The shifting role of the listeners in the mediamorphosis process of culture radio: A case study of Jodhipati 106.1 FM

Abstract

The adaptation of the use of communication technology towards media convergence (mediamorphosis) makes it a necessity for radio to change. Jodhipati FM, a commercial radio station in Nganjuk Regency which declared its identity as a Javanese cultural radio station, has also made the change. The uniqueness of Jodhipati FM to broadcast 100% Javanese cultural programs originated from the demands of listeners to listen to the wayang kulit (leather puppet) program. The close interaction and relationships between the listeners and radio management has made every change in Jodhipati FM driven by the interests of the listeners. This qualitative research collected data through a virtual ethnography supplemented by participant observation and in-depth interviews with nine informants. The results found there to be a mediamorphosis pattern that explains the stages of Jodhipati FM’s change and the influence of the listeners’ demands, from the early history of its establishment through to the present. At present, Jodhipati FM uses Facebook, streaming and WhatsApp as broadcast support. In interactive engagement between the listeners and radio management in the virtual world, both parties have an equal role as media producers. In the life of a networked society, the listener experiences a shift in role and characteristics. Apart from acting as the media producer, the radio listeners are involved in programming, they are free to criticize and they are also free to look for sponsors and advertisements. The characteristics of the listener have also changed. They become physically visible, their voices are heard, their personalities are revealed, they live in various social networks, age restrictions disappear, there are no territorial boundaries and there are no time limits. As a cultural radio station, Jodhipati FM has the advantage of being able to preserve and spread Javanese culture throughout the world.

A Virtual Ethnography Study: The Role of Cultural Radios in Campursari Music Proliferation in East Java

“…Campursari music is a collaboration or a merger between diatonic scales (modern musical instruments) and pentatonic scales (gamelan instruments) (Wiyoso, 2007a;Haryono and Ganap, 2011;Saputri, 2015;Kobi, 2017). However, now every song that uses Javanese lyrics is considered by the public as campursari music (Achmad and Ida, 2019). Even though the music has a sound that similar with traditional instruments, but there is no combination of diatonic and pentatonic scales.…”

“…Since 2009 several commercial radios in East Java have made several programs and segment changes (Achmad and Alamiyah, 2015). Moreover, in the past five years, radio listeners have shown an increase in their enjoyment and interest in campursari music (Achmad and Ida, 2019). They started by adding or even replacing the music format with campursari music.…”

“…This study aims to uncover the development and proliferation of campursari music in East Java, by examining four commercial radios that have cultural content in their broadcast programs, namely: radio Jodhipati FM in Nganjuk, radio Sritanjung FM in Banyuwangi, radio Nada FM in Sumenep and radio Media FM in Surabaya. The four radios studied were categorized as cultural radios because they had cultural broadcast hours, which were more than 50% of the total broadcast hours as well as having a music format that broadcasts more types of ethnic (Javanese, Using and Madurese) music (Achmad and Ida, 2019).…”

A Virtual Ethnography Study: Fandom and Social Impact in Digital Era

“…The researcher interacts as part of the virtual fandom and involves in various virtual fandom activities. The ethnographic interviewing process referred to as "shared experienced" and this is what distinguishes it from other research interview practices because interviews in ethnography provide benefits in term of depth and wealth of results (Achmad & Ida, 2019). The key here is the "shared experienced" as part of the community.…”

The impact of the Mobile Legend game in creating virtual reality

“…A method has become a trend lately because it uses data collection through real fields and virtual fields (Achmad & Ida 2018;Hine 2000). This method is very suitable for this research because it acts as a participant-observer to get direct and original information from research subjects (Achmad 2019;Achmad & Ida 2019;Angelone 2018). The advantage of this method is that it provides intermittent time flexibility for researchers to engage in the lives and activities of subjects and informants so that it does not involve researchers full time as a traditional ethnographic study (Achmad, Ida, & Mustain 2020;Achmad, Juwito, & Saud 2020;Hine 2004;Hine 2015).…”