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10 Questions with ... Rich Rushforth
August 13, 2012
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- WWMY (94.5fm)/Greensboro, NC - on-air 6-11pm - 1988 to1989
- Muirfield Broadcasting: utility on-air person - 1989 to present
- Morning Show Host - 1995 to present
1) What Got You Interested In Radio?
Growing up in the New York area, radio was always a great source for music, entertainment, and information all delivered in a fun atmosphere.
2) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
Our market is a unique in that we are a golf resort destination (Pinehurst, NC). However, we also have a great deal of southern small town appeal. Knowing your listening community personally is something that's great and I enjoy very much.
3) How do you position the station musically?
Our blend of AC is a playlist that tries to keep the sound lively while maintaining a balance that our retailers enjoy playing in their shops.
4) What is it about your station that you feel really makes it cut through?
Our radio dial is filled with many great choices. Our programming may not be the perfect choice for everyone, but if you want to know there are people who genuinely care about you, the schools your kids attend, the businesses you run and support. We make that a priority every day.
5) How are you using social media to market your radio station?
Like most media, Star 102.5 makes good use of our connection to listeners and sponsors through Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, our website, E-mail, etc. Although, you have to keep kissing frogs out there... MySpace, Linked-in and Beta-max all could have caught on.
6) How do you stay in tune with your audience?
You have to get out on the streets. Listeners are typically very happy to tell you what they like and don't like.
7) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?
We have to fight the urge to put EVERYTHING on our front page. Too busy is a turn off.
8) What has been your station's biggest accomplishment?
Aside from 40 years of growth through a changing industry while employing dozens of people and helping businesses succeed, I would say from a programming and engineering perspective, being the first radio station to broadcast on site at a US Open Golf Championship on TV and Radio using a wireless internet connection over a five miles shot.
The five mile wireless shot was necessary because the radio frequency conflicts are enormous during an open championship. We had covered several Open Championships and conflicting frequency issues were a huge headache before trying the wireless internet connection instead of a Marti unit.
9) Apple, Amazon, Spotify, and many others have recently introduced music in "The Cloud." What effect will these new music services have on the radio and music industries?
These are just more ways to cut the music content pie. I love our small market advantage to juke box style content however, and that is our non-music elements and focus on local weather, news, contests, schools, retailers, sales, and community activities - That's a muscle we LOVE to flex YO!
10) What advice would you give people new to the business?
Embrace technology, and don't let anyone take the fun out of this business.
Bonus Questions
What do you do in your spare time?
Golf, family, fitness center, procrastinate on doing yard work.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy hovercraft restoration, dragon slaying, and a little stalking when I have time.
What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
Kryptonite really messes me up.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I'll let you know when it happens.
Tell us what music we would find on your MP3 player right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?
Just about every Led Zeppelin song, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and a few one hit wonders I will deny listening to.
What is your favorite TV commercial?
The Budweiser "Ref Yelling" commercial
What do you consider the key to your success?
I am hugely fortunate to be doing something that I genuinely love everyday.
What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air? (dead air ... forget a mic was still on ... etc.)
Uhhg, so many to chose from... One morning during all the catholic priest lawsuits I was reading a story that was written, "A Roman Catholic Priest was charged with seventeen counts of child molestation..."
Instead, I said, "A Romantic Catholic Priest was charged with seventeen counts of child molestation..."
I took my medicine and apologized...
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