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BRUTALITY RADIO
INTERVIEW WITH THE MISTRESS
Does Brutality Radio represent the futrure of radio? For what may be the first time you can surf the web and listen to your faborite brutal bands at the same time. Brutality Radio is an Internet based station with its own site and an exclusive playlist of death metal in all incarnations. Based in Michigan, USA,, Brutality Radio was started by Laura "The Mistress" Walters who wanted to do a broadcasting show specializing in music you don't get to hear on the radio as often. Besides being able to listen to up and coming bands there are many other things to do when you visit the official Brutality Radio website, such as download winamp skins, enter contests to win free CDs and the like, and read about featured bands of the month as well as new bands added to the BR playlist. You'll have to visit the site to write Laura by snail mail.
Tell a little about yourself, how long you have been into extreme music and what kind of extreme music you like best.
My name is Laura and I'm from Michigan. I've loved metal music since I was 11. I've been listening to death metal for about 4 years now. My favorite extreme music is death metal. However, I love all different styles of metal & extreme music.
How is the local underground scene doing where you are? Did this have any bearing on your starting Brutality Radio?
The local underground scene kinda sucks here! It had no bearing on why I started Brutality Radio. I started Brutality Radio because of my passion for music.
How long has Brutality Radio been in existence and how well does it thrive on the Internet? Is your program one of the first of its kind? Since you started Brutality Radio how many other net shows have popped up?
Brutality Radio has been in existence for about a year & 1/2. However, Brutality Radio started out as Xwarp Extreme Radio which also played death metal. At one time, I had 2 live365 stations. They were "Xwarp Extreme Radio" & "Mistress Metal". "Mistress Metal" played a variety of metal that did not include death metal. It played metal, metalcore and styles of those natures. Live365 stations started out only costing broadcasters $5.00 a month, so it was easy to have 2 stations. Live365 decided to create different broadcaster packages and began to charge a lot more money for them. But, we get a lot more options for our money now. So, I was'nt about to pay a lot of money for 2 stations. The cost would of been outrageous. So, I decided to cancel the "Mistress Metal" station and turned "Xwarp Extreme Radio" into "Brutality Radio". Brutality Radio thrives well on the internet. I have no idea if my station is one of the first to pop up as an all death metal station. I know on live365 that its one of only a few that plays death metal. I honestly don't have time to pay attention to other stations.
What style of extreme music is predominant on Brutality Radio? Do you make efforts for your show to appeal to people into a variety of extreme music or is the interest more narrowed?
Brutality Radio plays death metal only. But if you tune in, you will hear different styles of death metal. I guess you'd have to be into death metal to be interested in Brutality Radio.
How many listeners would you estimate you get a week? Does Brutality Radio have a generally steady listenership or does the listenership fluctuate from time to time?
It's really hard to estimate how many listeners Brutality Radio gets a week. Some days are busier than other days just like any other station. However, I have a pretty faithful amount of listeners that are listening on a regular basis.
Do you work with many independent labels to promote Brutality Radio? Which of these have provided the best working relationships?
Currently, Brutality Radio has 14 underground labels sponsoring the station. The agreement is like this....they put me on their mailing list to receive new releases for airplay on Brutality Radio. They place my Brutality Radio button on their website in a noticeable spot with a caption like "Listen to ........ Records Artists here. I play all their artists on Brutality Radio. I place their artists in "The Black Pages". I post their newsletters in the Brutality Radio yahoo group. I add a button for their label on the "Brutality Radio" page as a supporter. I email all the sponsors a monthly Brutality Radio report that informs them of how well the station is doing. My relationship with all the labels are awesome. We benefit each other in a tremendous way.
How much fanzine and webzine coverage has Brutality Radio gotten so far? Do you see this increasing in the future? Has there been more print zine or webzine coverage?
I honestly don't know. If fanzines or webzines put anything on their sites about Brutality Radio, I don't know about it only because I don't have a lot time to surf the net. AEA zine is only the 3rd zine to interview me. I do know that Razorback Records took out an ad in a printed magazine that included Brutality Radio in its promotion of Razorback Records. Jill from Razorback Records absolutely rules and will stop at nothing to help me and Brutality Radio.
Tell about the home website for Brutality Radio. What other features are there in addition to the show?
Well, I'm partners with Matt of Lividity on "The Central Illinois Metalfest" which all information on the fest is located on my site. I maintain the site for the fest. Theirs "The Black Pages" which is a links directory of artists. I have a downloads section that includes winamp skins I've made for bands with links to their site & mp3's. There is "Deadly Designs" that includes pre-made website templates I've made & I offer bands the opportunity to have winamp skins made by me. The "Win Free Stuff" page offers 2 different contests to win merchandise absolutely free. I promote the band "Neuraxis" from Canada which you can find info on them on my site. I feature a different band each month. I have a forum. That's about it! I try to make my site a metal resource for everyone to enjoy.
I noticed some design work on the Brutality Radio website. Have you done designs for other websites or webzine editors?
I designed the "Extremist Records" website located at http://www.extremistrecords.com & maintained it till recently. I was also a part time webmaster for Forever Underground Records. I recently had to stop work with these sites due to just simply not having the time anymore and family obligations. So, I'm no longer offering specialized website design. I'm only offering templates that I make when I can find the time to make them.
How many giveaway contests have you done through Brutality Radio? What are normally the prizes and how do you go about obtaining them to award winners? Are there any prizes you want to mention you've given away?
Oh there is no way I can even guess, there has been so many contests over the years! The prizes are usually cd's, t-shirts & stickers! I have 3 different contests. Each month you have to join a band yahoo group and/or the Brutality Radio yahoo group to be automatically registered to win at the end of the month. I have a surprise contest or 2 just within the Brutality Radio yahoo group with the current members every month. I'll surprise them by posting something like...be the 3rd person to email me with a specific subject...etc. and I'll send you a free cd or whatever I'm giving away at the spur of the moment. No, there is'nt a particular prize or prizes I'd like to mention because there has just be so much stuff given away.
In what ways has the internet proven beneficial to the underground and in what ways has it proven not-so-beneficial?
The internet has proven beneficial to the underground because its a way to promote music that would never be heard otherwise. The internet is not so beneficial only in the way of spam. Spam is out of control and ridiculous. I can't say its not beneficial to the underground because the internet has proven very useful to me.
Do you hope to have Brutality Radio on the airwaves in the near future?
I hope to have "Brutality Radio" on the airwaves for many years to come! Or at least till I can't handle it anymore. Be sure to visit http://www.xwarp.net to tune in to Brutality Radio, get information on The Central Illinois Metalfest and to reap the rewards from an all metal resource.
Tell of some of the bands and labels who support and sponsor Brutality Radio. How did you hook up with some of them and who has been the most reliable? Are you looking for more sponsors?
My biggest supporters are Internal Suffering, Neuraxis & Warface to name just a few! Labels- Goregiastic Records, Razorback Records, Comatose Music, Unique Leader Records, Bloodbucket Productions, Unmatched Brutality Records, Galy Records, Extremist Records, Retribute Records, Brutal Bands, United Guttural Records, Forever Underground Records, Grindethic Records & The Flood Records. They've all been pretty reliable! I'm always looking for new sponsors!
Tell about the pay packages you have available onyour site. How long have you been doing this?
Well, the pay packages are through the website that hosts Brutality Radio! I don't have anything to do with it! But, the packages start as low as $3.65 a month! You get to listen to Brutality Radio ad free and even if my station is maxed out with listeners, you still get to listen because your a preferred customer! Its actually not a bad deal if you ask me and its pretty cheap! I've been doing it for about 3 years now!
From what part of the world has Brutality Radio gotten the largest responses from bands and death metal fans?
The United States, Germany, Japan, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Mexico, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Australia but it changes all the time! I have to believe that the bands who send in their music for airplay listen as well! So that's way to many bands to try to name!
What is Brutality Radio's current playlist?
Unfortunately, the website that hosts Brutality Radio does'nt allow for me to download the playlist. I'm the only person who can see that and I'd have to log in to do so! But, the playlist is absolutely huge and filled with nothing but the most brutal death metal from around the world.
Anything you want to close the interview with?
Just be sure to visit my website at http://www.xwarp.net and also visit The Central Illinois Metalfest website at: http://www.xwarp.net/Fest/Fest.html Thanks for the interview Dave and keep up the good work!
-Dave Wolff |
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