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10 Questions with ... Matt Sneed
May 26, 2008
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NAME:Matt SneedTITLE:APD/MDSTATIONS:WPSTMARKET:Trenton NJ, and Philadelphia, PACOMPANY:Nassau BroadcastingBORN:Summit, NJRAISED:Scotch Plains, NJ
Please outline your radio career so far:
1996 WPLJ/New York (Internship)
1998-2000 WSBG/Stroudsburg, PA (Jack of all trades)
2000- WJLK Monmouth/Ocean, NJ (Prod. Asst./Weekends/Swing)
2000- WPST/Trenton/Philadelphia (Weekends)
2000-2002 WHCY/Sussex, NJ (APD/MD/Afternoons)
2001 WPTP/(96.5 The Point)/Philadelphia (Weekends/Swing)
2001 WHTG Monmouth-Ocean, NJ (Weekends)
2002 - Present WPST/Trenton, NJ (APD/MD/Afternoons)
2006 - Present WJYY/Concord, NH (Swing Tracked)
2006 - WORK/Barre, VT (Afternoons Tracked)1) What Got You Interested In Radio?
WCPE. Ever hear of it? I didn't think so. It is the official station of the parking lot at Union County College in Cranford, NJ. I did my first shift in 1995 and I was hooked. I realized a few years later that I could actually get paid for it!
2) How would you describe your first radio gig?
WSBG/Stroudsburg, PA will always be a special place to me, I learned a lot there. I also met a life long friend (and mentor) in Jason Barsky while at WSBG. I learned a lot from him (still do).
3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
PST is located in between NYC and Philly, so it is very competitive. The one thing people still fail to realize about PST is the amount of people we reach. We are classified as "Trenton" according to Arbitron. However, our total cume is upwards of 800,000. That is as much cume or more than most top 20 markets.
4) What was the first song or full-length release you purchased?
I was eight years old. Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet on vinyl in 1986 at Caldor's in Watchung, NJ. I played the hell out of it until my mom saw the girls in bikinis on the inside cover and took it away!!!
5) What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?
Sara Bareilles "Love Song", One Republic "Stop & Stare", Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love."
6) Tell us what music we would find on your I-Pod right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?
There is a little bit of everything on my iPod, from Johnny Cash, to Bon Jovi, to Fall Out Boy, to 2Pac, to The Muppets Greatest hits (and I am not kidding! Gotta love "The Rainbow Connection"!)
7) You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have 5 CDs with an unlimited supply of batteries. What are they?
Bon Jovi "Cross Road" and "These Days," Johnny Cash "Live from Folsom Prison," Bruce Springsteen "Darkness..." and Garth Brooks "Ultimate Hits."
8) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air? (dead air ... forget a mic was still on ... etc.)
My first shift in Philadelphia was for Chuck Tisa at 96.5 The Point. I was doing weekend afternoons and I ran down to my car to get something. The door to the building locked behind me and my door card did not work. So there I was, my first shift in a major market and I was locked out. I missed 3 breaks before the promotions director happened to stop by and let me back in. Luckily I was not fired. I don't think Chuck ever did find out?
9) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
You need to work hard, don't get discouraged, be prepared to do anything and everything to make it. Don't turn down opportunities early in your career because the pay stinks and the hours suck. Never complain.
10) As you look back over your career ... any regrets? Missed opportunities?
I met my wife while we were both working at PST. We now have a beautiful little girl. For that reason alone I do not regret my radio career.
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