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10 Questions with ... JEETZ
November 1, 2016
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1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
My actual first job in radio was helping out at a college radio station (not the broadcasting school I went to) just a gig making sure everything was up and running.
My interest in radio started when I was a punk-ass kid and I used to listen to Sonics games on the radio. Their play-by-play man was Kevin Calabro, and I remember him extracting so much emotion out of me, I knew in some way, I wanted to have the same effect on people.
2) I know you cut your teeth for years in this business at KISW in Seattle. Tell us how long you worked there and what your various roles at the station encompassed.
I was at KISW for eight-and-a-half years. I got my foot in the door doing promotions and a little production. I remember a little after I started I was asked by my Promotions Director at the time, what my long-term goals where at KISW. I said I was going to make an impact on-air. I was literally laughed at and was told my goals were probably a little too lofty to accomplish at KISW. I left that meeting saying to myself, I will work harder than anyone in this building to prove her wrong. Low and behold, I ended up doing on-air weekends. That led to everything from editing podcasts, production, produced videos, and being part of music meetings. Soon I became the station's everything go-to swing guy, which led to roles on every major daypart. I was extremely fortunate to work with people who encouraged me to develop a personality and to not be afraid to take chances.
3) You also worked as PD/afternoons for Active Rock KZND/Anchorage and most recently, mornings for Alternative KXTE/Las Vegas. What learning experiences did you take away from those gigs?
Being PD for KZND was arguably the biggest learning experience of my career. I had my hands on so many aspects of the station; it really taught me the true ins and outs of radio. We had some successes and some failures, all of which were great learning lessons. I didn't fully realize how much I'd learned from that experience until I left. KXTE taught me a couple things. First was how to spend every day looking for and developing great high-equity content for our listeners. I was really lucky to work with my co-host Marco, who not only is a legit major league talent, but a great dude, too! We really got on the same page and did some great stuff together. The second thing that gig taught me was how to adapt on the fly. Right after we had arrived and launched the show, the station had a changes not only at PD, but at OM as well. (Which is obviously not ideal.) The direction of the station was in flux for a while, and we constantly had to adapt as management zeroed in on an agreed-upon path. I've learned and grown from every opportunity I've had, including working for Mike Preston and Tanch at Hot 103.7.
4) Congrats on being back in Seattle as afternoon-drive host for KVRQ (Rock 98.9). How does it feel to be rocking in your hometown again?
Are you kidding me? It's awesome! Not only do I get to do afternoon drive on a kick-ass station in the greatest city in the world, but I get to be home, near family and friends as my wife and I prepare for the birth of our first child! To top it off, I can't even begin to tell you how great Dave Numme and the whole staff at Hubbard have been to me. I couldn't be more stoked on how this whole process worked out!
5) I know you've only been back for a short time, but are there any special benchmarks or features you're doing in afternoons?
We're super-early with launch of the show. The music has got great reaction from our audience and we're going to make sure we don't "shock the system" with a ton of features from the start. With that said, I do a "Free ticket Friday" with listeners having chance to win tix to killer shows every hour, and I'll have some features/fun tricks up my sleeve that are probably a little too early to talk about at this time. It's all a process and one I'm excited to be a part of.
6) You are also very active in social media with Facebook and Twitter among other sites. How important is having a social media footprint in doing an afternoon show in a market like Seattle?
It's crucial. It's a great way to communicate with the audience on and off the air. Especially with me just joining KVRQ, it's a great way for people who aren't familiar with my work or me in general, to get to know me and my style. It's also a tremendous way to relate with listeners on common interests. I can't imagine anyone in our industry, ignoring the importance of social media.
7) One of KVRQ's competitors is KISW, the station you spent your early radio years working at. How weird is it working across the street from them now?
To be completely honest, it isn't weird at all for me. Maybe had I left Entercom and this was the first gig I took after leaving, maybe that would be a different story. It's been four years since I've cracked a mic at that station. And my career has taken me in other directions. Obviously, KISW has built a great brand and I have ton of respect for everyone over there professionally and personally. And that shouldn't be news to anyone over there. At the same time, I'm removed from it enough to when I was offered this great opportunity at KVRQ, my past had zero influence on my decision. This market is proving there is a demand for another Rock station, and PD Dave Numme and KVRQ are doing it the right way with the spin they're putting on this format. It's a lot of fun to watch this station grow!
8) Having the perspective of working for Active Rock and Alternative stations, how cool is it now to work for a station that plays some of the greatest rock songs of all time on a regular basis?
Nothing against ALT, but it's getting really poppy (and I completely understand why), but I'm more of a Motley Crue, AC/DC, and Metallica kind of guy. I'm a kid in a candy store right now.
9) What do you like to do for fun when you're not in your "working at a radio station" mode?
I like to get out and play my favorite game of "drink the beer."
10) Finally, I know you are a huge Seahawks football fan. How do you think the team will do this year?
Well, I'm clearly biased being a diehard member of the 12th man, but I think it's pretty obvious the Seahawks are one of a handful of teams this year that have a legitimate chance of bringing home the Lombardi Trophy! It's a long season but I think they win the NFC West and if they get home-field advantage in the playoffs, look out! LETS GO HAAAAAAAAAWKS!!!
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