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10 Questions with ... Jackie Kajzer
October 25, 2016
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1. What made you want to get into the radio and music business and who were your early mentors?
I grew up in New Jersey listening to WSOU (Seton Hall's Award winning Metal radio station). I ended up going to Seton Hall so that I could work at WSOU. That's where my love for radio began. I interned at Concrete Music Marketing and that got me interested in the business side of things. After I graduated college, I got a gig at Concrete and started pursuing commercial radio gigs.
2. Since you do both radio and record promo, can you start with giving us a rundown of the radio stations and positions you've held over the years up to today?
After graduating Seton Hall and getting the radio bug at WSOU, I got a job at WHTG (FM 106.3 - Modern Rock at The Jersey Shore). I really looked up to Matt Pinfield as a DJ, VJ and overall music guy, so I wanted to follow in his footsteps! I also was a DJ at the legendary Melody Bar in New Brunswick, NJ as he had done over the years.
After a few years at WHTG, I started also being on air at WDHA in northern New Jersey. There was actually a period of time that I was on both stations doing weekends up until the original WHTG went off the air.
I had always dreamed of moving to Los Angeles. In 2001, I finally did it. I moved to L.A. to take a job at The Firm. When I moved here, I was searching for a radio station to work at in So Cal. I was doing weekends at KNAC.com. I discovered FM 94.9 (KBZT) in San Diego one day while I was visiting family (around the end of 2002) and it was jockless but playing great tunes. I found a way to meet PD Garret Michaels and got to do weekends in San Diego, which was so fun -- even though sometimes the drive out there seemed longer than my five-hour shift. I had a blast working there.
In 2004 I was driving around in Los Angeles and found Indie 103.1 on the radio. At that moment, I knew that this was the station I was destined to work at in Los Angeles. I met Michael Steele who started and programmed that station. I convinced him to let me do a two-hour metal show. And man, it was such a moment in time. Steve Jones doing middays, Henry Rollins doing a show, Rob effing Zombie doing a show, Camp Freddy on the weekends - on, and I got to do a two-hour metal show ... ON THE RADIO IN LOS ANGELES? It was amazing. I will never forget that experience at Indie. I will also never forget Michael Steele giving me that opportunity. During that time, because I was also working on the record side - I had friends in radio that were aware of what I was doing in L.A. And my friend Ross Ford asked me one day if I would do a metal show for KILO. So I started doing a version of the show that didn't say where I was and I sent it to KILO every week. Aaron Burnett was at KTEG in Albuquerque and he asked me the same thing, so I started sending him the show as well. I got a few of those phone calls so there was a period where I was syndicated the FULL METAL JACKIE RADIO show to five or six stations on my own. Then I was approached by Envision who is now my syndication company for the show.
3. Now let's dive into the record promotion side. How long have you been with Eleven Seven?
When I moved to Los Angeles in 2001, it was to take a job with The Firm. I spent nine years there doing promotion as well as signing Five Finger Death Punch and doing promotions. I left the Firm to take a job with Eleven Seven/Tenth Street and I've been here about seven-and-a-half years now.
4. Before we talk about some of the hot new music on Eleven Seven, can you give us some of your proudest past achievements in breaking new acts with this label?
Breaking Nothing More was a lot of fun. They were an amazing live band from the start. Super-creative and really nice guys! From Ashes to New is another band we've introduced to Rock radio. We've also had great success working with bands like Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M, Hellyeah and Motley Crue. In addition, working with Five Finger Death Punch since day one (on the management side) has been an honor and I'm looking forward to seeing where we can take all of the above mentioned artists in the next few years.
5. Nothing More has been a big breakout band for the label. Is there any new music from them coming soon?
They have new music in the works as we speak!
6. You also have hit songs on Rock radio now with Sixx: A.M. and the latest Hellyeah single. Can you give us an update on these two projects?
We just recently shared a very cool acoustic version of "I Don't Care Anymore" from Hellyeah, and we also recently dropped a brand new single from Sixx:A.M. called "We Will Not Go Quietly" which comes off their upcoming album Prayers for the Blessed, Vol. 2 (it comes out 11/18.) Sixx:A.M. is currently out with Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown; Hellyeah is going to be out with In Flames in the next few weeks.
7. What else does the label have coming down the pipeline in the future?
Another project I'm excited to be working is our In Flames record. I've been a fan of this band for so many years. They are a legendary Swedish band - this is their 12th album! They worked with a producer for the first time in their careers and it was Howard Benson. I think what came out of those sessions is amazing. Their current single, "The Truth," is showing signs of being a hit already.
8. Okay, now let's switch gears to radio and talk about Full Metal Jackie radio. When did this all start and how many stations are running your weekly metal show?
I've been doing my syndicated show for almost 10 years now and I've got over 60 stations carrying the show.
9. You are also doing a custom weekly Hard Rock/Metal show for KLOS/Los Angeles called Whiplash. How long have you been doing this and what's the response been from Southern California rockers?
I've been doing Whiplash since January. It's an honor to be able to be on the air at such a legendary station as KLOS. The listeners are digging it; Southern California deserves to hear hard rock and metal on the radio here, and I'm proud to deliver it.
10. With all that you have going on, what do you like to do for fun and relaxation when you're not in "work" mode?
Not in work mode? Is there such a thing? Ha! Well, I moved to the South Bay a few years ago, so I live by the beach now. I absolutely love the beach and enjoy my neighborhood where people are super-nice and just happy and in good moods all the damn time. As an East Coast person, it was an adjustment getting used to everyone saying hello and wanting to chat with you in the street, but it's pretty nice now that I've gotten used to it. On the weekends I do bike rides on the beach, hang out with friends, or I'm at shows (lately in L.A., it's two shows an evening sometimes). I can't say I am ever fully relaxing since I have so many devices that are always ringing or dinging (I have two cell phones). But my life changed recently when I decided to turn my ringers off before I go to bed -- what a concept!
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