"Best Days" by Blur. "Sunday Drivers" by Aztec Cameras."Trouble" by Shampoo."Hyper Enough" by Superchunk.These songs aren't commonly played on Oklahoma City stations on the FM dial. Alternative music fans and curious listeners can now hear these songs and others on Norman's KNOR-1400 AM from 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday nights during THE FRINGE program.Three students - marketing sophomore Randy White, journalism sophomore Brian Howard and film and video studies senior Chance Newman - started the program in December.Now, they are looking to students and the Norman business community for support.Newman, who is programming director, said students tried to establish a student radio station at OU, but nothing came about. He said it would have taken a lot longer to get an alternative or modern rock radio station in Norman through the university.When & WhereEvent: THE FRINGETime: 7:00 p.m. to midnight, Fridays and SaturdaysPlace: KNOR - 1400 AMNewman, who also works at KGOU, said the three students brought their program proposal to John Fox, general manager at KNOR, and he agreed to it within 20 minutes.THE FRINGE is a commercial radio program, not sponsored by UOSA or the university. However, it is operated by students and the programming is directed toward students.Newman said the program has had an amazing response. Several record industry trade magazines, including Billboard's trade magazine, have written about the program. Many national record companies are sending the program music.White, sales director for the program, said it needs support from businesses as well as students. The program could go seven days a week from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. or could go 24 hours a day if the program gets enough advertising support.Howard, THE FRINGE's music director, also works for KGOU and worked for the EDGE in Dallas from 1989 to 1992. He said the music played on THE FRINGE is unique. "You're not going to hear it on any other station," he said.For example, Howard said other stations will be playing "Glycerine" by Bush, but he would rather play another song by Bush that has not been played, unless it were requested.Howard said the program plays songs people can't hear anywhere and retro songs, such as songs by Haircut 100. He said it plays remixes not many people have heard.Newman said THE FRINGE is a way for people to educate themselves about alternative music.Howard said the program is not trying to compete with KJYO-102.7 FM or KATT-100.5 FM. He said the organizers want it to be like 120 Minutes on MTV because people plan their schedules around that show.The staff of THE FRINGE said it is interested in giving Norman bands exposure on the program. Howard said interested bands should leave a message on THE FRINGE line at 447-2493. Howard also said the program follows Federal Communications Commission regulations."We don't do anything to piss anyone off," he said.Students interested in helping with the program can call THE FRINGE line and submit resumes. They can also volunteer to help with promotions, distributing flyers and coming up with logo designs.Listeners can call THE FRINGE line, a phone bank for comments, complaints or applause. Howard said the program is going to be audience-driven.Students said they liked the idea of a new program."I think I'd listen to it since I like all types of music" said Jim Chau, University College freshman. "Radio stations right now repeat songs too much."Tim Edwards, microbiology sophomore, said he liked the idea."I missed the alternative station in Tulsa, and there isn't an alternative station in Oklahoma City," he said.Physical therapy freshman Tara Schumann said she wouldn't listen to the program because she does not like alternative music."If they want to have it, they should," she said.
