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10 Questions with ... Harrison Hinman
August 17, 2021
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Please give us a brief career synopsis… I first started off as an intern at WXXK-FM (KIXX 100.5) in West Lebanon,NH when I was a freshman in high school. At the start of my sophomore year, I started a new internship at 99.3 WFRD-FM (99Rock) in Hanover, NH at Dartmouth College. I handled nights for the first couple of months which then led to middays until I graduated high school. Shortly after high school I landed at Binnie Media. I started at their West Lebanon, NH cluster at WXLF & WZLF-FM doing promotions and sales. I later accepted a new position at Binnie Media’s NH operations building in Concord, NH where I am currently PD of WJYY. I wear a few other hats as well within the cluster.
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
A journey. I feel like that is the only way I can really describe it. I grew up listening to WFRD. I remember my first day at the station. I met Heath Cole, who oversaw the entire operation. He was just like me--crazy about radio. On the first day I am quite positive he told me at least a total of at least 13 crazy radio stories from his baby DJ days. I loved every single one of them. We immediately clicked. Starting my internship at 99Rock I was going in under the impression that I was going to oversee and watch others, take notes, licking envelopes and practice cutting a spot. Nope. It was all of that and everything else! That same day he told me that he was going to put me on nights starting two weeks later. I told him to shut up. I told him not to lie to me. He said “You start in two weeks! We’ll start training next week.” I could not believe it. The dream I had since I was 6 years old was coming true. I stayed at 99Rock for three years. There were ups and there were downs. I learned so many important things about radio and the business itself from my time at WFRD. I really was able to get my feet wet there. I made great friends during my time there too. I am forever grateful and thankful for my time there. A surreal journey it was.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
Good question. To be honest it was a mix of a few things. Music has always been a major part of my life. I have been playing the drums since I could pick up sticks. I have been playing piano ever since I can remember. My mother constantly had the radio on when I was younger. We always listened to the radio. I remember being so fascinated with the whole production aspect of whatever station I was listening to. It was magical to me. I loved listening to the DJs too! I especially remember listening to Bev Valentine on 92.3 WGXL. I met her at carpet store remote and I remember her giving me a DVD of the movie Over the Hedge and a bumper sticker. My mom said I could not stop talking about it for days. I would want to listen to WJYY every time we would do our trips down interstate 89 to the mall in Manchester. I specifically loved JYY because of their jingle package. It was so fun to sing along too. It amazed me how a jock could talk up a song and hit the vocal post. I wanted to know everything and how radio was created. At that point I was obsessed with radio. I asked my mom to drive by studios on 106 North Main Street in West Lebanon all the time. I did not know when, but I knew somehow someday I would be on the radio. I never would have predicted hitting the airwaves at age 14.
3. As a New Hampshire native, what does it mean to you to be able to do radio on your home turf?
It truly means a lot to me. My dream was to always crack the mic in the Upper Valley. I grew up listening to radio there. WFRD gave me that chance back in high school. That was very surreal for me when it happened. I was quite sad when my time at WFRD ended because I was not sure if I would ever return to the airwaves in the region. Binnie Media gave me that opportunity again. Which I am so grateful for. In addition to WJYY I also handle a daily air shift on 95.3 & 107.1 The Wolf located in West Lebanon which is part of Binnie Media’s Wolf franchise. It is nice to have friends and family who enjoy listening to me up there. My mother especially enjoys it. My hope is that there is another person out there in the Granite State who is listening to me that feels the same exact way I felt at age 6 about radio. I hope to inspire that person in some way. I hope to meet that person and have them pick my brain just like I did back when I wanted to know about everything.
4. You’re still on the air—covering middays…why is it important for you to continue to crack the mic on a daily basis?
As we know, the industry is changing and will continue to change over time. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to walk in the studio and be LIVE each day. I feel more connected and in tune with what is going on and how I am talking to the listener when I am live. It is completely different. It is important when a listener texts in or dials up the JYY hotline and someone is there to answer and that person’s request or that question they might have if I had gotten the correct answer yet about the trivia question, I just asked on the air. That is the little stuff that I think goes a long way. That is another reason I feel it is important to have a living breathing person in the air studio. They get excited and then I get excited! It is a thrill honestly. Sure, sometimes it is out of your control, and you must track a shift since you are doing this that and the other thing. We all wear lots of hats. I still get giddy turning on the mic and talking up a song. Someone once told me that excitement you get never goes away. That person was right!
5. Are things back to “normal” as far as staff being back in the building and studios these days?
Yes, finally! For the longest time it was not though. We had staggered shifts and limited staff in the building from March of 2020 through January of 2021. It was tough to be honest. We are a family here. It was hard not seeing everyone like I used to. The days were long, and we never thought we would see the end. It is nice to have that normalcy again. It helps a lot!
6. What did you learn about yourself as a programmer navigating the pandemic?
Well, it was tough for the first five months or so with the start of the pandemic. As a team, we focused on making sure that the community knew that we were there with them every single day and that they had a place to go to if they needed that companionship and support and a place to escape from what was unfolding in the world.
7. “Local local local” has always been radio’s mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community? Have you been getting back out there yet?
We really stepped up our online presence especially with Facebook and Instagram. MD and afternoon host Nazzy had our JYY Hometown Hero every afternoon on his show highlighting a person in our community who was out there on the front line and really putting forth an effort to help in the community. Like many stations, we were involved in several vehicle parades for birthdays, graduations etc. Fast forward to now, we are back in full swing! It feels good to be out again and seeing our listeners in person and being able to connect with them again outside of the virtual world that we were locked into for so long.
8. Have we heard The Song of Summer 2021 yet? If so, what is it?
To be honest, I am not so sure if we have. If I had to pick, I would go with “Levitating” by Dua Lipa!
9. What were your favorite stations growing up as a kid? Jock(s)?
I grew up listening to 92.3 WGXL in Lebanon, NH along with the station that has the largest signal in North America which is 94.9 WHOM! I also loved listening to 99.3 WFRD and 105.5 WJYY. I still am so grateful I was given the opportunity to crack the mic on WFRD and I still pinch myself over the fact that I am the program director of WJYY now. It really has all come full circle. As far as jocks, Bev Valentine had to be one of my favorites when I was little. I then really got into streaming other stations out of the area and started to listen to Z100 at 13 and I fell in love. I listen every time I am down in the city. Trey Morgan is another jock who inspired me a lot as I started on air. Same goes for Zach Sang. I have had the chance to chat with him a few times a while back. I remember he had me host a countdown on his show when I called in years ago when I was 14.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
Heath Cole. That man has taught me everything I know. I seriously would not be in the position I am in today if I had never crossed paths with him at WFRD in 2014. He is the man who gave me a chance and put me to work at age 14. He guided me through everything and really gave me a chance to learn the right way. I cannot say enough about him. The way he taught me things has always stuck with me. He and I have been close for years now. We bounce ideas off each other all the time. We have a lot of the same visions, and we are very alike when it comes to creativity, station sound and image. The coolest thing is that we now work together again at Binnie Media, and he is now the VP of Programming for our entire cluster. We get to work together daily again! He is the hardest working person I know. He wants what is best for our stations! He has been an incredible addition to the team here. He knows his stuff. He has continued to influence me along the way. I am grateful for him!
Bonus Questions
With the venue of your choice at your disposal and an unlimited budget, which 3-5 acts would you pull together for a 105.5JYY Welcome Back Bash?
We would definitely have Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and the Jonas Brothers!
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