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10 Questions with ... Dominic Zaccagnini
October 18, 2016
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1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
Midway through my internship at WMYG/Pittsburgh the station flipped format to Active Rock. I was hired to do overnights and also to help the Jimmy & Steve Morning Show. My influences were those guys along with other Pittsburgh radio talents like Scott Paulsen and Sean McDowell.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it?"
It wasn't a goal of mine as a child or even as a teenager. I was too busy dreaming of a professional athletic career. But when I was granted college credits for hosting mornings at my college radio station (while also realizing my physical size and speed wasn't going to make it to Major League Baseball), I thought this might be a fun career.
3) How long have you been rocking on 107.7 The Bone and what makes this station so special?
I was transferred by Cumulus Radio from WLUP/Chicago to KSAN/San Francisco in late August of 2015. It's been a great time personally and professionally. Especially with the addition of my postgame show following San Francisco 49ers games as the FM flagship station.
4) You have the dual role as APD and Afternoon host ... how do you balance your time so both roles are effective?
Thanks to an Internet-based music scheduling system, I'm able to maintain a manageable balance.
5) Do you do any special music features during your afternoon show?
We do a "5 o'clock Happy Hour" on Monday through Thursday with ordered (requested) "Cold Ones and Double Shots." On Fridays, we begin the weekend early, which means our weekend music (or other type) feature starts at 3p.
6) Now let's talk about the music on 107.7 The Bone. KSAN, like many Classic Rock stations has evolved into playing harder rock and '90s titles. What's your take on the Classic Rock format today?
We want to evolve the format to continue to appeal to Men 25-54. This means adding song titles as audience ages into the desired demographic and dropping some that might appeal to those aging beyond the demo. We must be aware to do this but only as the audience reacts favorably.
7) One of the programming challenges of the Classic Rock format has always been how to keep the station sounding fresh and relevant while it's playing Rock music that's sometimes 30 or 40 years old. What have you and PD Bryan Schock done to keep KSAN sounding relevant in 2016?
This is important in any format but especially in those, like ours, that aren't adding new releases. Our promotions, our imaging and the content of our jock breaks is crucial to keep the station sounding relevant and fresh sounding.
8) KSAN is the FM home for the San Francisco 49ers. What special features does The Bone do during the football season to market and promote the 49ers on-air?
We do "Niners Blocks" every weekend during the regular season with nine-in-a-row music sweeps. Head coach Chip Kelly, offensive lineman Joe Staley and others have weekly interviews. Also, ticket giveaways for home games and talk about the 49ers around the clock and all week long too.
9) Besides music, you have a background in doing Sports/Talk radio and are hosting the "The Red & Gold Bone-Crushing Postgame Show" after each 9ers game. How is that going?
Really good. Thanks for mentioning! I have previously done pregame and postgame shows for Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons. Also, I once asked and then won the audition to replace Stephen A. Smith as the morning host for Fox Sports Radio. I love Sports/Talk as well as Rock music formats. Hosting "The Red & Gold Bone-Crushing Postgame Show" on the FM flagship is a lot of fun. Too early to see any ratings, but it's a financial opportunity for us that is so far successful. AmeriGas is the title sponsor and we have sponsored features within the one-hour postgame show, too.
10) Finally, since we're talking football, how do you think the 49ers will do this year and ultimately, who do you think will be battling it out in the Super Bowl next February? How will the 49ers do?
Well, I can safely predict the 49ers will play in 16 games over 17 weeks this regular season. Wins will not be easy to come by and the early struggles were expected.
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