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10 Questions with ... Jim Ryan
August 7, 2023
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
There's almost nothing I haven't done…OK, I've never worked in Country or religious radio, but otherwise have done it all from weekend DJ to part owner.
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
Weird. I was 15 and doing record filing and grunt work at an AM daytimer when the night DJ didn't show up. The PD had a date and thought he would get lucky so he put me on the air. When I, in his words, "didn't suck too bad" he hired me for the shift. I was just part time. My first full time job was nights at WBLI/Long Island while I was still in high school.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
Dumb luck, but once I started on air, I fell in love with it and things worked out okay.
3. What did you love about working for and with the legendary Jerry Lee at WBEB/Philadelphia?
Jerry was such a visionary. At most jobs the owner would come into the PD's office and ask how we could run more commercials. Jerry would come in and ask how we could make the commercials sound better so listeners wouldn't tune out and we could get better results for our clients. We did so much research it was grad school for me. A perceptual every month and lots of television advertising and music tests. We actually did an auditorium test of Christmas music in 1995. It was the moment I learned that you can't beat the classics. Thanks Jerry!
4. You programmed WLTW (Lite FM)/New York from 1996 to 2008. It was the always on top or close to it in the NYC ratings, not to mention a profit making machine. Plus you pushed the AC format into more "current" direction. What was that part of your career like?
I had the best time while working my ass off. I worked with all the Clear Channel AC and Hot AC stations. I think there were about 140 of them. We did an annual concert at the Theater at Madison Square Garden and had everyone from Elton John to Tony Bennett to Michael Buble to Phil Collins headline. Plus I got to work with Tom Poleman, Marc Chase, Greg Ashlock, Rob Williams, Rob Miller, Gene Romano and so many of the most brilliant minds in programming and management.
5. After that you formed Jim Ryan Media and hung out own shingle. What was it like to be out of the day-to-day 'one station' thing?
I got to continue to work with many of the same Clear Channel stations like KOST, KBIG, KODA, etc. It was a wonderful way to continue my friendship with people like Marc Sherman and develop a wonderful partnership with Andrew Jeffries. Greater Media was also a client. Buzz Knight brought me in and I think he and I did some great radio for Peter Smyth. I also got to keep working with one of the greatest personalities our business will ever know, Delilah. I'm fortunate that I continue to work with her today.
6. CBS Radio called in 2010 and you signed on to program what's now Hot AC WNEW-F. New 102.7 has been picking up some solid ratings traction lately. Obviously WPLJ exiting the format was a boon – did it take longer than you thought it would for those former listeners to find you?
Building a brand in a city with some of the greatest radio stations in the world is not an easy feat. The name when I joined 102.7 was a roadblock…Fresh. When Susan Larkin let me relaunch the station in 2018 as WNEW it was a game changer. But you have to remember, Z100 and Lite FM have been around since the early 80's. WKTU was #1 in 1980 and came back in 1995. iHeart does not make mistakes, especially in New York. You have to fight for listeners one by one. Every day is a battle for both WNEW and CBS-FM. I'm damn proud of everyone involved as both stations are in the top 5 with adults 25-54 right now.
7. In 2012 you added oversight of sister Classic Hits WCBS-FM to your programming portfolio. In 2014 Scott Shannon signed on for mornings. Was that hire the biggest no-brainer of your career and what was all of that like for you?
I met Scott in 1989 when he was at Pirate Radio in LA. He was always there to offer advice and win money from me in golf. I hated beating Scott when he was at WPLJ and I was doing WLTW…okay, hated it personally but did cash the bonus checks. I loved working with Scott and learned from him. I hated seeing him leave CBS-FM. I hate all the changes we've had to endure as revenues have dropped for us in this business.
8. Vanity Fair recently asked your pal Sir Elton John: 'What is your greatest extravagance?' His response – 'Flowers.' In 2004 you and I met with him in the Penthouse at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas where you recorded an interview with him to run on all of the Clear Channel AC stations. A) Have you ever seen more flowers in one place in your life? B) He had a shelf of CDs sitting there and you asked him to turn you on to something that would be a 'future hit' – what did he give you and was it a hit?
I have a funny story about the flowers and Elton. When he did the WLTW show we were fortunate that he did a private show for the Democratic Party and they flew him and his piano into New York and all I had to pay was one night at the St Regis and limo service. Talk about a deal. However, the cost of the flowers for the one night at the St Regis was over $30,000. But the show was worth every penny. Elton's ears were always amazing, that day we were in Vegas with him he turned me on to James Blunt "You're Beautiful." It was released as an American single about 4 months later, WLTW and WPLJ led the way to make it a #1 song. Elton knows his music.
9. Please talk about your days as a radio station owner and your partners in that enterprise.
The company that owned the radio station in Portland went into bankruptcy and the Bank of Boston was selling assets at a great price. The late Ed Leffler, who was kind of my dad in the music business, was managing Van Halen. This was after a career that included road manager for the Beatles to manager of the Carpenters. In any case I called Ed and asked if he wanted to buy a radio station. He said he and Van Halen would be in if I could raise the money with my wife who was GM and be equal equity partners. I scraped up every dime I could including borrowing $27,000 from my father-in- law and we bought the radio station. There was nothing better than riding to concerts with Eddie and Sammy updating them on the business as young women threw themselves on the limo. Sadly, Ed passed 18 months later and we sold the station…for about 6 times what we paid for it.
10. What's your all-time favorite backstage memory?
Easy…getting a kiss from Elton John. You never knew with Elton if it would be a hug or handshake, so I was indecisive and he grabbed my shoulders and we kissed. My favorite on stage memory was when Celine Dion came into the audience and gave me a rose. When she was beginning her career in America she did a show for us in Portland. Very few people came and I felt bad so I quickly bought her a couple dozen roses, told her she would be a star, and not to be discouraged by the turnout that day. When she agreed to do the WLTW concert in New York 20 years later I sent roses to her. She told the story of our first meeting and came into the audience with a rose for me. Unforgettable.
11. If you could take a spin in the custom 'All Access Back To The Future Delorean,' which legendary station from the past would you like to work at for a week?
I grew up listening to WABC so that would be it. Tom Poleman and I used to talk about doing an overnight show at Z100, that would be heck of a lot of fun as well.
12. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?
WABC and Dan Ingram. I remember Marc Driscoll on WOR-FM as the first jock doing a different style. A specific break stands out to this day, 'I'm tearing the shrink wrap off the new album from the Allman Brothers.' What a way to say a song is new, he painted the picture. Radio is theater of the mind.
13. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
Impossible to pin that on one person. Bob Pittman hired me many years ago in his first programming job and has always offered great advice. The late Steve Berger, Scott Shannon, Guy Zapoleon…it's a long list. The relationship I currently enjoy the most is with Audacy/New York market President Chris Oliviero. He makes me think about the best options for every challenge and helps lead me to the perfect solution.
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