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10 Questions with ... Chris Lloyd
June 21, 2022
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Illegal FM station in Gilroy CA to WZCR Ft Myers FL to KHOP Modesto and KSJO San Jose CA, WAXQ Harrisburg, WBSX Wilkes Barre and WMMR Philadelphia, PA to WBAB and WBLI Long Island NY.
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
The one willing to work 6a to 6p on Christmas Day! A BLAST! I was soooo green … how they ever hired me. They gave me the space to learn and grow working at an AC station that flipped to Classic Rock. PD Bob, Dean Tyler, Jennifer Vaughn, D-Day, and Paul the Engineer taught me so much.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
I wanted to be an actor and I was going to give up my radio gig as I was enrolled to start in the fall. There was a party I went to that summer where someone had just got their first job. They told the group what they would make per week and I remember thinking about how I was already making more than that in radio! So, I pulled out of acting and placed my bet on radio.
3. You originally joined Cox/Long Island to program Rock WBAB. For the past year you’ve also had oversight of WBLI. What’s it been like adding that format to your programming portfolio?
A massive lesson in learning. It has been super exciting as I’ve admired BLI for years. We have the absolute best team and talent in Top 40 at 106.1 BLI. They are passionate, driven, and beyond connected with the audience. I am so proud of the success we are seeing because of their knowledge, commitment, and hard work.
4. Just last month, you were named Director of Rock Content for the company. How’s that all been going?
Awesome! I am pumped that I get to work with our strong leaders and exciting talent at these CMG stations. A big thank you to EVP Rob Babin and VP/Audience & Operations Chris Eagan for the opportunity!
5. How did navigating the pandemic make you a better programmer?
You had to block out the noise and focus on the things that really mattered. Keeping your team safe, staying on top of what was happening in that moment. Figuring out new ways to do things without a road map. You find out what people are made of, and the pandemic once again confirmed that we have only the best!
6. Al Levine has been hosting middays on WBLI since 1995(!!!). What does he bring to the table every day as in terms of listener engagement, etc.?
A legend that delivers ratings! He has a way of saying a lot with just a couple of well-chosen words. He’s a patient and encouraging coach to up and coming talent.
7. Has the staff been back out with listeners at station events and the like?
Yes, as events return to Long Island, we are there.
8. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
People. You better have the best.
9. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?
I was lucky to hear Bay Area radio growing up from KITS Live 105 Alex Bennett, Big Rick Stewart and Roland West. KSJO, Dana Jang, Tim Jefferies. KWSS with Kelly & Kline.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
Mike Scott invited me down to that bootleg illegal FM radio station in Gilroy,CA and gave me my first chance to crack a mic. D-Day in Fort Myers gave me the opportunity to learn music scheduling, Scott Mahalick hired me and allowed me to really grow myself, Dave Taylor at KHOP built my skills to program, Dana Jang taught me the fundamentals, Sam Milkman put up with my incessant programming questions, John Shea, Kim Guthrie, Steve Smith, Keith Hastings and Katelin Tinley opened my eyes to a higher level of what we could do. I have been very lucky to learn and work with all these bright leaders.
Bonus Questions
With the brand new UBS Arena at your disposal and an unlimited budget, which 3-5 acts would you pull together for cluster-wide listener event?
Oh man, it’s such a great venue!! Let’s put Long Island’s own Billy Joel, Beyonce, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga on that stage and sell it out!
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