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10 Questions with ... Bob DelGiorno JR
September 17, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
KRVS/Lafayette, LA (1981), KVOL-A/Lafayette, LA (1982), WQUE-A/New Orleans, LA (1983-1985), WSMB-A/New Orleans, LA (1986), WQUE/New Orleans LA (1987-1989), WBBM/Chicago, IL (1990), WQUE/New Orleans (1990-1996), WCKW/New Orleans (1996-1997), KRQQ/Tucson (1997), WCKW/New Orleans (1998), WDGL/Baton Rouge, LA (1999-2000), Entercom New Orleans (2001-2005), Freed Am Corp - Texarkana (2005-Present)
1) What Got You Interested In Radio?
My father, Bob DelGiorno Sr. started in radio before I was born in 1959. He was in the air force, and from the time I could talk I knew I'd be in radio. I wanted to be like him.
2) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
Our radio stations are unique because they are all in markets that don't have local television, and radio is the only electronic medium for local listeners to receive local programming including local announcers, weather, news, sports and more.
The other stations I worked at are firing announcers and out-sourcing jobs and cutting back on local programming. Being a pioneer in the industry I wanted to bring radio back to what it used to be; local. We are just the opposite of most radio companies. Instead of cutting back on local programming, we are increasing it.
3) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
Rising expenses including: taxes, regulatory fees, insurance rates, music licensing, advertising budgets, phones, internet, electric bills, legal and engineering fees.
4) What is it about your station that you feel really makes it cut through?
Having local hands on owners (my wife Meghan and me) that are hands on and working at all of them all day doing whatever it takes to keep them live and mostly local and caring about getting out local information for our advertisers and listeners.
5) How are you using social media to market your radio station?
We update our websites hourly with fast breaking news, sports, weather, and we promote on face book and twitter. We try to use social media to direct listeners to radio and streaming along with websites.
6) Who is the most amazing talent you've worked with?
Jo Bo and Eddie V who were doing mornings at B-96 in Chicago when I worked there. When they did an appearance, they drew hundreds and I felt like they were the best morning show in Chicago at the time.
7) 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 services will force local radio to return to its roots: on-air jocks, requests, local weather promotions, and remotes. It will end up helping the industry and force owners to bring back the DJ. I'm all for it!
8) Are new technologies like on demand music, videos, TV, streaming, and mobile smart phone apps replacing consumer's interest in traditional media such as radio, the CD, or even the MP3 player? Or are these new technologies actually enhancing traditional media?
I'd be disingenuous if I didn't say that it's fragmenting the radio, TV and other traditional mediums. But I think that when I was 12 and living in Chicago, I'd hear a record on the radio and go buy it. I didn't stop listening to the radio. In fact, I'd listen to see what was new and what I liked and I'd go buy the record. The same thing will happen now except you won't have to go the record store. Music radio needs to take chances and play new songs first and go back to breaking hits on the air. Listeners will want to turn the radio on to see what's new and what the local DJ says about the new songs.
9) How do you stay in tune with your audience?
I personally take all phone calls, answer all messages and emails, and broadcast live at least once per week on each station so listeners can come tell me what they want. I always have my ears open. We also read all the mail and put comments from the public in the public file.
10) What's the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you? The worst?
"Always tell the truth" is the best advice anybody has ever given me. The worst advice was to "just try something once, it won't hurt you."
Bonus Questions
What do you do in your spare time?
Exercise, watch sports, I collect sports memorabilia; I spend time with my family and hug my children. I run 3.5 miles every day.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A disc jockey at the Rock of Chicago WLS so that I could talk up intros on records and hit the posts like Larry Lujack.
What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air?
I dropped an F-Bomb when broadcasting the news live on the "Shot Gun" Erick Steele morning show on KVOL in 1982. I'll never forget Shot Gun's Face pressing against the glass and steam coming out of his nose. He was also the Program Director but he didn't fire me.
What advice would you give people new to the business?
Get into the sales end of the business. That's where the money and job security is. See clients in person and bring spec-spots and proposals with you and always have something for them to sign.
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