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10 Questions with ... Bill Stewart
March 28, 2006
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NAME:Bill StewartTITLE:PD/Morning HostSTATION:KGOTMARKET:Anchorage, AKOWNER:Clear Channel
Please outline your radio career so far:
1993 - 97: KGOT; Mornings
1997 - 98: KZZP; Mornings
1998: KGOT; APD/MD
1998 - present: KGOT; PDI've been with 103.1 KGOT most of my career, with the exception of winter 1997 to May 1998. This was before deregulation, as I thawed out by doing Mornings in Phoenix. After a while, I felt it best to come back to Anchorage where people still remembered my name. I've been here since. I'm only the 4th PD since 1983, when KGOT became a true CHR station. From 1975 - 83 it was more of an automated Rock Forty.
1 How would you describe your first radio gig?
The first minute was chaos. It was my first commercial gig at HIT RADIO 100, KOKU in Agana, Guam. The night jock says to me - and I quote, "Here, you run the board, I've gotta take a &$#@." It's been true love ever since. Unfortunately, that was the good ol' days, when music was on carts. There's nothing like running a tight board that is NOT IN "AUTO" (and just imagine pulling music for the next shift).
2 Without using the words "frozen" or "tundra," how would you describe the radio landscape in your market?
How's "Frigid Wasteland" sound? Seriously, with 22 viable commercial signals, the market is quite segmented. 10-12 Rock shares, nearly 10 Country shares every book and Top 40 has 11-14, depending on how you look at it. Anchorage has nearly 17 million dollars in radio revenue which, in my opinion, makes it more competitive than you'd think market 172 would be. There's a lot of incredible talent in this market. In fact, our Classic Rock sister KBFX just signed Woody & Wilcox from San Diego.
3 What is your favorite part of the job?
At the end of the day, it's playing the music.
4 The Scott and Stu Morning Zoo have been waking people up for more than a decade. What's the secret?
Recycle the same bits ... plus add in tons of American Idol drops and "Seacrest Out" tags. PS: It's now the Scott & Stu Show; we dropped the ZOO part 2 or 3 years ago, I think!
5 In fact, KGOT has been a successful Top 40 since the 1970's. That must make the staff very proud. Tell us about the rest of the on air team.
KCB (Casey Bieber) is our promotion director - born and raised right here - who took over the midday show after Janet From Another Planet left to pursue her music career. Then comes imaging guru T-Marteen with all the club hits you wished you could play all day. The newest addition to the KGOT cast of idiots is SPOON, who arrived recently from KZCH Wichita, with his True Hollywood Story, and the TOP 8 at 8. He sounds like the only "live" jock left in Anchorage. Except when he competes with American Idol. Then, he simply plays the television feed audio from our local FOX affiliate.
6 What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
104.7 KZZP, back in the Jonathan Brandmeier days.
7 What music do you listen to when you're not working?
Cat Stevens, Stevie Wonder and James Taylor.
8 What advice you would give people new to the business?
Keep a strong work ethic. Learn to appreciate what a great gig you have. That, plus you're most likely NOT doing your PD, GM or OM a favor by showing up for work.
9 Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?
SNORKELMAN has to be my favorite. We had zero budget and since we were in receivership, we didn't have lawyers that cared. So I suited up in a snorkel and mask, wrapped up in plastic (including the Marti) and let the listeners drive by and splash me "live" on the air. Hilarious audio! We did the stunt during "break-up" (that's when our 100+ inches of snow melts over 2-3 days in March).
10 What is the current state of the radio 'talent pool." Is it tough to get people interested in coming up to Alaska to work?
Surprisingly, and I'm not sure if it's due to the "mystery" of Alaska, but anytime we place an ad for a jock on ALL ACCESS, the response has been great. Since deregulation, people talk about all the talent that's out there, but it's just the opposite. Not just here but I'm guessing everywhere. Where is new talent coming from, when there are no more overnight shifts for talent to hone their craft? The key is finding the right talent who knows where to go to steal those great ideas in order to improve their performance. Molding the talent becomes the new challenge. That's the difference between a good PD and an excellent teacher or TG (Talent Groomer).
Bonus Questions
Which character in a current TV show most reflects your personality?
Simon, from American Idol - without the British accent.
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