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10 Questions with ... Brian "Wingnut" DeGrasse
April 29, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Interned at JACOR Denver in 1998, working on KBPI Morning show and in promotions. Worked my way up the "Clear Channel ladder", doing on-air work and marketing for the cluster. Was kicked out of the CC nest in January 2009 (with a lot of other people around the country). I've been at Max Media since March of 2009 as their Brand Manager for the Denver Cluster. Crazy to have a radio career and only be in one market, but I love Denver and wouldn't want it any other way.
1. What led to KDHT flipping to Alternative as KXDE 107X?
We were running a JACK FM format for about 15 months and it just wasn't working. We had heritage Denver rock jock "Uncle Nasty" working here and we wanted to utilize his skills to the fullest and serve his existing audience.
2. Tell us about the wedge you are carving between Alternative KTCL and Active Rock KBPI?
We took the hard end off of KBPI and the soft end off of KTCL and made a gold based radio station.
3. How much new music will you be playing?
We won't be playing any brand new music for the immediate future, but we'll see where the market and Denver listeners want us to go. We are however, playing some titles from Lorde, Volbeat, Avicii, and Cage the Elephant.
4. What is the station's signal coverage?
Denver/Boulder area.
5. After launching with 5,000 songs in a row, give us a rundown of the new 107X on-air lineup?
We just wrapped up 5,000 songs in a row, which took about two weeks. The jock lineup goes as follows: 6a-10a- Nasty, 10a-3p- Wingnut, 3-7p- Geronimo, and we are going to launch a National contest in May to find our night jock.
6. What are listeners saying about 107X?
Great feedback in the early stages! They love the lack of clutter and shorter commercial breaks. We're only running 8 minutes of commercial per hour, with 2-4 minute stop sets; it allows us to play 12-13 titles per hour.
7. What may surprise people most about the station?
The "oh wow" factor of records were pulling out of the grave that they haven't heard in a while on Denver radio.
8. What do you love most about working for Max Media?
We are a smaller, independently owned company, so we don't have to report to Wall Street or corporate/premium choice playlists like other stations, so we have the ability to move with the market and really super serve our local audience.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Laughing and brainstorming with the staff. We have such a small staff here, were like a little dysfunctional family and I love it!
10. What would surprise people most about you?
That I have an Indigo Girl's song on my iPod.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Snowboarding, skateboarding, golf, and watching the Food Network
Last non-industry job?
Oyster Shucker at a raw bar in college
First record ever purchased?
Van Halen - 1984
First concert?
The Go-Go's - 1986 Torrance, CA
Favorite band of all-time?
Beastie Boys
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