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10 Questions with ... Alex Tear
August 1, 2023
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Northern MI, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Miami, New York, North America
WWLZ, WILS, WYSS, WKHQ, WTCF, WGRD, WHYT, WDRQ, WKST, WHYI
Air Talent, AMD, Production Director, MD, APD, PD, Programming Operations, VP, SVP
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
It all began three hours north of Detroit, I clearly remember telling the GM at MacDonald Broadcasting that he wouldn't regret hiring me. I wanted that overnight gig in Cadillac, MI with everything in my heart. Where I found the confidence to make such a bold statement to him, I'll never know. It was an exciting time, my foot was in the door to grow, make mistakes and begin refining my skillset for the career I wanted to have.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
Beginning as a Roller Rink DJ, I was super-passionate about music. I loved to discover and play music for anyone who would listen, I was that guy making mix tapes for everyone. Ultimately the journey began high atop Detroit's Fisher Building at 96.3 WHYT - mixing in a competition hosted by Motor City legend The Electrifying Mojo.
3. You're back in Miami after spending over 10 years of your terrestrial radio career there. Why the move back down south? and what are some of the cool features about the company's new facility on historic Collins Avenue.
Miami is a magic multicultural destination with energy and opportunity that's easily on par and even beyond America's biggest cities. The passion, tech, vibes, and creativity running through the hallways of our beautiful new state-of-the-art facility is truly special. The marquee star power that's already passed through has created buzz across the nation making SiriusXM/Miami a must visit. When the opportunity presented itself to continue leading music and programming across North America from our new SiriusXM/ Miami HQ, it all felt right. Although Miami is where we reside, New York visits to collaborate with teammates continue on a regular basis.
4. HITS 1 is able to set trends and break songs. In your close to 4 years in the house – who are a couple of artists and songs that you're especially proud to have given a jump start to?
HITS 1 is a powerhouse that's been helping to shape pop culture to millions across the nation for years. We're passionate students along with being pointed and intentional when making music and content choices. The focus is to jump start all partnerships embraced, there are several standouts, but we like to look at the overall movement as a collective. From embracing a core artist's next project to new music discovery, we take a lot of pride in presenting the 'what's now' to 'what's next' to our listeners across North America.
5. How's life on the Pandora side of the aisle in 2023?
Pandora was an exciting entry point for my opportunity with SiriusXM. It was the exact reset needed to inspire the next level, the transition from terrestrial radio to a digital streaming platform felt very natural, but there was a lot to be learned and accomplished. Although my day-to-day primarily focuses on SiriusXM programming, my Pandora relationship continues to assist with our team's mission to identify, showcase and elevate new music.
6. How can radio make sure that potential Gen Z and Gen Alpha listeners are being properly served?
Hire them, mentor them, listen to them, learn from them and empower them. As a leader, help to guide that peer-to-peer conversation that will in return set up the next generation of SiriusXM listeners.
7. Pre-pandemic the SXM lobby in New York City was the greatest show on earth – where you literally never knew who you'd see sitting there. Who did you see there that blew your mind?
There's a non-stop presence of star power walking the halls at all times, from Drake to Conan O'Brien, Carrie Underwood, Kevin Hart and beyond! Being a media company, we're engaged with all from TV, Movies, Music, Athletes, Authors, Creators, CEO's, Politicians and more. It's never boring, A-Listers are in constant motion through the hallways with studio visits and performances inside 1221's world famous Fishbowl. One of my favorite moments was chatting it up with Steve Martin and Martin Short during a visit. Around every corner a new adventure, not to mention our world class hosts.
8. You spent a good 10 years in Detroit – what was it like for you to make it to your hometown airwaves?
I'm so grateful to have been part of shaping the Motor City's historical radio and music landscape with our teams. From helping to break Eminem or selling out arenas with our Kringle Jingle's or Planet Fest, it was a dream come true with so many memorable moments. In the ultimate end, I became the Program Director of the station I grew up listening to on my bus ride to school.
9. What's your all-time favorite backstage memory?
Impossible to answer, so many valued and terrifying moments from enjoying performances to putting them on. I do cherish a very cool memory of sitting with Kid Rock on his tour bus to build an old-school setlist with Reverend Run of Run-DMC and Peter Wolf the front man of The J. Geils Band, another Motor City legend. You can bet "Centerfold", "It's Like That" and "Cowboy" were in that set.
10. If you could take a spin in the custom 'All Access Back To The Future Delorean,' which legendary station from the past would you like to work at for a week?
I'd take the 7 days and divide them between the places I've worked to spend time with the people that helped to create a lifetime of amazing memories. The good, the bad and the ugly, we always seemed to be getting into some kind of trouble. Those valued experiences helped to build a wonderful career that I'm truly grateful for.
11. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?
Growing up in Detroit, the 1982 sign-on of Mike Joseph's HOT HITS WHYT excited me to no end. Hearing The Gap Band's "You Dropped The Bomb On Me" launch 96 Now, I fell in love with the power of radio and how it made me feel at that time. I also have fond memories of listening to Detroit Tiger baseball with Grandpa on WWJ, then later in life I became obsessed with the Electrifying Mojo on WJLB who I'd eventually become friends with.
12. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
My personal relationship with The Electrifying Mojo aka Charles Johnson had a tremendous impact on me. I so valued his unique and creative perspective. There were many good and not so good that influenced where I am today. I'm grateful to have taken knowledge from Grant Hickey, the late Dick Kernen, Rick Gillette, Mark Jackson, the late Andy MacDonald, Denny Corpe, Jerry Noble, Mike McVay, Phil Catlett, John Cravens, the late Mike Fezzey, Scott Shannon, Tom Cuddy, Garett Michaels, John Rohm, the late George Kenyon, Brian Olson, Tom Poleman and now Steve Blatter, Scott Greenstein to name a few.
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