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10 Questions with ... Joe Siragusa
October 27, 2020
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. The Edge has a unique history with Alternative roots and a foray into Active Rock and then back to Alt. Finding the right balance puts us in a great position to expose a pretty diverse library to pair up with a market leading morning show.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
My first on-air job was at CHR 95XXX/Burlington, VT doing weekend overnights while going to college at SUNY Plattsburgh. In a couple years I worked my way up to afternoons and MD/APD before heading to 93Q WRQN/Toledo as APD and eventually PD. Then it was on to program KGOR/Omaha and WRCL/Richmond before coming to WHTT/Buffalo in 2001.
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
At first it was all about music, but I was quickly fascinated with everything happening between the records and behind the scenes. I spent many, many late nights listening to everything I could find up and down the dial. My older cousin Bob Comenole provided the encouragement that I needed to turn the obsession into a career and even loaned me the money to buy my first Radio Shack mixer!
2. You’ve been PD of 104.1 WHTT for almost 20 years and recently added PD duties at 103.3 The Edge succeeding longtime PD Jim Kurdziel. How has the transition been to expand your programming duties with another heritage brand in the cluster?
It’s been great working with such a talented staff and getting back to my roots with a current music format. A key move was promoting Tiffany Bentley to APD -- she’s incredibly sharp with great programming instincts. It’s been a pleasure to work with her every day.
3. How beneficial was it being in the same building and having inside knowledge with The Edge brand?
Any time you can step into a new role and already have relationships with the entire staff it’s a huge advantage. Conversely, you also try to temper your existing knowledge with a fresh perspective for the future.
4. What have you learned and what has surprised you most about 103.3 The Edge?
At first glance you wouldn’t think it, but there are actually a lot of similarities between The Edge and WHTT. Both are heritage brands that have evolved musically over the years and that always brings challenges with new and existing listeners. The Edge has a unique history with Alternative roots and a foray into Active Rock and then back to Alt. Finding the right balance puts us in a great position to expose a pretty diverse library to pair up with a market leading morning show.
5. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of chatting with your morning team Shredd & Ragan. Tell us about why the iconic show has been so successful?
Ted and Tom are two of the hardest working guys in the market -- their success is no accident. It’s all them (no music) for four hours every day and they pull it off with compelling content day in and day out. They have a world-class producer in Jim Jacka and incredible production support from assistant Evan James. When you are creative, talented, prepared, locally focused and always looking for ways to get better, you win.
6. How would you describe yourself as a programmer?
My philosophy starts with one simple thing -- be brilliant at the basics -- music, talent, promotion, imaging. Without that solid foundation, you’ve got nothing. Always remember that small things add up -- improve just one thing on your station every day and you’ll see real progress as the weeks and months go by.
7. What is a typical day like for you programming Classic Hits 104.1 WHTT and 103.3 The Edge and how do you manage your time with both stations, which includes afternoons on WHTT?
It can certainly get chaotic under normal circumstances, but factor in working and broadcasting from home, and it’s a whole new level of lunacy! You really have to block out time for each station and focus on specific tasks. Today we have to do more things than ever with fewer resources, so you have to work smart. Eliminate time wasters and fix recurring problems that cost you time and energy.
8. What is your favorite part of your job?
Every day is different with new challenges and opportunities -- there really hasn’t been a dull moment in 30+ years of doing radio. All of our staff is awesome, from on-air to support and our Market Manager Jim Riley is the best!
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
A visit from my dogs Yogi and Bella to my home studio.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
If I didn’t go into radio, I would probably have been a software engineer (likely designing radio applications!)
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you with your wife and furry kids?
I love to cook, research family history, play frisbee with the dogs and we spend a lot of time helping my brother and his family on their vegetable and garlic farm in the northern part of the state on Point Peninsula.
Favorite food?
Italian and Mexican are always a winner with me.
Favorite drink?
A great cup of coffee. On the more potent side, Resurgence Brewing’s Oktoberfest is my current favorite.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Yankees, Bills, and Sabres.
First record ever purchased?
I’m not sure if it was the first, but I vividly remember buying the “Last Train To Clarksville” 45rpm at Nichols Department Store in Watertown in the early ’70s. I heard it once on The Monkees TV show (reruns) and couldn’t remember the name of the song by the time I got to the store, but came home with the right tune. Still have it!
First concert?
Rush at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, 1983
Favorite band of all-time?
I’ve always been a huge Beatles fan, but my favorite “little” band of all time that (almost) nobody knows about is Del Amitri. Justin Currie is a gifted songwriter, and their “Waking Hours” album is an absolute gem.
Anything else you would like to add?
I’ll leave you with a quote from the great Yankee (and fellow Sicilian) Joe DiMaggio that is something to keep in mind every time you turn on the mic. When once asked “why do you play so hard?” by a reporter, he responded “Because there’s always some kid who might be seeing me for the first time. I owe him my best.”
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