Free-form Radio: WXRX`s `Idiot`s Delight` format

Staff photo/Robert A. Sabo
Vin Scetsa, the host d 'Idiot's Delight' relaxes in the production studio before going on the air. Scelsa's free..form program airs on WXRK-FM (92.3).
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ree-Iorm ra 10
By Robyn Pforr
StatfWriter
O
n Sunday nights, an untamed music
lover named Vin Scelsa flaunts the
rules of commercial r adio on WXRKFM - New York's classic rock
station.
Scelsa's show, called "Idiot's Delight,"
stands out on the FM dial like a natural
beauty in a crowd of big-haired beauty
pageant contestants.
While most disc jockeys are tightly reined
in by computer-generated song lists, Scelsa is
allowed to roam free. And roam he does. His
program is a combination of an old-time talk
show and the most interesting mix of
progressive music on New York area
commercial radio today. Scelsa plays and does
whatever he darn we ll feels like every Sunday
from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on 92.3-FM.
On his show you might hear songs by
country western star Hank Williams before he
plays the raw folk-rock of the Violent
Femmes. Later he might mix in some
unreleased tapes from new bands like Black
47 and Death and Taxes. Scelsa lovingly
reads passages from his favorite books and
poems. He'll also interview his favorite people
on the show, people like British playwright
Tom Stoppard, "60 Minutes" reporter Ed
Bradley and monologue artist Eric Bogosian.
And what's more, Scelsa refuses to play
,== Loe.pnotogenu:Ltno..wUsan PbilliOUlr even
"I love the idea of radio, but I don't like
what it has become. The actual content has
become the least impor tant element," says
Scelsa, 43. "I feel there's a real need for what
I do and the music I play. No one is willing to
take a risk anymore on an individual's gut
feeli ng a bout music."
On a recent Sunday night, Scelsa was host
songwriter
Willie Nile. When Nile played
to
"Free Bird ." Not playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's
an acoustic version of one of the hits from his
rock anthem is close to a cardinal sin by
new album, Scelsa had an "Idiot's Delight"
classic rock standards.
chorus, made up of the first six callers, sing
the refrain. And Scelsa gleefully joined in
It's more than a job
with a kazoolike rendition of the song's
"I never thought of radio as a career. It's
electric guitar solo. When Scelsa gets excited,
an art," said Sceisa, a short, bespectacled man which he is known to do, he sings along with
who these days wears his light brown hair in a music, interrupts to point out particularly
ponytail. "It's for me to enjoy and to give air
wonderful lyrics or just plays songs two, three
time to bands who otherwise wouldn't get
times in a row.
played. I'm not concerned with the masses.
"Vin takes cha nces. He plays bands like us
It's very selfish. The fact that other people get
who are not on the top 40 lists. He has a
into it is great."
genuine love of music, as opposed to the love
Yes, but what's art got to do with today's
of money," says Larry Kirwan, the lead singer
commercial radio, with its focus on
of Black 47, a Celtic rap band in Manhattan.
demographic studies, rigid formats and
WXRK, which is also known as K-ROCK,
advertising dollars?
has a second free-form DJ, Howard Stern,
Scelsa's version of art is also called freewho is Andrew Dice Clay to Scelsa's Robin
form radio. Though popular in the '60s, fr eeWilliams. Stern, t he bad boy of the morning, is
form is now an endangered species. Out of the rated first in his time slot for 25- to 54-yearmore than 7,000 commercial radio stations
old listeners, While Scelsa's show is rated
nationwide, only 39 feature free-form shows,
eighth in the Sunday night market. WXRK
according to M Street Journal, a Washington- wouldn't comment on the show's advertising
based weekly that covers the radio industry.
revenues.
For Scelsa a 24-year veteran of tht radio
business. free-'fo rm is the only way he' I go.
WXRK's 'Idiot' s Delight'
format is among the
endangered species