Travis DeLong doesn’t own an iPod.
He said it has become more of a status symbol than a functional
item.
The UCLARadio.com DJ and general manager prefers his nearly
vintage Philips CD player, which he can’t even remember when
he bought, over the several-hundred-dollar iPod.
After three and a half years at UCLARadio.com, two and a half of
which he spent as general manager, the fourth-year molecular, cell
and developmental biology student is hanging up his headphones
after heading the organization through several years of change.
Recalling what it has been like working for UCLARadio.com, which
his coworkers and friends credit him with revolutionizing, DeLong
displayed a range of emotions, from happiness about the prank calls
he and fellow DJs would coordinate while on-air to sadness mixed
with pride at the thought of leaving the station which has grown so
much under his leadership.
But like Jay-Z, he said he’s not quitting.
“I’m calling it a retirement. I’m not calling
it a resignation or quitting,” he said. “Realistically,
I’ve reached the point where I’ve accomplished a lot,
(and) recognize that there are really talented people ready to step
up and take more responsibilities. I don’t want to stand in
the way anymore.”
DeLong first began making his voice heard on UCLARadio.com his
freshman year when he and roommate Karthik Gunnia both joined the
organization. They were cohosts on the show “5400 Seconds of
Stupidity and Music … But Mostly Stupidity.”
DeLong ““ who got his first guitar in eighth grade ““
is a professed lover of ska, which he calls “happy
music,” Atmosphere, Marvin Gaye and John Coltrane.
He said at that time all it took to get hired was filling out an
application and showing up. A small six-person staff, frequent
no-shows by DJs, locked station doors and no structure and
organization were some of the issues DeLong said he had to deal
with coming in.
And by deal with, he means completely transform.
“I have a problem when I see a situation that I think
isn’t being handled effectively. I have this sense I should
step in and do something,” he said.
After less than a year interning and DJing at the station,
DeLong applied to be general manager, a move then-production
director and DJ Frederick Badlissi calls remarkable.
“He was very keen and very engaged. … He wanted to get
down to the nitty-gritty as soon as possible and effect some
change,” Badlissi said.
Helen Seliverstov, former vice chair of the UCLA Communications
Board, which participated in the process of approving DeLong for
the general manager position, said it was DeLong’s ambition
that led to his approval.
“Up until Travis came, (UCLARadio.com) was an inconsistent
body, or so it seemed. Travis, being young and energetic, would
provide stability and have time to watch it and build it and be
successful,” she said.
UCLARadio.com is a part of Student Media, as is the Daily
Bruin.
DeLong said his first objective was to create a managerial
structure with set positions to bring organization to the highly
disorganized station.
“Some things existed in spirit before I got there, but
there wasn’t necessarily a title for them or a person in
charge. I brought in people to be in charge,” he said.
The six-person staff has since morphed into a coalition of 80
full-time DJs and at least a dozen managers all working together
daily to maintain 18 hours of live programming. DeLong also expects
there to be 40 to 50 interns following recruitment this
quarter.
DeLong said increased staffing and a greater emphasis on
promotions are behind the expansion of the station’s
audience. As an example, DeLong said that on Feb. 22, 2003 there
were 13 listeners, but on the same day in 2005 there were 205.
UCLARadio.com is able to get exact figures on how many people are
listening because of the ability to monitor exactly how many people
connect to the stream on the site, DeLong said.
They average 20 listeners a show, which he said may sound small
but is actually not bad in comparison with other college
stations.
Colleagues said DeLong’s dedication, enthusiasm and
personality are major factors in the success of the station.
“He’s always been very conscientious, very positive
about the station and very open to different ideas and formats.
That really makes him very comfortable to work with,” said
Donald Riley Jr., also known as DJ Riley, a current DJ who has been
with the station since the mid-1990s.
Arvli Ward, Student Media director, said DeLong’s extended
tenure with the station is remarkable since most students only
spend one year as general manager then either graduate or go back
to spending time studying.
“It’s really been a benefit to the organization
because it brings a sense of stability, consistency,” he
said.
Eric Rice, assistant manager of the music department and former
music manager, said the station was in “pretty sorry
shape” when he first came and he was discouraged that he was
not going to be able to do college radio anymore as he had done at
Stanford University. But Rice said DeLong’s ability to bring
organization to the station and his energy enabled him to be proud
to be part of radio again.
DeLong said he is most proud of all the people that have been
brought into the station and the hard work they all do every day.
The longtime DJ said his favorite memory is going to be walking
away.
“It’s going to be nice to walk away and see (the
station’s) in good hands,” he said.
Rice said many organizations fail without their strong leader,
but he isn’t worried that UCLARadio.com will have the same
fate.
“I don’t feel afraid for the future of UCLA Radio
without Travis. He’s helped create a radio station that
doesn’t need him. That’s pretty great,” Rice
said.