Browsing by Author "Ups, Indrek"

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Raadio 2 uute Eesti artistide tutvustajana
(Tartu Ülikool, 2012) Ups, Indrek; Kõuts, Ragne, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Ajakirjanduse ja kommunikatsiooni instituut
Analysis of Raadio 2 as a Media Presenter of New Estonian Acts. The objective of this bachelor thesis is to determinate how Raadio 2, being a part of Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR), is serving the purpose of renewing the cultural field by presenting new Estonian acts and their music. This thesis is based on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of fields (more specifically, the theory of the cultural field), by which the social agents share and divide the cultural capital of the cultural field. The social agents will often acknowledge, legitimate and reproduce the social forms of domination and the common opinions that will allow them to constitute the field. This theory has been linked to the predicted trends of Raadio 2 and their work on presenting new domestic acts. As also the radio presenters themselves play a great role in choosing the acts to be presented, the author of this thesis includes the gatekeeping theory. To give a better overview on how Raadio 2 is presenting new Estonian acts, the author has conducted a content-analysis of the radio’s programme and additional expert-interviews. The analysis of the programme is based on three weeks of Raadio 2’s programme (the weeks were divided between December 2011, February and March in 2012). The author analyzed mostly those broadcasts that share the purpose of presenting new (Estonian) acts. The chosen broadcasts are “Kuulderaadius”, “Pleier”, “Pleier Extra” and “Muusikanõukogu”. The material analyzed consists in approximately 83 hours of broadcasting. The expert-interviews were conducted with Heidy Purga, the ex editor-in-chief of Raadio 2; Sten Teppan, one of the radio presenters in Raadio 2; Helen Sildna, a music manager and a promoter; and Fredy Schmidt, a young Estonian musician, whose several acts (groups such as Animal Drama, Kosmoseratsanikud and Laika Virgin) have been promoted by Raadio 2. Based on the analysis of the broadcasts presenting new Estonian acts on Raadio 2, it can be said that about 10% of the time the shows are on air, is spent on presenting new domestic acts. The main means to introduce new acts are interviewing the artists and playing their music. Also the comments of the radio presenters are important: as many of the presenters working in Raadio 2 are opinion leaders when it comes to Estonian music, them giving credit to young musicians is a motivation of its own. The music of new Estonian acts finds its way to Raadio 2 in two ways in general. Most of the music is brought or sent by the artists themselves. Some of the music is found by the radio presenters. If they discover a new band from a concert or from the Internet and find the music good or interesting enough to introduce to the public, they contact the artists to get their music to the radio station. The opinion of the radio presenters plays a great part in choosing the acts to introduce. To find their way to be presented on air, the artists have to have that special something to catch the attention of the presenters. In a way, the criteria to be noticed by the radio presenters can be named the musical newsworthiness of the artists (being artistic, enthralling, fresh, weird, with character, etc.). Also the technical quality is important – the music can be good, but if the recording is bad in quality, it cannot be played on radio. Raadio 2 helps the new Estonian acts to build their music career mainly by introduction. The radio station is willing to play the acts that are little known and have therefore little or no chance to be played on commercial radio stations. In addition, Raadio 2 is also working together with a band competition Noortebänd. In a competition where only little known young musicians can enter, Raadio 2 chooses their favourites and rewards them with a special prize to help to build their career. Raadio 2 can also suggest international music festivals to consider some little known Estonian artists to be invited to play there. In Estonia, the annual gallup poll Aastahitt, organized by Raadio 2, plays a big role in introducing new acts to public. The results of the poll are announced on a special day that ends with a music gala where the main prizes are given to the best acts. The radio presenters also choose their favourites and give an opportunity to at least one new group to perform on the show that is also broadcasted by the national television. The lists of songs played on Raadio 2 are sent to the Estonian Authors’ Society, a percentage of the broadcasting fee is paid to the authors of the songs if they are registered members of the society. The most important function of Raadio 2 for the artists themselves is nevertheless the opportunity to get played and talked of on the radio. A friendly pat-on-the-back by a radio station that is a part of ERR and where opinion-leaders of domestic music work, gives a great deal of encouragement and self-confidence for the musicians to keep on making what they love.