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10 Questions with ... Scot Fox
July 29, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- WTIX New Orleans, 1987
- WQUE (Q-93) New Orleans, 1988
- WWCK (CK-105) Flint, MI, 1990
- WZRH (The Zephyr) New Orleans, 1991
- WUSD (US98) Gulfport/Biloxi
- WCPR Gulfport/Biloxi, 1995,
- KTUX (99X) Shreveport, 2005
- WCPR Gulfport/Biloxi, 2009 to present.
There were a few p/t gigs in New Orleans not listed ... Ain't nobody got time for dat!
1)What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
WTIX/New Orleans The Mighty 690 (Oldies). This station was one of the first Top 40 stations in the country and an amazing first gig. The history at this station is incredible and I really had no idea how fortunate I was to land a gig there. I was just an overnight board op but during my shift, I would pot down the satellite jock, use his name, and pretend to be him on the air ... ha ha ... and I never got busted! Early influences were Weerd Wayne Watkins, Terry "The Motor Mouth" Young, Jack Da Whack, Skinny Tommy Chaney, Walton and Johnson and of course Casey Kasem.
2) How long have you been at WCPR and what makes this station so unique?
I am proud to be one of the founding members of WCPR. My claim to fame: Coming up with the call letters WCPR. In 1994, I was working at the Country station US98. In '95 I convinced the owner to bring in a friend from New Orleans, Kenny Vest as our new PD and as they say, the rest is history. We flipped the format to Rock and became WCPR. At the risk of sounding cliché, our uniqueness comes from our on-air personalities keeping it live and local ... and our edgy imaging. Also, our annual CPR Fest has become a huge event for the station. CPR Fest 18 is coming up Labor Day weekend and this year we have the Uproar tour minus Pop Evil.
3) You have the dual role as MD and midday host. How do you balance your time so both roles are effective?
In today's radio, it's all about balance. You really have no choice if you want to work in radio these days. The days of full staffs are long gone. Fewer employees mean more duties for everyone. Sometimes, I'm the station mechanic working on the vehicles! LOL. You do have to prioritize your days though. Here's a rough outline: 1. Radio show 2. Music scheduling/programming 3. Production 4. Music calls. If I make it through the first three, then I'll try to take music calls. The system isn't perfect but it works.
4) Congratulations on the station's monster Spring Ratings. You were #2 overall in the market with a 6.9 12+ right behind the Country station WZKX. This is a great story for the Active Rock format. To what do you attribute this success?
We have a great product! In a market our size, sometimes it becomes a crapshoot on whether the numbers will be good or bad. CPR was long overdue for a great book and what excites me is that we are #1 25-54 Adults with a 9.6. That is an amazing accomplishment for an Active Rock station. Also, we are so fortunate to have upper management/ownership that supports us even when the books aren't stellar. Don't get me wrong, CPR usually dominates the 18-34 Men, which is expected, but to see these older demos and Women come in is fantastic.
5) WCPR plays a healthy amount of current rock. Approximately how important by percentage is gut, research, sales, video play, and chart position when determining the status of a record?
I would say 50% is gut, 30% Chart position, 20% everything else. We've never been afraid to step outside the lines and add songs by gut. We've helped break many bands through the years by jumping on early.
6) What's your take on current Active Rock music overall? Is it as good as six months or a year ago, better, or about the same?
We're seeing some good music enter the scene again. I've always been an Alternative fan and I like seeing that sound making a splash again in Active Rock. Bands like Awolnation, Cage The Elephant, Dirty Heads, etc. add a good balance to the mainstream rockers to give the station a well-balanced sound. Time will tell if some of these new bands have staying power.
7) What are your three favorite artists or songs of this past year and why?
- Chevelle
- Three Days Grace
- Seether
Same reason for all three ... They just keep pumping out hit after hit after hit!
8) How much does WCPR use social media like Facebook and Twitter to help enhance the CPR experience with its listeners?
We are huge with Facebook. We constantly post contests, pictures and promo info on Facebook, always keeping it fun. This is a great way for the listeners to interact with us whether they are just liking a pic or commenting on a post, they get to be part of the station through FB. My All-Request Lunch is done mostly through Facebook requests. Over 140,000 likes and counting! You never know what you're gonna find on our page from our twisted minds!
9) Your major Rock concert event "CPR Fest" is coming up on August 31st. Who is playing and how many years have you done this event?
This is our 18th CPR Fest and this year we are excited to have the Uproar lineup. In a really tough economy, it's getting harder and harder to put these events together and keep it economically feasible. We came very close to not doing the fest this year but thankfully were able to put it together at the last minute. We also do a spring show with our sister stations in the building called Gulfport Music Festival that has become a major show for the region.
10) Finally, congrats on the recent birth of your son Benjamin. How does it feel to be a father for the first time?
It's so crazy because I pretty much gave up on the idea of having kids. Most guys my age are Grand Parents LOL! Benjamin is amazing and it just blows my mind when I look at him and see the resemblance. Poor lil' guy! I can't wait till he starts talking though! I couldn't be more excited and fortunate to have him.
Bonus Questions
I know you're a HUGE New Orleans Saints fan. How do you think they'll do this season in the NFL?
The Saints should do pretty well this year. The defense really came together last year and should be even better this year. Drew Brees will be great as usual, but they really need to protect him better. The question will be the running game. If they have a running threat, Drew will be able to shred some defenses. The Saints should be right back in the hunt for the Super Bowl. The key will be home field advantage in the playoffs.
You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have 5 CDs with you. What are they?
- An Idiots Guide To Building A Raft
- Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
- Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
- Cake - Fashion Nugget
- Awolnation - Megalithic Symphony
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