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10 Questions with ... Glen Stacey
June 13, 2006
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NAME:Glen StaceyTITLE:PDSTATIONS:WABT (104.5 The Buzz)MARKET:Albany, NYCOMPANY:Regent CommunicationsBORN:7/29/71 Saranac Lake, NYRAISED:Saranac Lake
Please outline your radio career so far:
WABT (104.5 The 104-5 THE BUZZ)/ALBANY, NY - PD 2002-Present
WFLY (FLY 92)/ALBANY, NY 1999-2001
WKRZ (FROGGY 101/98.5)/WILKES-BARRE SCRANTON, PA 1997-1998
WKXP/WILKES-BARRE SCRANTON, PA 1997-98
WEZF/BURLINGTON, VT 1996-1997
WINK 106 & WPGI (PIGGY 100.9)/ELMIRA, CORING, NY 1995-1996
99 HITS/POTSDAM, NY 1992-1994
WXXX/BURLINGTON, VT 1991-1992
WLPW/LAKE PLACID, NY 1989-19921) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I was host of the Sunday Jazz Brunch on Adirondack Radio in Lake Placid NY. I was 16 or so and I wanted to work in radio so I called the PD at the best station in my hometown and told him that I wanted a job. He told me to check back in 3 months. I marked the date on my calendar at home and called back exactly 3 months later to be told to call back in 2 weeks. Again, exactly 2 weeks later I called back. After about 9 or 10 months of this they either had an opening or he just was tired of the harassment and gave me a gig. I knew it was what I wanted and did not give up. A life lesson and I still approach adversity the same way many years later.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
I originally wanted to be "Tom Brokaw" and become a news anchor. I was at Adirondack Radio around the time the first Gulf war was brewing and we did a promotion called "Radio From Home". We dedicated an hour of time to each local serviceman who was in Kuwait. We would play music, open the phones and take calls from the servicemen's family, friends, and community sending their encouragement and thanking them for their service. Hearing a mom missing her loved one so much and worried about their safety was heart breaking. We then sent the tape with the one-hour dedicated to that person, a walkman and other need items to Kuwait. I was on the air the night the war had started and especially after "Radio From Home" I did not like the role of delivering the news. However I found the role of encouraging my community the perfect fit for me. That's the day I decided to stay with radio.
3) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?
I think we are in a very exciting time with all of the new technology. You need to learn as much as you can about it, embrace it and find out how to make it work for your station. The sky is the limit on how radio can expand beyond just the speakers and touch people in many different ways. Hopefully I'll be an even bigger part of it!
4) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
Consolidation.
5) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?
The site should be a branch of the station. If it's on the air it should be on the site. It also gives us the chance to elaborate more on our brand and what the station is about and what our listeners can get out of the station.
6) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?
Get back to more local and live radio.
7) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?
This is my chance to give props to Joe Rosati (Z100) and Ashlee Reid (FLZ). Both of these wonderful people were part-time talent when I was at FLY 92. Joe always "had It" and sounds great at Z. Ashlee grew to be an outstanding personality and it's great to see the success they both have achieved so far. I think they will both eventually be "household names" in the radio biz.
8) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
Z-100 New York and Q100 Atlanta, GA. I feel both are great sounding stations and have excellent marketing. I think the Bert Show on Q100 is the best morning show out there.
9) How do you stay in tune with your audience?
My Space and Station events. Listeners will tell you what they want from the station if you ask.
10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Be honest. If you make a mistake take responsibility for it and as hard at it is sometimes don't give up on your dreams.
Bonus Questions
What do you like best about your job? Least?
Encouraging my talent to be the best they can be, being the station cheerleader, and watching the hard work pay off which it will. Anything on the "least" list is just a challenge that I'll face head on.
What do you plan to do different this year, regarding work, family, or both?
Get married to my wonderful fiancé and my love Chrisi and be the best husband I can be.
Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?
Barry Manilow
Peanut Butter; Smooth? Crunchy?
Smooth
What is your biggest challenge working at this station?
Changing the attitudes of the staff and encouraging a positive relationship from the Dj's, to Sales, to Traffic etc. It's just another building block to create a winning radio station.
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