-
10 Questions with ... Matthew Malone
May 19, 2015
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2011. Immediately given amazing opportunities at WLS/Chicago and WLUM/Milwaukee. Left my homeland to hang out on California's Central Coast at New Rock 107.3.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I blame my father, mother, brother, and Dick Biondi. Dad liked classic rock. Mom liked classic hits. Older brother introduced me to Nirvana when I was 10 and it all went downhill from there. And of course, you can't listen to radio in Chicago without knowing the legendary Dick Biondi. I spent many nights lying in bed, listening to Q101, and waiting for my 'requests' that would never come. How naïve. But after spending 5 years as a machinist, I decided to drop it all, go back to school and do what I love -- be locked in a room by myself and talk to people I can't see while listening to great music.
2. What led you to New Rock 107.3?
Unofficial story: I went to SXSW in Austin with 18 of my best friends. Details are hazy, but I woke in SLO and it's beautiful here.
Official story: An All Access job listing sounded too good to be true -- it led me to Andrew Cannon and the job of my young, carefree, snow-hating dreams.
3. What is it like working for El Dorado Broadcasters?
For my short radio-career, I have worked for and with some of the most successful and hard-working people in the business. Transitioning from the big companies, to a smaller company is like a culture shock, but just as in major markets, the people at El Dorado love radio and put their hearts into it. If this were eBay: A+ Would Buy Again
4. What do you love most about your job?
Every Friday, a Grilled Cheese food truck shows up at the front door. They could beat me with wooden sticks and that would still even things out -- but the trust that Andrew Cannon, Ron Roy and everyone involved have displayed makes it so comfortable to transition in and do my best to make New Rock 107.3 killer.
5. Tell us about the station's shift from Active Rock to Alternative?
Most of that transition happened before my arrival via Andrew Cannon and our good friend Hammer at New Rock Fresno, but I believe it was just a matter of the demographic of SLO and giving them the music they want. And also, bribing them with delicious BBQ. I suppose one could say that Alternative is just "Today's Music."
6. What makes the New Rock 107.3 Brand unique?
I would hope personality. Creativity. And the fact that I went from helping to program a radio station for 7 million to programming a station for 250,000. I have so much room for activities and it gives me a fantastic opportunity to connect with the very social community. I can go to one bar and they'll know who I am and we'll have a conversation. Then I'll go to another bar and do the same thing. Then I'll go to another bar, and they won't call the cops because I'm spry and agile.
7. Describe your typical day.
Wake up at 8:00 - hit snooze until 8:48, get up to a bright sunny day, every day. Get to the station at 9. Take a piece of candy out of my 'Grilled Cheese Truck' advent calendar and get down to business. It's been a few months since there was a body strictly dedicated to New Rock 107.3, so we're trying out so many new things -- getting out in the street and making sure the library is polished. Get ready, go on-air, go out into the world, ride my bike to the beach, or the other beach... or the other beach... go home and set my Grilled Cheese truck alarm clock.
8. What do you like best about living in SLO Town?
I can smile at a person on the street without the slight fear that they may want to punch me -- that's always an option in Chicago. The people are so friendly, nobody has seasonal winter depression, they don't know what parkas are and for a "small town," there is so much to do. Just the other day, there was a marathon and I got to watch the last few people cross the finish line when I woke up at 1pm. However, I do have to complain about the lack of Tinder activity. This is a college town, c'mon! Is there some app all the cool kids are using they haven't told me about?
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Deleting my browser history, y'know, just in case I die in my sleep.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
For anybody reading this that has never met me -- I am actually quite dedicated and professional.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Napping. I'm pretty huge on napping. And riding my bike that is supposed to glow in the dark, but it doesn't glow in the dark -- but let's not get started on that.
Last non-industry job?
For a six month holiday period in 2012, I sold Fannie May candies to tourists at one of Chicago's busiest intersections.
First record ever purchased?
Purchased for me: No Doubt 'Tragic Kingdom' (I love you Gwen -- we can run away together. I guess Gavin can come, too) and 311 self-titled album. First album ever bought for myself: Prodigy "Fat of the Land'. My father tried to bribe me with a Yo-Yo (which were the fad at the time) to convince me not to get a record about starting fires. Like he thought I would grow up to be weird... or something.
First concert?
Does Carrot Top count? No? Good. It was the Pop Disaster Tour with Green Day/Blink 182 at The World Tweeter Midwest Bank of PepsiCo Amphitheater sponsored by Brawndo in Tinley Park, IL.
Favorite band of all-time?
Queens of the Stone Age. Josh Homme, if you're reading this, can we be best friends and ride a tandem bicycle while smiling and high-fiving?
-
-