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10 Questions with ... Jack Daniel
June 27, 2006
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NAME:Jack DanielTITLE:PDSTATION:WENDMARKET:Charlotte (#35)COMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:August 13, 1954RAISED:Concord, NC
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Six Flags Over Mid-America
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
High School and College radio got me started.
Eventually worked my way back to Charlotte/Concord and joined WPEG (Power 98) when it was a mom & pop doing Top 40. Took it Disco in '77 and later Urban in '79 before making the jump to AOR in '79 at WROQ/WAYS for Stan & Sis Kaplan. After programming there, moved to Z100 as MD, then Jefferson Pilot's WBCY (now WLNK) as PD in '85 & '86. By that time Z100 had become WRFX and I joined there as PD in '87. Became WRFX GM in '89 and in '91 helped launch the JohnBoy & Bill Radio Network as its first GM. Then moved to company's second station WEDJ in '93 and didn't have much fun (OK, I screwed it up).
After 6 months out of radio (therapy), I returned to the PD Chair in 1995 to launch WEND for GM Dick Harlow (now CC Kansas City) and The Dalton Group. They sold to CC in 2000, but I'm still here -- celebrated my 11th year here on June 1st.
1. Why has WEND been a successful Alternative station?
I think it's because after a degree of "trial & error" we accepted that the marketplace itself and not the record charts or label timetables has to determine "what is Alternative in Charlotte" and how quickly things can churn through the system.
2. How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?
Very COMPETITIVE AND ALSO VERY FRAGMENTED! Every possible format is covered here, many are double covered. I don't have a direct format competitor, but I do have a direct competitor in CHR WNKS. The 18-34 adults that share out two stations runs at 40% most books. Country is BIG here and we even share some with our sister WKKT as well as Classic Rock WRFX.
We play the New and they play the OLD, so we get some bounce around "cume."
3. What are your goals for the station in 2006?
To get back into the top 3 18-34! Used to live there always until our sister station WIBT, THE BEAT signed on and moved ahead of us. Not a ton I can do as I can't play "fitty" cent, but making The End perform better is always a goal of mine.
4. In what ways has The End changed in the past year?
I think we've had to change in how we position our library gold, which is now mostly over 10 years old! Rather than just let this music appear next to a track that just has been released, we use production elements to sell this music as, "The Beginning Of The End." One particular one we play in front of Nirvana might say, "They helped start a new music revolution that's still going on ...Nirvana, The Beginning Of The End." It explains WHY we still play them to an audience that by and large comes to us for brand new stuff, but believe me, if you look at the scores, the grunge is still HUGE here.
5. What makes your station unique?
We have "stationality" and I try to see to that. I love to joke and have fun in the halls as well as when I do the afternoon shift with my co-host, Kristen. I think any radio station can't help but take on the personality of the PD. I think the station has fun with its listeners just like I try to have fun with my friends and co-workers. This is SHOW Business and I do try to never forget that. I would hope that folks that know me say I have a good personality. I sure do have FUN! It's woven into the fabrice of the station through the website, on location events and even station promos and imaging.
6. Could you rundown your on-air line-up with a little insight of each jock?
6-10a: Bob & Tom (Five years) -- The show is doing well with Men 18-34 as you might expect.
10-3p: Chris Rozak (11 years) -- He has been here since day one. Great solid personality. Listeners LOVE him.
3-7p: Kristen (10 years) & Jack Daniel (11 years) - We've been doing this show for eight years together. Kristen's the tough broad that becomes my "daytime wife" and nags me here until I can get home to get a dose of the real thing....and that's how we play it. My frustration is dealing with "pushy" females -- something that male listeners, married or single can identify with.
7-12a: Jack @ Nite (Jack Anthony) -- We elected NOT to make him change his name and we sound soooo different on the air, it works OK. He's where the station "bares our teeth" with some of the harder stuff. We do program some active music at night as we don't have an Active Rock station in the market. I try to keep it the stuff that lives in both worlds. Can't get too "west coast" eclectic here as it goes over their heads. Yall'ternative is US and we have to accept that and roll with it.
7. What has been your biggest accomplishment in the 11 years you have been at WEND?
I'm proud of two things: 1) Having little or NO turnover of staff. That says that the station provides a fun and creative workplace that people don't want to leave; 2) Lasting 11 years when critics of the format and media people in this market gave us six months. We drove the format instead of letting the format drive us.
8. What would surprise people most about you?
I have kids in the demo and I play in a Classic Rock/Classic Hits cover band for fun and relaxation. Kristen (my afternoon co-host) is our female singer.
9. Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?
I'm very impatient! I wish I could relax more and wait for things to happen!
This causes frustration at times which gets in the way of my desire to be up and positive all the time.
10. What advice you would give people new to the business?
Don't rush your path! Identify the area of the business you want to be in and set out to excel there. Know where the dollars are. Sadly, in most markets they are not likely in programming and on-air. Programming people have to do it for the passion first and the money second. If it's all about the money, then admit that and get into sales or become Howard Stern. There aren't many Howard Stern's out there.
Bonus Questions
Favorite artist you have met?
Brent from Shinedown. Of ALL the artists I have ever met in my career, Brent is so genuinely grateful for those stations that have played his music, it just blows me away. Unlike some artists who act like they don't remember you when they gain some degree of success, Brent makes a point to thank radio people continuously for their support. Very rare and makes me want him to go all the way!
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