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10 Questions with ... Stickontheradio
November 26, 2013
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WBLI/Long Island, WBTS/Atlanta, KZQZ/San Francisco, WSPK/Hudson Valley, WIOQ/Philadelphia, WKSS/Hartford, WAKS/Cleveland, WHTZ/New York City, KYLD/San Francisco, WXXL/Orlando, KTFM/San Antonio, WNOU/Indianapolis.
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
I was one of the lucky ones who got to start in my own backyard on Long Island. Top that off with my home market being in the top 20 with NYC less than 45 minutes away. You learned to get good, quick. I started as an unpaid intern at WBLI and produced the night show. When that was over, I'd make tapes in the production room, working on my craft I wanted so badly. With the right guidance and hard doses of "keepin' it real," I got my shot, appreciated and loved every second of it.
2) What led you to a career in radio?
I remember listening to the flip to WFAN in NYC at the time to 660-A. I used to go to bed to that station every night and wake up to the Z Morning Zoo on Z100. Radio was always there. It was an escape from a crappy day at school, and even work when I got a bit older. Living this lifestyle was always something that appealed to me. I started hosting awards banquets for a local Long Island go-kart club and was also doing their play-by-play by 13. When I got to college, and I scored a slot on my college station, I blew off my NCAA scholarship in track to live at that radio station.
3) How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?
If you don't work in a market that has at least one direct competitor, consider yourself lucky. The landscape of this market consists of two hit radio stations with very little song differentiation. Top that off with two very competitive Country stations and a powerhouse Hip-Hop station ... standing out in this market is key.
4) What are you doing social media-wise?
I talk and post things that happen to people every day, whether it be a meme or something I'm involved with and passionate about. I don't post any throw-away tweets about relationship problems or cryptic tweets ... ain't nobody got time for that!
5) "Local local local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?
We talk about the cities we serve ... any time you hear your local town on the radio your ears perk a little bit. We're very involved in community affairs and it allows us to engage and connect on a heartfelt level that social media just cannot top.
6) If you could add one full-time position to your budget right now, what would it be?
Social Media Director. Hands down, this is something that lives and breathes just like the radio station does. Expecting your on-air personalities to run this alone is short-sighted in my opinion. So many P1s receive their news and information first from social media. Shouldn't your interaction online have as much of a filter as your on-air content?
7) What music do you listen to when you're not working?
Insert stock answer here (I listen to everything.) Seriously, the day could start off with Yacht rock and segue into West Coast Hip-Hop, mixed with some Active Rock and even some power ballads.
8) What is the current state of the radio "talent pool?"
Um, I just put out an e-mail for promotions kids to learn how to board op. When I started in radio, I was begging for a chance. Now, kids are coming out of broadcast classes or college feeling ready to go. When they realize there's more to learn, the interest disappears. As a programmer on the rise, I feel like it's our responsibility to carve out places on the schedule to teach and develop future talent.
9) What would you like to do to save radio from its "dying-industry" image?
Radio isn't dying. It has been around over 100 years. When radios are replaced as entertainment in vehicles, we should worry. Until then, we can continue to expand radio's worth. Work on developing content that is difficult to duplicate and makes it hard for the listener to leave. If you provide content catered to your market and fully understand who you're talking to ... that's something an app on your phone or Internet stream can't do better than radio.
10) Name the artist/act (living or dead) you'd love to meet and why?
This question got answered this past summer when I got to see Sir Paul McCartney at Outside Lands in San Francisco. He was amazing, and although I didn't meet him, his performance was enough for me! So who would I want to meet now? It's so tough now that a Beastie Boy is missing ... I would have loved to meet that group as a whole!
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