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Eagle Online Radio
July 12, 2023
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They say music sooths the soul and heals pretty much everything. Often times that’s literally true. And for radio people, it’s especially true. It’s an industry that used to employ so many people who were willing to sacrifice everything, work for nothing, and who will hold on to the memories forever, do everything to share them, and create their own opportunities while the rest of the world sits by and watches Corporate companies destroy what little of the craft is left due to their bankruptcy issues, downsizing, and overall lack of passion for a truly unique business.
That’s not the case for radio veteran John Harlow, the man behind Eagle Online Radio, ironically (or not) an online radio station owned and operated by Veterans. The concept and creation of this station came about as a way to distract him from a difficult divorce in 2019. And today, its continued success and evolution helps to distract him from his recently diagnosed Prostate Cancer. His father passed away from his battle with the same disease in 2011.
Harlow is currently Chief of Stakeholder Relations at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA. Before that, he was Chief of Media Relations at Arlington National Cemetery. Radio has always been a passion for him, as well as a side hustle. “A few of my colleagues and I were working with Chris Lash on a project that he had in Gainesville, FL. When that went away, we did online radio with another station, but couldn't handle working with someone who thought the 60s were the place to be. Most people who listened to music from the 60s either don't understand the internet or are no longer with us,” explains Harlow. “John Black who is on our current staff basically said, ‘If you want it done right, do it yourself.’ So, I did. I look at the Eagle as what kept my sanity. I was in the process of going through a divorce, so building it and putting it together kept my mind focused on something positive.”
“The real inspiration behind Eagle Online Radio came from me missing radio and what it used to be,” says Harlow. “The stations that inspired the overall presentation were B-94 Pittsburgh, WKTI Milwaukee, anything with an 80s presentation, had a little Z-100 inspiration and for our Sunday Night Classic Alternative program, KROQ.”
“Troy Welch, who has his online station (Playfmonline.com) helped me with the technical end and when I had the idea, I asked Tank Sherman who I listened to in high school on B-94 Pittsburgh if he would be a part of it,” says Harlow. “Without him and John Black, I’m not sure if I would have started it. The weekday air talent was put together, and things went from there. Troy taught me how to program with Station Playlist and all I had to do was build a library and a talent lineup to start. I hoped it was the beginning of something special, and it was.”
The primetime lineup for Eagle Online Radio consists of all commercial jocks who have volunteered to be a part of the station and the online community. “The Original Team consisted of me doing Morning Drive, John Black Middays, Tank Sherman afternoons and Melissa Foxx doing nights,” says Harlow.
“Slowly but surely, I reached out to some friends from previous stations I worked at. Rob Ruffin (who I served in the Army with and worked with at the American Forces Network Europe and Armed Forces Korea Network), Chad Bender who I worked with at WPRR Altoona, Lizzie Steele who worked on a Podcast called Connections, Don Smith who worked at WALY and WPRR and AJ Meyer who I worked at the Revolution in State College, PA. The station brought together some great people who have amazing talent and make some special radio. Even those who left for commercial jobs (like Nic Allen at WPCV in Central Florida and Lizzie Steele and Melissa Foxx at iHeartRadio in Orlando), stay in touch, and will appear on our 4th, stay in touch, and will appear on our 4th Anniversary on August 1st.”
The current lineup for Eagle Online Radio looks like this:
Weekdays
5:30-10 Tank Sherman (Pittsburgh, PA)
10-2 Tori Hart (Cedar City, UT)
2-7 Hollywood John Harlow (Tyrone, PA)
7-Mid Jose Velazquez (Richmond, VA)
Saturday
6-10 John Black (Daytona Beach, Fla)
10-3 Rob Ruffin (Laurel, MS)
3-7 Chad Bender (Altoona, PA)
7-Mid Back to the 80s Saturday Night with The Hitman Steve Hilton (State College, PA)
Sunday
7-10 Back in the Day Top 30 Countdown with Hollywood John Harlow
10-3 JJ McKay (Bellwood, PA)
3-7 Tim Michaels (Altoona, PA)
7-Mid Sunday Night Revolution with AJ Meyer (State College, PA)
Production/Website/Morning News: Ben Beaulieu (Boston, MA)
Fill-Ins
Dan Romero (Indianapolis, IN)
Matt Witt (St. Louis, MO)
Brandon Charles (Sacramento, CA)
Here’s how Harlow found his A players for the station. “Tank Sherman, John Black and Melissa Foxx and I got to know each other through working with Chris Lash on the Gainesville project. I served in the Army with our Night Jock Jose Velazquez and Rob Ruffin, I worked with or knew Chad Bender, JJ McKay, Tim Michaels, Steve Hilton, Dan Romero, Brandon Charles, and AJ Meyer, “says Harlow. “One guy who is invaluable is Ben Beaulieu who basically is my tech guru. There are some technical things that are beyond me. I still don't know or understand how my voice gets from my microphone to your radio. Ben does our imaging, fills in, does news and is my partner in Apollo Digital Media. I have been blessed to work at some amazing stations with some great air talent, but I would take this group every day of the week and twice on Sundays.”
“Basically, Eagle Online Radio has been an enormous therapy session for me for the last four years,” says Harlow. “My goal is to build a great station that our team can be proud of, grow it and hopefully syndicate it. I also want to inspire those who still have the kind of passion for radio that made the business so special, to do what they can to continue to evolve the industry. I want Eagle to be a relief for team members and listeners alike. And I want everyone to know that music and radio do heal the soul. I am basically setting up my retirement plan while I work at my real job…and that my friends…is what ‘The Bigger Picture’ is all about.”
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