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10 Questions with ... Wendy Rollins
August 20, 2013
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WCHZ/-Augusta, GA (overnights), WXNR/New Bern, NC (morning co-host/middays), WYAV/Myrtle Beach, SC (APD/Afternoon Drive), KRZQ/ Reno, NV (PD/ Middays), WBZY/ Atlanta (Weekends/Swing), WYAV/Charleston, SC (MD/ Afternoon Drive), and WRFF/Philadelphia (APD/ Afternoon Drive).
1. What is your fondest radio memory growing up in Atlanta listening to 99X?
Sean Demery, Leslie Fram, Steve Craig, The Morning X, The Swingin' Velveeta Lounge, and The House Of Retro Pleasure. I was obsessed with the station! I was the kid that stole all the signage and put it up in my dorm room and taped all the jocks breaks before I even knew what an aircheck was. This station defined my future!
2. What do you remember most from your first radio job at Channel Z in Augusta?
Eric Hall! He was the very first guy to give me a shot on the air and has been my Yoda ever since. I started as an intern for Matt Jones in promotions, a week later I was in programming with Eric, and a week later I was on the air covering overnights. My second night on the air I was greeted by the police at about 2:30am who told me a carjacker had been shot and the blood trail led to my studio...specifically the window right behind me.
3. What do you love most about working at Radio 104.5?
Our Performance Studio. It's our crown jewel! The studio holds an audience of about 40 comfortably, has a stage, legit lighting rig, and a great sound. We can do a live broadcast and web stream in there too. Mumford & Sons debuted "Ghosts That We Knew" (that title wasn't even confirmed at the time) for the first time live on the radio there. My Chemical Romance played their very last radio performance there.
4. What is most important to you when championing new music for the station?
If it makes me stop what I'm doing and stare at my stereo -- it's important.
5. What may surprise people about Radio 104.5?
On occasion our music meetings consist of writing song titles on scraps of paper as a secret ballot. It's quite effective.
6. How do you prep for your air shift each day?
READ! I read everything-from articles to tweets just to make sure I have the absolute latest info. With social networking, word gets out fast, and if you aren't in on what's happening your listeners will be -- and you'll look like a fool.
7. Tell us about the Radio 104.5 Summer Block Parties and what makes them successful?
They're FREE! You can't beat that! We have been really fortunate that there is a great non-traditional outdoor venue smack in the middle of a hot zip. We have had a lot of the local bars and restaurants rally around it as well so it's turned into a real community event. Plus, a lot of artists have found it's a great way to get in front of a couple thousand kids so we have had some really great talent throw their name in. I hate the cliché "it's a win win" but...
8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Oxygen and skin.
9. What do you like best about living in Philadelphia?
When I first moved to the northeast I was terrified! I've come to find this really is the "city of brotherly love" -- so long as you don't land in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is a huge music scene here and a ton of great local talent bubbling under. It's a big city that somehow manages to keep its small town vibe -- you'll see a lot of familiar faces.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
I'm really good at archery. My family started competitions in the backyard when we were kids and my brother and I still do it when we get together.
Bonus Questions
When you're away from Radio 104.5, what are your personal music listening preferences?
Classic Jazz like Chet Baker, Miles Davis, and Cannonball Adderly. I also dig trip hop like Air and The Thievery Corporation.
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