promoting his place of work and encouraging patronage with his promise of special service. 
• A DJ is best friends with the bartender at a local pub. Each week, she mentions how much fun she has at the pub. Probably not meant to be payola, but mentioning the same business every week is promotional and should be avoided.  
• A DJ is in a local band. During their shift, they include information on the band’s performance along with several other shows that night. This is perfectly acceptable. The DJ has simply provided information, giving no preference to their show or any of the other events mentioned. 
• A DJ’s best friend from grade school now lives in Colorado and has released an album. The DJ personally gives the album to the music director with a recommendation. This is perfectly acceptable. The DJ is following proper procedure for submitting music.  
• Two DJs volunteer at a local animal shelter. They ask the production manager if they can write and record a PSA for the shelter. This is perfectly acceptable. The DJs are following proper procedure for submitting a PSA.  
• A DJ plays the same song by the same artist on every week’s show. While probably not payola, that’s just bad radio.  
• A local band calls in to request their song. They tell you that if you play it, you and a friend can get on the guest list to their show that night opening for a major national band. Textbook plugola. You are being bribed to play the band’s song. You can play the request if you want, but you shouldn’t accept the free tickets. 

Conflicts of Interest

KUOI DJs tend to be a creative bunch and its only natural that some of those DJs are in local bands or solo performers. That’s totally fine, as we would never place limitations on what you could or couldn’t do outside of the radio station. However, we do have a responsibility to our listeners to ensure all music played on the station, especially local music, is of the highest caliber. Therefore, DJs are not allowed to play their own music (or the music of family members, partners and close friends). If you are in a band, you are welcome to give the music to the appropriate music director to review. If the music director thinks your band is good enough, then your songs can be played on the station by everyone other than you.  

Other conflicts of interest arise when DJs intern or work for music venues, record labels or promotion companies. Again, it’s totally fine to be involved in other music-related opportunities. Once you do, however, you are no longer allowed to make programming or promotion decisions related to the other entity. If you intern at a record company, for example, you can no longer review their albums for the radio station. Pass the music along to someone else. We want to avoid conflicts of interests by not providing real or perceived favorable treatment to anyone with whom a DJ has a previous or existing relationship.

Calls to Action

One of the major differences between a non-commercial station like KUOI and commercial stations is that we are prohibited by the FCC from issuing any calls to action. A call to action is when a DJ asks, urges, or suggests that the listener should perform some task that could result in a for-profit business making money. You should note that this rule does not apply to non-profit organizations.  

Calls to action include:  

• Urging the listener to buy a record 
• Urging the listener to go to a concert or performance 
• Urging the listener to go to a certain store or venue.  

Calls to action are especially important to watch when doing an in-studio interview with a band. You are allowed to give basic information about an event, but not directly tell listeners to attend. Phrases like “check it out” and “visit their website” are calls to action. Do your best to eliminate them from your on-air vocabulary. 

Below are examples of what does and does not constitute a call to action: 

• “This is the latest song from blursome.” – Legal. You are just pre-selling a song. 
• “That was Mez, whose new album comes out next Friday.” – Legal. You are only providing information. 
• “You just heard was Museum Mouth. Their new album comes out next Friday and you should go buy it at Paradise Records.” – Illegal on several levels. You are urging the listener to make a purchase, as well as mentioning a specific business.  
• “That was Future Islands. They are playing tonight at John’s Alley.” – Legal. Again, you are only providing information 
• “That was Inflowential. I saw them last week at One World and they were awesome.” – Legal. It is a myth you can never mention a business on the air. If you find yourself constantly mentioning a business, however, you are bordering on plugola. 
• “I have John from The Mountain Goats here with me in the studio. They’re playing tonight at the Kenworthy Theatre and we have a pair of tickets to give away to the second caller.” – Legal. You are just doing a giveaway.  

So when can you issue a call to action? If you are referencing a non-profit organization, such as KUOI, then you can urge all you want. Even if the non-profit will financially benefit (i.e. “send your donations to the American Red Cross”), it is still legal. This is how we are allowed to run public service announcement that contain calls to action (although we try not to include them). If KUOI is listed as a cosponsor of an event you must consider who the primary beneficiary is before issuing any calls to action. If it is KUOI, then go for it. If it is the for-profit business, then regular rules apply and you should avoid calls to action. If you are not sure if something is a non-profit, it is best to err on the side of caution.  

Another thing you will want to file under “things not to say” is price information. Mentioning the price of a concert ticket, that a student discount exists or even that an event is free is all prohibited by the FCC. Free is still a price.  

Lotteries

Federal law generally prohibits the broadcast of advertisements or information about lotteries. The FCC defines a lottery as “any game, contest or promotion that combines the elements of prize, chance and consideration.”  

To make something a lottery, all three elements must be present. A prize is anything of value offered to the contestant. It does not matter how much the value of the prize is, what it is, or if it is in the form of a discount or refund. Chance is when the prize is awarded to a person whose selection is determined in whole or in part upon chance rather than the contestant’s skill. Being the eighth caller is a form of chance. Consideration is when a contestant is required to furnish money or any other item of value (like an entry fee) or are “required to furnish any money or other thing of value or are required to have in their possession any product sold, manufactured, furnished or distributed by a sponsor of a program broadcast on the station in question.”  

While there are some instances in which advertisements or information about lotteries are permitted, what you should take with you is that the FCC has very specific rules governing how stations conduct contests (such as lotteries). If you would like to run a contest on KUOI, clear it with the Station Manager and Student Media adviser. 

Defamation of Character/Slander

Defamation of character is “communication which exposes a person to hatred, ridicule, or contempt, lowers him in the esteem of his fellows, causes him to be shunned, or injured him in his business or calling.” Libel is the communication of such statements in a printed or fixed medium (including the KUOI blog — see the Student Media Handbook for more about libel). Slander is the communication of such statements in a transitory or non-fixed medium, usually through oral (spoken) representation, such as making defaming remarks on the radio.  

The National Association of Broadcasters’ “FCC Rules and Policies for Radio” (2002) provides these examples of potentially defamatory statements:  

• Accusing a person of professional incompetence or unethical business dealings. 
• Accusing a person of a crime or past criminal record without verification.  
• Attacking the honesty, virtue, temperance or truthfulness of a person. 
• Calling someone, without verification, a liar or saying they have a drinking problem, a disease or a history of psychological problems.  

Statements made against public figures need to be made with “actual malice,” in which the speaker knew the information was false and would cause harm to the subject but broadcast it anyhow or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Radio stations can also be charged with slander by rebroadcasting a defamatory statement made by someone else (such as in sound clip from a news story). The best defense against slander and libel is provable truth, so always double check your facts. 

False Information/Broadcast Hoaxes

It is illegal to knowingly broadcast false information about a crime or catastrophe, especially if such communications may cause substantial “public harm.” Public harm includes direct and actual damages to people or property and the diversion of law enforcement or public health and safety authorities from their duties.  

Political Endorsements

Non-commercial stations like ours are also prohibited by the FCC from endorsing political candidates. Do not endorse political candidates on air. 

Public Affairs and Ascertainment

Because not everyone can have their own terrestrial radio station, the FCC requires those who do to operate in the “public interest, convenience and necessity.” This requirement is met through the broadcast of public affairs programming (such as “Democracy Now” and KUOI News).  

The station’s public file (see below) contains quarterly reports detailing the most significant public issues addressed by the station during the three month period.  

As part of our service to the campus and Moscow community, KUOI also airs recorded public service announcements for non-profit organizations. Sometimes people will call the request lines asking the DJ to announce their non-profit event. Direct all PSA requests to the online form.

The Public Inspection File

The FCC requires KUOI maintain a public file, which includes many of our most important documents. Contents of the public file includes our FCC license, applications, contour maps, ownership reports, political file, equal employment opportunity file, a copy of The Public and Broadcasting manual, quarterly issues/programs lists, donor lists, local public notice announcements (dealing with license renewal) and any material relating to an FCC complaint or investigation.  

In 2017, KUOI’s public file transitioned to being fully online. The public file is available via a link on KUOI’s website. If anyone comes to the station during regular business hours, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and asks to see the public file, please show them where to find it online. 

EAS Tests and Alerts

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is designed to provide a means to communicate information to the public during a national, state or local emergency. The majority of EAS activations are weather related and come from the National Weather Service. KUOI broadcasts emergency alerts for the following events: child abduction emergency (called an AMBER Alert), missing endangered adult (called a silver alert), civil emergency message, evacuation immediate, flash flood warning, hurricane warning, nuclear power plant warning, tornado warning and tornado watch.  

There is equipment in the control room that monitors regional transmitters 24 hours a day for EAS broadcasts. This is because KUOI does not generate its own EAS messages; we pick them up. Because KUOI is automated at times, our EAS system is configured to send messages over the air without needing a live DJ. The EAS message will automatically override the audio console. Since the message does not originate from the board, a DJ will only hear it over the air monitor. Whenever you hear the EAS tone, pay attention to the message in case you need to evacuate the station (such as with a tornado warning).

EAS Tests

To ensure the EAS system works properly, weekly and monthly tests are required. You will know the message is a test if you hear the following or a similar message after the EAS tone.  

“This is a test of the Idaho Emergency Alert System. This is only a test. Broadcasters in cooperation with local, state and national authorities have developed this system to provide the public with important emergency information, should the need arise. This concludes the monthly test of the Idaho Emergency Alert System.”  

EAS Alerts

If the message is an alert and not a test, you will hear the following or a similar message after the EAS tone.  

“We interrupt this program to activate the (name of operational area or state) Emergency Alert System at the request of (activating official) at (time). Important information will follow.”  

A second tone will last for eight seconds. Listen to the information that follows, you may want to jot down some notes. After the message concludes, air a legal ID and resume regular programming. Feel free to repeat the information at the next regular break.  

An Additional Regulator: SoundExchange

KUOI simulcasts over the web, which means we pay licensing fees to and follow rules set by an organization called SoundExchange. 

SoundExchange’s “performance complement” rule limits how many times a DJ or MegaSeg may play a specific artist or from a specific album.  

• You may not play more than 4 tracks by the same featured artist (or from a compilation album) within a three-hour period, and you may not play more than 3 of those tracks consecutively 
• You may not play more than 3 tracks from the same album within a three-hour period, and no more than 2 of those tracks may be played consecutively. 

The Logs

Adapted in part from the WKNC Training and Operations Manual 

KUOI, like any other radio station, has many different logs. The reason we have so many is because we must keep track of a lot of different things all at once. Some logs are kept for the FCC and others for our own in-house reasons. The forging of any information contained in a KUOI log is against station policy.  

KUOI has 3 logs: the DJ Log, the DJ Book and Spinitron. You will need to know the name and purpose of each log.

DJ Log

The DJ Log is used to record who was in control of the audio board and when. At the beginning of your shift, go to https://uidaho.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6gPOVqzVSd2atNz (bookmarked at the top of the browser on the studio computer). We have a backup paper log, but you should always enter your information into the digital log. 

Enter your legal name (not a nickname or your DJ name), along with the time you sign on and off your shift. It is important to note the exact time you signed on, as you will be considered responsible for anything that happened during that time period.  

Failure to properly fill out the operating log each shift will result in strikes and possible dismissal. The DJ Log is also used to determine shift attendance. If you do not sign in, we may assume you skipped a shift when you were actually here. 

The DJ Book

The DJ Book is a binder with laminated pages on the windowsill in the studio. The DJ Book tells you when to say/air Legal IDs, PSAs, Promos and the weather.  

Use a dry erase marker to sign into the book and mark the time you played/said each item. DO NOT remove sheets from the book. 

Follow the times in the DJ Book as closely as possible. Don’t stop a song to get right on the mark for these. They can be slightly before or past the time listed. 

A PDF copy of the DJ Book is available at https://media.kuoi.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/KUOI-DJ-Book.pdf

Spinitron

KUOI logs its songs through a program called Spinitron. There is a link to Spinitron bookmarked on the studio computer. Once you pass your DJ test, you will be signed up for a Spinitron account. Use your Spinitron login to manually enter songs not played via MegaSeg. This log is linked to our online playlist. It is important to have our online playlist as accurate as possible. First, we use this information to report information to SoundExchange and performance rights organizations ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Second, we are legally obligated by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to simultaneously display song and artist information as we stream online. Finally, people want to know what you’re playing.  

The artist and title information entered on Spinitron shows up on the @KUOIDJ twitter feed and serves as a record of your shows. All songs played from MegaSeg will automatically show up on the Spinitron, but any song played from another source has to be manually entered. Try to have the next song already typed in so you can hit submit right after you start the song. Spinitron is set up as a “now playing” feature so if you skip a few songs and go back and add them, Spinitron will not post them to the KUOI website or Twitter. You can edit your entries as long as you are still signed in to Spinitron.

Station Spaces and Equipment

The On-Air Studio

The Board

The board is the way everything gets from you and our equipment to the airwaves and digital stream. 

• The channels: Each channel is assigned to a different source (though some are empty).
  • The on/off buttons determine which channels are on air/streaming. 
  • The faders determine the output volume of the channel on air/streaming. Note that this is NOT the same as how loud they are in the studio! Watch your audio meters. Most channels should be well-balanced at the double arrows. 
  • The cue button allows you to listen to that channel without making it live – so you can prep a song or test audio quality. 
• The Audio meters:
  • Program shows sound levels over the air. Stay in the orange and do NOT max out. 
  • Audition shows sound levels over the web stream. Stay in the orange and do NOT max out. 
  • Switched shows sound levels of a song being cued.
• The right-hand side of the board:
  • The Volume Knobs
    • Control Rm: the volume in the studio. 
    • Headphone: headphone volume if you’re plugged into the board (see Headphones section). 
    • Studio: The lobby volume – this is quirky and needs to be turned up about halfway up to work at all. 
    • Cue: The volume in the studio if you are cuing a song from a channel. 
  • The Timer buttons allow you to set a timer on the board above – for example, if you knew you were playing a 5:55 song on vinyl and wanted to know when it was almost over. Press the S/S key to start a timer, Reset to start over, and Hold to pause the timer. The timer display is at the top of the board.
  • Soft Key and Event buttons are not currently programmed. 
• DO NOT PRESS, CHANGE OR ADJUST:
  • Input and Assign buttons – these control which channels air/stream 
  • Source – this controls our output over the air and web stream 
  • Encoder 
  • Meters 

Headphones and Headphone Console

DJs can plug headphones into the board (on the far right, underneath the bottom lip of the board) or into the headphone console. You will NOT be able to hear yourself in the headphones through the board, but you can through the console. 

• All channels on the console work, but channel 1 is best 
• The volume is sensitive – don’t max out levels 
• Turn off the power when you’re done 

The Computer

This computer is a very basic machine – a Raspberry Pi – that uses a remote connection to reach the Master Control computer in the server closet. It’s limited in what it can do, and you shouldn’t use it for anything other than running MegaSeg and looking up things relevant to your show on the internet. 

• When you click the mouse or keyboard to wake the computer up, MegaSeg(aka the Robot) should be open.
  • If it’s not, click the VNC icon:
    
  • Then open the Master Control window. 
• The web browser should also be open.
  • If it’s not, click the globe icon:
    
  • These helpful tabs will automatically open in the web browser (and are bookmarked):
    • How to DJ 
    • DJ Log 
    • Spinitron 
    • Local weather 
    • Zabbix (which shows our over-the-air modulation – you don’t really need this unless you’re into the technical side of radio)
    • KUOI library search 
• If the computer or something on it isn’t working and you can’t solve the problem, call:
  • During business hours: Student Affairs Technician, 208-885-2229 
  • After hours: The Station Manager, Program Director and/or Adviser until you get help.

MegaSeg (aka The Robot)

• Board Channel: MSTCTRL (11^th fader) 
• Pausing MegaSeg for your show:
  • Hit the lower Stop button 
  • Unselect Auto and Events (right sidebar)
    • Auto keeps the regular playlist going 
    • Events makes sure items like Station IDs and PSAs play as scheduled 
  • Be ready to start right away! 
• Starting MegaSeg after your show: 
  • Reselect Auto and Events 
  • Hit the lower Advance button  
  • Turn on the MSTCNTRL channel on the board and adjust the fader to the double arrows. Make sure it is playing correctly before you leave!!! 
• To play a Station ID, Promo, PSA, Indecency Waiver or other item:
  • Select Category (left sidebar) 
  • Check the category you want to play an item from 
  • Click and drag the item you want to the upper right section 
  • Hit the lower Advance button 
• DO NOT CHANGE OR ADJUST:
  • Rules or Mixer (right sidebar) 
• If you would like to learn about other features in MegaSeg, contact the Station Manager or the Student Affairs Technician.

Microphones

• Board Channels: MIC 01 and MIC 02 (1^st and 2^nd faders) 
• These are self explanatory. 
• Be sure to turn your mic OFF on the board when you’re not talking. If you turn it down but leave the volume on, it still picks up a little sound that could make your audio really weird. 
• In the studio, you should always speak the way you would if the mic was ON. You don’t want to risk accidentally broadcasting something you didn’t mean to. 

CD Players

• Board Channels: CD 01 and CD 02 (3^rd and 4^th faders) 
• BE KIND TO THE CD PLAYERS. Radio-quality CD players are expensive and hard to find. We’d like these to last a long time. 
• To get to your track:
  • Put the CD in and WAIT for the player to read the TOC 
  • Hit Pause and use the Multi Jog knob to skip to the track you want 
  • Hit Play when you’re ready 
• Don’t adjust settings such as Pitch or Audio. 
• When you’re done playing your track:
  • Fade out and hit Stop 
  • Be sure to eject the CD (especially your last CD of the day!) 
• TURN OFF THE CD PLAYERS WHEN YOU’RE DONE WITH YOUR SHOW 

Turntables

• Board Channels: TT 01 and TT 02 (5^th and 6^th faders) 
• Watch this tutorial if you’re unfamiliar with vinyl: Radio DJ Turntable Technique 
• Learn to clean vinyl: Carbon Fiber Record Brush Demonstration 
• Settings:
  • Be careful not to touch the needle (aka stylus) or scratch records 
  • You can use the arm lifter or lower the arm yourself (be careful!) 
  • Most records we have are 33s. If you play one of the small records, switch to 45 

Cassette Player

• Board Channel: CAS01 (7^th fader) 
• It is unclear whether the cassette player works. Please update the Student Affairs Technician if you know how to use it. 

Mini-Disk Player

• Board Channel: MD01 (8^th fader) 
• If you know how to work the Mini Disk player and would like to use it, go for it. Otherwise, we recommend leaving it alone. 

Aux Cord

• Board Channel: AUX (9^th fader) 
• Locating the cord: The cord is sits in the bottom of the rack that contains the computer and CD players. 
• Plug your device in and control it as you normally would. 

Studio Telephone

• Board Channels: 5-6393 (13^th fader) and 5-1066 (14^th fader) 
• DO NOT PUT CALLERS ON THE AIR WITHOUT SCREENING THEM FIRST.  
• If the phone rings: Answer it and say “KUOI FM, how may I help you?” Take a message if needed. 
• Request Line: The KUOI request line, 208-885-6392, also rings to this phone. You are welcome to give out the number to take requests on your show! 
• Putting callers on the air: This training will be added in 2022.

Weather Station

The weather station monitor connects to the weather station on the Pitman Center roof. You can use it for live weather updates. Press the Temp button to switch between indoor and outdoor. 

Security Camera

The security camera is located in the northwest corner of the studio. KUOI does not actively monitor our security footage. We refer to it in incidents of theft, damage to equipment, or failure to follow KUOI or FCC policies. 

If you have questions, contact the Student Media adviser or Student Affairs Technician. 

Notices about the camera recording must always be posted in the studio, in locations that are easy to see from either door. 

Radio Billboard

The Music Director (or other station staffer) creates a list of upcoming live-music events in Moscow, on the Palouse and in the region at least once a month. A printed copy of Radio Billboard is in the metal basket on the studio wall. 

If there is no Radio Billboard in the basket, you may skip this item in the DJ Book. 

New Music Shelves

The Music Director and Chief Librarian maintain a shelf in the station featuring fresh, well-reviewed albums that recently arrived at KUOI. 

Other Equipment

Do not touch unfamiliar equipment in the station! If you don’t know what it’s for, you don’t need to use it.

Other Station Locations

KUOI Library

The KUOI Library includes more than 70,000 hard copy items – CDs, 33 1/3 rpm records and 45 rpm records. The library is searchable online at www.kuoi.org/library/. 

Most CDs are in the main CD library (in the first and middle room of the library). Genre color-coding is inconsistent, but there are guides posted if you want to figure it out. 

There are also smaller sections – explore the library and find them: 

• Disc Various (green) 
• Disc Classical (blue) 
• Disc Local (orange) 
• Disc Spoken (yellow) 
• Disc Jazz (red) 

CDs are traditionally organized by their letter and code number, based on the artist’s name, the order the artist’s work arrived in the station and the order the album arrived in the station. We will be transitioning to a traditional alphabetized system sometime in 2022. 

Most 33s in the middle and last room of the library.  

The main sections are 

• Male Vocals (middle room, blue and red) 
• Female Vocals (middle room, green) 
• Group Vocals (last room, yellow) 
• Jazz (last room, red) 

There are also smaller sections (color labeling is somewhat inconsistent; these are in the middle room) 

• Reggae 
• Classical 
• Urban 
• Various 
• Soundtracks 

Albums are traditionally organized by their letter and code number, based on the artist’s name, the order the artist’s work arrived in the station and the order the album arrived in the station. This is outdated, but honestly, we’re probably going to keep it that way for a while. 

45 records are in the middle room of the library. They are alphabetized by artist. 

A table for leaving albums that need repaired is in the last room of the library.

The Lobby

KUOI’s front lobby is open 24/7 to anyone. It includes comfortable spaces to work, meet or study, as well as a refrigerator and microwave. Every station staffer and DJ has a mailbox in the lobby – check yours often! 

Prod A and B

Prod A is the newer production room accessed from the lobby.  

Prod B is the simpler production room with the Yeti podcasting mic, located between the station manager’s office and the studio. 

The Station Manager’s Office

The Station Manager’s office is to the left of the studio and Prod B. Their mailbox is on the wall outside the door. 

The Back Room

The room at the far end of the left-hand hallway is the Music Director and Chief Librarian’s territory. It’s where we store donated and submitted music that hasn’t yet been reviewed and entered into the library (or given/thrown away). Work studies and other station staffers may also work or meet in this room. 

DJ Basics

Getting Started

Adapted in part from the WKNC Training and Operations Manual 

Operating a radio station is not easy. It is much more than hitting play on a Spotify playlist and being cool when talking on the radio. A good show requires careful planning: DJ must arrange and play music in a way that is enjoyable to the listeners, make breaks when scheduled in the DJ Book, complete logs accurately and follow rules from station management and the FCC. Anything short of trying your best to follow this example is not acceptable. These guidelines are not to keep you from having fun while on the air, but to protect you as a DJ from breaking station policy and help you have a fun, educational time at KUOI. 

The only way all of these things can be mastered is through careful training and practice. Anyone who thinks knowing how to run the board is all it takes is mistaken. Anyone running the board without training is breaking station policy. Anyone allowing an untrained operator to broadcast on our frequency is subject to suspension or dismissal.  

All DJs must complete the training process: 

• Meet with the Program Director, Station Manager or other staffer, who will walk you through all the tasks on the DJ Training Checklist on the last page of this manual (and check off the “Trained” boxes) 
• Go home and read this manual 
• Come back and complete the tasks on the DJ Training Checklist with a KUOI staffer, who will check off the “Evaluated” box for tasks you complete correctly.
  • You can refer to this manual during your evaluation! 
• Re-train and re-evaluate any tasks you do not complete correctly the first time, until you get them correct. 
• Take the written test about FCC rules and station policy. A station staffer will grade you. You must re-read this manual and/or talk to the station staffer to learn the correct answers to any questions you missed. 
• Then you’re ready for your first show!

Before Your Show

• Have all physical copies of your music prepared before your scheduled show time. This includes pulling the PSAs and Holy Promos CDs so you’re prepared to play them. 
• If the computer is logged out, login as kuoidj. The password is posted on the monitor. 
• If VNC is not logged in (i.e. you can’t see MegaSeg) open VNC Viewer from the taskbar and open Master Control from the list. 
• You MUST sign in on the digital DJ log form here. 
• Get the DJ Book but do not remove sheets. Check what items you need to play during your show and when. 
• Before you begin your show, log in to Spinitron and prepare to log your playlist. We recommend doing an on-air playlist since you must accurately log the time each song was played. 
• If you want to record your show, follow the instructions here. 
• Now you’re ready to begin your show. Have CDs/records ready and in the proper trays. Wait until the MegaSeg (aka the Robot) is finished playing the current song and then press pause. Pull the Robot slider down on the board and push up the slider that corresponds with the tray that you intend to play. Press play for the corresponding CD tray or start on the turntable. 

During Your Show

• Remember to follow all FCC and SoundExchange rules (review them if you need to!) 
• Pay close attention to the timing of your song and be sure to begin the next song at the appropriate time. 
• Do NOT press any of the buttons on the right side of the board. You may use the Cue function to cue up records. 
• Don’t forget to say or play a Station ID as close to the top of the hour as possible. The official station ID is “KUOI 89.3 FM Moscow” or “KUOI Moscow 89.3 FM.” Note that you must spell out K-U-O-I and include both KUOI and Moscow. 
• Don’t forget to play PSAs/Holy promos/Radio Billboard/and read the weather. Follow the times in the DJ book as closely as possible. Don’t stop a song to get right on the mark for these. They can be slightly before or past the time listed. 
• When your show is finished, be sure to fade back into the MegaSeg. The easiest way to do this is to press play on MegaSeg and fade back in using the slider. Make sure all of the CD and turntable sliders are down and off when you do this. In MegaSeg itself, make sure the Events and Rules buttons are turned on (they’ll be blue if on). 

After Your Show

• Put away all music and put the DJ Book on the windowsill. 
• Log out of your Spinitron account and submit your digital DJ Log. Once submitted it’ll reload a clean form for the next DJ. 
• Follow all posted cleaning instructions before you leave. 

Troubleshooting

MegaSeg is Dead!

MegaSeg (aka the program that runs the Robot) is sometimes a picky piece of software and will crash for no apparent reason. If it has crashed, it is very likely monitoring software has already notified the Student Affairs Technicians. While you wait for the Technician to arrive there are a few things you can do. 

• You might be able to force quit MegaSeg by clicking the Apple menu and choosing Force Quit. You should then be able to reopen it and it will default to the currently scheduled playlist. 
• If that doesn’t work, the Master Control computer may need reset. This requires server room access so you’ll want to do the following:
  • Notify the Station Manager. 
  • Notify the Student Affairs Technician at 208-885-2229. Leave a voicemail if there is no answer. 
  • Notify the Student Media adviser if the technician and Station Manager don’t answer.

The CD player or another piece of equipment isn’t working!

Use the QR codes posted in the station or the form at support.kuoi.org to report a problem to the Student Affairs Technician.

I can’t see the transmitter information!

If you were a DJ before 2018, you had to regularly take transmitter readings. But you don’t have to worry about that now! The process is automated, just be sure to use the digital log-in form. 

The power went out!

The transmitter battery will die very quickly. If you have time, sign off the air. Fade out your song and state:

You are listening to KUOI 89.3 FM Moscow. Due to a power outage we will be signing off the air. 

If there is a very short outage, your systems will reboot, but you may need help getting everything going again. Notify the Station Manager and Student Affairs Technician in the event of any power outages.

Something else is wrong!

If the problem is urgent, call the Student Affairs Technician at 208-885-2229, the KUOI Station Manager at the contact information posted in the station, and/or the Student Media Adviser at 208-885-2220 (or the contact information posted on their office door, Pitman 303C) until you find someone who can assist you. Leave messages if they don’t answer. 

If the problem is not urgent, use the QR codes posted in the station or the form at support.kuoi.org to report a problem. 

Recording and Production

How to Record Your Show Live in the Studio

You will need a laptop capable of connecting to WiFi and running VLC.

If you are on Windows, open the View menu and then choose Advanced Controls. This will show the recording options in the main window.

On Windows open the Media menu and then Open Network Stream… On macOS open the File menu and choose Open Network…

Under URL enter https://s2.radio.co/sedf30688d/listen and press Play/Open. After you’ve clicked Play/Open, VLC will start playing the webstream.

• This is the direct URL to KUOI’s webstream and can change in the future. Be sure to check back here if the URL fails to open.
• You’ll want to mute your laptop so the studio mic doesn’t pick it up.
• The webstream is on a 10s to 30s delay.

When you’re ready to start recording, press the Record button in the bottom of the VLC main window.

Once you’re done recording press the Record button again. VLC will save a copy of your recording as an MP3 in the default music folder. Typically C:\Users\username\Music on Windows and \Users\username\Music on macOS.

How to Record and Upload a Show or Podcast From Home

For pre-recording a show you will need a microphone, audio recording software such as Audacity, have gone through your DJ training with the KUOI Program Director, and been approved for KUOI NAS access.

Preparation

Make sure you have first requested access to the KUOI NAS above before moving onto the next steps. Even if you don’t plan to use KUOI’s music or Station IDs you will need NAS access to submit your show. Some things to note if you are recording a show with music:

• You can use any music you own for your show, including music you borrowed from someone else, it just has to be music owned by a human.
• DO NOT stream files off Spotify, YouTube, or similar service.
• If the KUOI NAS is missing a digital copy of an album you wish to use, notify the Station Manager, and it will be digitized as soon as possible.

In preparation for recording your show check the DJ Book to know whether you need to include Station IDs, Indecency Waivers, PSAs, etc. in your show. You must do this based on the time your show will air, not the current time. You can say the Station IDs if you don’t want to use pre-recorded ones and you can skip the weather since the show isn’t live.

If you plan on using files from the KUOI NAS you’ll want to connect to the NAS. If you don’t plan on using KUOI files you can skip this step, just note that you will need to connect to the NAS in later steps to submit your show.

Connecting to the KUOI NAS

Below are the steps required to connect to the KUOI NAS. Remember, you must first request and be granted access to the NAS with the Request KUOI NAS Access link.

1. Go to https://sm-kuoi-nas.argonaut.uidaho.edu/file/
2. Click Azure SSO Authentication.
3. Click the next arrow.
   1. You may need to allow browser popups.
4. Use you employee account credentials to log in.

Recording With Audacity

We recommend Audacity if you are new to audio recording, it’s simple and free. Setup a time with the Program Director to train you, then refer to this quick guide.

1. To add your voice, hit the record button. Press the stop button to stop recording. Audacity will use the default microphone on your OS. You may need to change these settings depending on the hardware you are using. You can change the devices Audacity uses under Edit > Preferences > Devices.
   
2. To add music or other audio files, drag and drop an audio file from your file system to Audacity, this will add it as a second track.
   
   Move the audio from the second track into the main track by selecting some or all of the song with your mouse, choosing Edit > Copy, clicking into the end of the top audio track, and choosing Edit > Paste. Then use the X in the top left of the second track to remove it.
   
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 as needed to add Station ID’s, PSAs, voice, music, etc. as required.
4. Once you are done recording, choose File > Export > Export as MP3.

Some things to note while you record your show:

• DO NOT pretend you are live. The FCC fines for implying pre-recorded shows are live. You can mention it is pre-recorded at the start or during your show.
• When exporting your final show, make sure you make it an MP3. Other file types, such as WAV or M4A may cause a delay in getting your show on air.

Spinitron

If you have a pre-recorded show that includes music you’ll need to set up a future playlist for your show. To do that, log in to Spinitron, and create a new playlist. Enter the start date and duration to match when your show is scheduled and how long your recording is to last. Also, make sure to check “Display as a future public playlist”. Enter your songs based on when they will play on air. Be sure to pay attention to when you take breaks to talk, etc.!

Uploading to the KUOI NAS

Connect to the KUOI NAS using steps from the Connecting to the KUOI NAS section but for step 3 connect to the below instead:

1. Go to https://sm-kuoi-nas.argonaut.uidaho.edu/file/
2. Click Azure SSO Authentication.
3. Click the next arrow.
   1. You may need to allow browser popups.
4. Use you employee account credentials to log in.

Once connected place your MP3 file in the appropriate folder. For example, if your show were “The Cool Show”, upload it to /Shows/The Cool Show. If a folder for you show does not exist, create it and notify the Station Manager. The Student Affairs Technician must set your show folder up to be included in the automation.

Note that all uploaded MP3 files must follow some rules. A more up-to-date copy of these rules are also located in the readme.txt file located in the Processing Library.

• File Type
  Processing scripts will only look for MP3 files. Anything else will be ignored and missed!
• File Name
  • For music, the file name should be the Title of the song and the same as the Title metadata.
  • For shows make sure to add the date formatted as (YYYY-MM-DD) to the end of your file, including the (). This both tells automation when your show plays and when it is to be cleaned up and archived. In a few rare cases, such as KUOI News, this date instead is the last air date of this show. MegaSeg automation may be set up to play it more frequently. In the case of these types of shows, the Title metadata should be the show name and the date range the show airs (YYYY-MM-DD – YYYY-MM-DD).
  • For PSAs make sure to add the date formatted as (YYYY-MM-DD) to the end of your file, including the (). This is the final date they are allowed to air. After this date automation will automatically archive them.
• Metadata
  Using a tool like Mp3tag or Audacity’s options on export to MP3, make sure every file you add to processing has at least the following items set:
  • Title
  • Artist
  • Album
  • Year
  • Genre
    • Pre-recorded shows must NOT have a genre set.

The Processing library is checked every weekday at 8:05 AM. If you place your show after this time and it is to air the same day, you must notify the Station Manager. It is best practice to upload your show at least three days before it is to air.

Recording and uploading promos and Legal IDs

This section of the manual is not yet complete. It should be updated by Fall 2022.

Uploading new music to MegaSeg

This section of the manual is not yet complete. It should be updated by Fall 2022.

Guide to Prod A

This section of the manual is not yet complete. It should be updated by Fall 2022.

Guide to Prod B

This section of the manual is not yet complete. It should be updated by Fall 2022.

Logic Pro X & Blue YETI Mic

These are the steps to setup the Blue YETI microphone on the iMac in ProdB for use in Logic X. First you’ll want to open Logic Pro X from the taskbar or Applications folder and create an audio track.

Select Logic Pro X, Preferences, and then Audio.

Select “BLUE USB Audio 2.0” for both the Output and Input Device.

Click Apply Changes. The system will give a message about initializing core audio, this is a good thing. Now you are all set! Your microphone will be set for the YETI and the headphone output will run through the YETI headphone amp. You are all set to record, playback, and edit!

Podcasting Tips

This section of the manual is not yet complete. It should be updated by Fall 2022.

Other Guidelines

DJing Live Events

KUOI doesn’t currently have technology to do live remote broadcasts, but we do provide DJ services for campus events. These are not broadcast over our airwaves, but do help get the word out about KUOI and provide a community service. 

Here are things to know: 

• Most of our event DJ requests are for back-to-school events like Get Involved Fair and FemFest. These requests tend to come in by email to the Station Manager in August – watch for them! 
• The requestor should provide their own sound setup – at least a speaker with an Aux hookup. In a pinch, KUOI can borrow the Block Rocker from Student Involvement. 
• You can use your phone or check out the KUOI laptop from the Student Affairs Technician to play music from. 
• Because live events aren’t broadcast, you may stream music for them. Ask the Station Manager about KUOI’s prepared playlists. If the event has a certain theme, you can make a new playlist. 
• Take KUOI merch, DJ applications and other stuff with you – set it up to promote the station during the event! 
• Arrive early and stay for the full event. Multiple staffers/DJs can cover a single event if needed. 

KUOI Web and Social

The KUOI Website

The Station Manager and PR Director will make a plan every year for updating and maintaining the website. At the very least, staff contact information and the schedule should be kept up to date. 

The Station Manager and staffers can request website editing access by filling out the form at support.kuoi.org. 

The IN CUE Blog

Welcome to the wonderful world of writing about music. At KUOI we strive to highlight the diversity of music in the world. At IN CUE online we focus on bringing what makes KUOI unique to Moscow—the different tastes in music.  

The IN CUE blog is found at https://www.kuoi.org/category/blog/. Any KUOI DJ or staff member can submit a review, playlist or other post to IN CUE. The Station Manager and PR director edit and post submissions. 

When writing for IN CUE, please keep a few things in mind:  

• Write for anyone to read—we are writing for the students at UI who have varying degrees of familiarity with music.  
• Keep in mind that not everyone has the knowledge and background you do, please explain genre specific terminology or obscure concepts.  
• If doing a band interview, follow journalism standards and ethics.  
• Remember to HAVE FUN, we’re here to talk about music because we like music  

Format: Please format all IN CUE submissions with the following at the TOP of all articles/reviews/lists: 

• Headline  
• TAG: (EX: Review, interview, list)  
• Your Name  

Style Pointers: IN CUE follows AP Style. Here are some common AP rules: 

• Do not use Oxford commas (e.g. The Beatles are John, Paul, George and Ringo — no comma before “and”) 
• Put album and song titles in quotes (e.g. The Beatles’ 1965 album “Rubber Soul” includes the song “Norwegian Wood.”) 
• In general, numbers one through nine are written out and 10 and above are in numerals 

To submit your IN CUE post, email it to the Station Manager at [email protected].  

Making a KUOI Spotify Playlist

Any KUOI staffer can create a Spotify playlist for an event or to accompany an IN CUE post. Ask the Station Manager for login information.  

We have a few rules and guidelines you’ll need to follow when you do. The Student Media Spotify account is shared between all the branches of Student Media. DO NOT alter or change any of the other playlists created.  

Rules:  

1. Playlist themes and art must be approved by the Station Manager or Program Director. 
2. When you start a playlist make it secret while adding music, cover art and writing description.  
3. Send the playlist to the Station Manager or Program Director to review before making it public. 
4. If explicit material is going to be on your playlist, it must be marked in the title and/or cover art  

Tips:  

1. The Recommended tab under playlists is a good resource for finding songs you might want to add 
2. Ask the PR Director to put a call out on social media for playlist ideas and to promote your playlist  
3. If a KUOI Staff or DJ ask DJs for recommendations to add Consequences for failure to follow the rules will result in the following a verbal warning followed by not being allowed to create playlists. 

Archiving

This section will be added later and cover how to archive KUOI News and station-produced podcasts.

Underwriting and PSAs

Underwriting Guidelines

Online at https://www.kuoi.org/support/advertising/

Why Underwrite?

KUOI 89.3 FM is a non-commercial, educational radio station whose license is held by The University of Idaho. Alternative, Indie, Oldies, Electronica, Folk, Rock, Metal, World, Reggae, Blues, Gospel, Roots, Local and National News, and Public Affairs programs are broadcast 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Listeners (and announcers) represent a true cross section of the community: business people, retirees, faculty, alumni, students and residents of the area. These are the people who will hear your message throughout Moscow, Idaho and the Palouse. Our broadcast range is 10-20 miles south to Genesee, north to Potlatch, east to Pullman and west to Troy, Idaho. Estimated population coverage is 15,000.

How Does Underwriting Work?

KUOI 89.3 FM is owned by the students of the University of Idaho and located at UI’s Moscow campus. The station is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and therefore all your donations including program underwriting are tax-deductible. 

As an alternative to advertising, underwriting is a way for you or your business (or non-profit organization) to gain community-wide recognition for your support of KUOI and its commitment to quality and diverse programming. In addition to being a very wise investment for you, the on-air acknowledgements enhance your image as participants in, and supporters of organizations in our community. With dozens of programs per week, there are many from which to choose that will most effectively showcase your business or organization. 

You may elect to underwrite one or more regular programs. In return, the announcer of the sponsored program will read your message. (see FCC Regulations and sample underwriting)

What does underwriting cost?

Visit the website for University Avenue Agency, the Student Media advertising group, for current rates: www.universityavenueagency.com. Advance payment is required.

What Content may I have in my Underwriting Announcement?

KUOI is committed to creating high quality, professional-sounding announcements. Our Underwriting Manager will work with you to maximize your message within the parameters set by the FCC (see FCC Underwriting Guidelines below). We are confident that you will be satisfied with our representation of your business. To receive a complete Underwriting Packet or for information on pricing, contact Danielle Ayres. 

The following are sample underwriting announcements: 

Today’s programming is brought to you by Joes Mill Hill Saloon, featuring The G clef Singers May 10, with the Kings lead guitarists jazz instrumental quartet performing electronic, experimental, and rock-based music. More information is available at (609) 394-7222 or themillhillsaloon.com. 

Support for this program is provided in part by Panera Bread. Panera has grilled breakfast sandwiches every morning. Soups, salads and panini sandwiches all day long. And bread baked by bakers every day. PaneraBread.com 

Transmission Control is supported in part by Princeton Record Exchange. Princeton Record Exchange is located at 20 South Tulane St. Princeton, NJ 08542. Open Monday thru Saturday 10-9pm and Sunday 11-6PM, the number for more information is 609.921.0881.

FCC/KUOI Underwriting Regulations and Policies

Due to FCC regulations of non-commercial airwaves there are several rules we must abide by in any underwriting announcement.  

• Legal or trade name must be stated to identify the underwriter 
• Any or all of the following may be used in acknowledgment copy:
  • Telephone number, email address, web site and location of business or area served 
  • Days of operation 
  • A listing of up to three products or services 
    Product origin (French wine) 
  • Intended use of product (children’s clothing) 
  • Product content (wool suits) 
  • Form of delivery, or method of preparation (Delivered by rickshaw or cooked with bottled water) 
• None of the following may be used in acknowledgment copy:
  • Qualitative language, (wonderful; homemade) 
  • Comparative language, (better; most) 
  • Calls to action, (call today, come by) 
  • Location of business using another business as a reference (located next door to?) 
  • Number of years in business 
  • First person statements (I) 
  • Second person statements (you) 
• Corporate non-promotional slogans may be used in underwriting acknowledgments if they are in well-established use by the business and the wording stays within the spirit of these guidelines and the FCC regulations.  
• Underwriters may state support for the arts in general terms, but may only name KUOI specifically, (the arts and KUOI). 

All underwriting copy, including corporate slogans, is subject to the approval of the Station Manager of KUOI-FM. Underwriting is support for current programs at KUOI. Financial support does not in any way imply that sponsors may influence program content or programming decisions. 

Public Service Announcement Submission Guidelines

Adapted from the WKNC Training and Operations Manual 

KUOI FM 89.3 is non-commercial educational radio charged with serving the public interest of the University of Idaho campus and Moscow community. As such, KUOI commits unsold sponsorship inventory to airing public service announcements (PSAs) regarding the programs, activities or services of federal, state or local governments and the programs, activities of services of registered local, state and national non-profit organizations.  

PSAs are accepted for both general informational announcements about an organization and for onetime or short-run events. The 30 second pre-recorded announcements can run approximately four times per day and can be in regular rotation for 30-90 days. KUOI is unable to guarantee when or if any announcement will run on the radio station. If an organization needs an announcement to run according to specific schedule, they are encouraged to purchase an underwriting package through University Avenue Agency by contacting [email protected].  

Organizations interested in a PSA should prepare a 90-word script and submit it via the form found at https://uidaho.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bwsVs8xp0KKRMTc. Scripts should not include qualitative or comparative language, price information, calls to action, first-person and second-person language, or inducements to buy, sell, rent or lease.  

Please read over the following guidelines before submitting your script: 

• The requesting organization MUST be non-profit and no for-profit organization can benefit from the organization or event. Announcements for fundraisers at for-profit establishments will not be accepted, even if a portion of the funds are donated to charity. 
• Information or events should have obvious appeal and value to the University of Idaho community. Events should be located in or around Moscow and Pullman. 
• A PSA cannot be used for political purposes; if PSAs have political slants for or against a controversial issue, they will be rejected. 
• Event PSAs should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event. 
• Do not send a press release, brochure, calendar or flier in lieu of a script. 
• Please provide pronunciation (pro-NUN-see-A-shun) for any difficult words or names.  

Example PSA 

Second Chance Pet Adoptions is a non-profit animal rescue organization serving the Palouse since 1989. Second Chance helps place dogs, puppies, cats and kittens in adoptive or foster homes. Second Chance Pet Adoptions is located on Imaginary Road between Moscow and Pullman. Second Chance Palouse dot org has photos of prospective pets, adoption applications and information on upcoming adoption events. This announcement is a public service of KUOI 89.3 FM.

Instructions for recording and uploading

This section of the manual is not yet complete. It should be updated by Fall 2022.

DJ Training Checklist

DJs must complete training and pass their evaluation BEFORE going on air!

Item	Trained	Passed
Logs and Procedures – Live DJs
Demonstrate how to log into the studio computer and open Master Control
Demonstrate signing on and off duty in the online DJ Log
Explain how to use the DJ Book
Explain how and when to do a Legal ID
Demonstrate how to find an album in the library
Demonstrate how to log in and start a playlist in Spinitron
Demonstrate how to find and play/cue a song in Spinitron
Explain the SoundExchange “performance complement” rule
Explain what to do if there’s a power outage
Demonstrate how to stop and start MegaSeg auto play
Demonstrate how to air a Legal ID, PSA and promo from MegaSeg
Locate troubleshooting information if MegaSeg is dead
Pass a written test about station and FCC rules with a 85% or better, and review any missed questions in the handbook
Logs and Procedures – Remote DJs
Explain how to incorporate Legal IDs into a pre-recorded show
Explain how to access and use the DJ Book
Demonstrate how to create a Spinitron playlist for a show with music
Explain the SoundExchange “performance complement” rule
Explain the SoundExchange “performance complement” rule
Pass a written test about station and FCC rules with a 85% or better, and review any missed questions in the handbook
Logs and Procedures – Podcasters
Explain how to incorporate Legal IDs into your show
Explain how to access and use the DJ Book
Explain how to find non-copyrighted music for your show
Demonstrate how to upload your show to Spotify
Demonstrate how to upload your show to the NAS
Pass a written test about station and FCC rules with a 85% or better, and review any missed questions in the handbook
Equipment – Everyone who uses the studio
Explain how to contact tech support or report broken equipment
Demonstrate how to cue a song on a CD player
Explain what to do if an album is missing or damaged
Equipment – If you’ll play records
Demonstrate how to turn on the turntables and place a record
Demonstrate how to use the board to cue a song
Demonstrate how to clean a record
Explain what to do if a record sleeve needs repair
Prod A – if applicable
TO BE ADDED IN 2022
Prod B – if applicable
TO BE ADDED IN 2022