-
10 Questions with ... Brandon "Buster" Satterfield
December 13, 2016
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
In '04 I started interning for WDRQ/Detroit in Promotions
Then... WTWR/Toledo - Part-time WRCL/Flint - Nights KSXE/Fresno - Nights/MD WKQI/Detroit - On-air/promotions/music programming WXRK/New York - Late-night host WRDW/Philadelphia - PD/afternoon host Atlantic Records - NY Regional WNOW/Indianapolis - PD/afternoon host
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
Short! My first radio internship stopped after three months when DRQ flipped formats.
My first paycheck came from Toledo at Tower 98.3. Thanks, Brent Carey!
2) What led you to a career in radio?
When I was a kid, I was known for curating playlists for my friends by illegally pirating music (sorry label friends). I also felt like I had a knack for picking the hits off the albums that would make it on the radio. So I knew my passion for the music industry was there.
3) What makes your station unique? How would you compare it to other stations you've worked at?
Anybody who knows me knows I like to weave a passionate team of misfits together with a common goal of entertaining. So in that regard, it's somewhat similar to previous stations I've worked at. It's also the only Top 40 station in our company, so that keeps us void of national templates and allows us to create unique promotions, concerts, etc.
4) What are you doing social media-wise?
We tackle that from a couple angles. Our marketing department fulfills any sales obligations. Then ... the air staff takes over! The personalities are responsible for submitting a social media plan that runs parallel with their show plan each day. In addition to posting from the studio, the jocks are also logging in ALL DAY and posting on our Snap/IG with "real life" content.
5) "Local local local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?
Ugh ... I'm so sick of hearing that.
I absolutely understand the value of being visible in your market and making that one-to-one connection with the locals. Our cluster has the most active promo dept. in the market.
With that being said, let's be real ... the big companies have slaughtered that perception by going the opposite route, syndicating major dayparts, eliminating street teams and still out-performing the "local" stations in the market.
So what I'm saying is I enjoy being out in the streets and there is a value, but it doesn't always have an impact on the Nielsen end. Most of the time it doesn't even matter.
6) What's the coolest promotion you've been involved with recently?
We took dog poop bags out on Election Day.
Half of the bags had Hillary's face on them and the other half had Trump's face.
We asked voters which bag/face they would rather pick up dog poop with.
(Each bag had a poop emoji cookie in them.)
7) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
Oh, you know I'm going to use this time to shout-out my boys!
Bennett at Amp Philly is leading the pack in so many ways.
Stylz/Nick Wize at 955 in Detroit is one of the most underrated jocks I've ever known.
Fantone at Rock 106.9.
Nugget at Q in Memphis is one of the funniest people I know and great in AM drive.
Chunky at Bull in Portland has one of the most unique perspectives on attacking the mic.
You know who else is pretty good?! Kristie Graybill at Kiss in Cincy.
8) Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
That's another pop to shout-out my boys!
The infamous Dom Theodore had a huge hand early on even before I worked for him.
Dan Hunt is one of my more recent mentors as he has groomed me to win since the moment I met him. We also both like wrestling.
Lee Lerioux has been a trusted opinion in my life since I've met him.
Thank you, guys!
9) What is the current state of the radio 'talent pool?'
It's not as bad as everyone says it is. I found three of the most talented people in radio when we hired The Joe & Alex Show at RadioNow.
Joe Piesz is a rock as a leader and he's pretty damn funny on the air.
Alexandra Clark is one of the most creative people I've ever met and I greatly appreciate her passion.
Their producer MYK is 1/1, another one of the funniest people I know with a direct vision of what our audience is looking for.
10) What would you like to do to save radio from its "dying-industry" image?
Continue to bring people to our brands for their entertainment value. If your brand is unique and profitable, it'll make it over to the next medium.
Bonus Questions
What was your last non-industry job?
Ooohhh, good question! I'm pretty sure it was Subway. I was working part-time in radio with a Subway gig on the side. I got fired when I didn't show up one day because I slept in from the club gig the night before and was like, "Well, I guess I don't need it anymore."
-
-