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10 Questions with ... Jerry Noble
April 4, 2006
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NAME:Jerry NobleTITLE:PDSTATION:WIOGMARKET:Saginaw, MIOWNER:Citadel
Please outline your radio career so far:
Michigan "lifer", with 25 years experience, including stops in the Upper Peninsula (WQXO/Munising, WYSS/Sault Ste. Marie); Northern Lower Michigan (WJML/Petoskey, WKPK/Gaylord); Mid-Michigan (WBMI/West Branch, WIOG/Saginaw-Flint); Detroit (WBTI/Port Huron, WKQI/Detroit, and WDVD/Detroit). Also Corporate PD for Martz Communications Group
1 What led you to a career in radio?
Listening to personalities that always sounded like they really enjoyed what they did. It always sounded like a party I wanted to be at.
2 How would you describe your first radio gig?
I did 4-10pm on a station located in a former funeral home that couldn't afford a stereo generator (FM MONO) and signed off at 10pm each night. We had 3 jocks, an office manager/receptionist, and one salesman. On Sundays, I would vacuum the building after signoff as part of my "job description." I was living in a mobile home next to a giant Santa Claus along M-28 in Christmas, MI. Let's say it was "educational."
3 The Great Lakes State has a proud history of success with "Rust Belt Rock," "Mullet Rock," etc. How is that scene these days?
Kid Rock's "Live Trucker" debuted at #1 in SoundScan two weeks ago and hasn't left the Top 5 here since. I think the sound is holding up well. One of the greatest concert moments ever was Bob Seger joining the Kid onstage back on Super Bowl weekend in Detroit. Only recently have people stopped crying tears of joy.
4 How has the radio landscape in Saginaw evolved over the past decade?
What used to be station-on-station combat has evolved into group-on-group combat since my last tour here 10 years ago. Fortunately, our Citadel group is led by some of the best talent anywhere. I had a ton of respect for these folks long before I worked with them.
5 What is your favorite part of the job?
Like most PD's, I think the "creation" process is always the most fun of developing a station. The "What if we did this?" phase always holds the most enjoyment for me.
6 Using one sentence for each, how would you describe the air staff at the station?
To use one sentence wouldn't do any of them justice. I'll just say that from Todd, Katie, Pinky & Carter on "The Early Shift", to PM driver/MD Demas, The Playhouse, the weekend staff, and the AMAZING Rachel Geddes, I appreciate all they contribute to WIOG.
7 What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
Since public television just aired the documentary about "The Rise & Fall of The Big 8," Let's go with the legendary CKLW. And like most radio guys, you can't just have one. The Jim Ryan era at WDRQ; WKNR; the Howard Stern-era WWWW (I was an intern there); WNIC and the old WMJC (now WCSX) were all influences.
8 What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
"People ain't right." We all have our human flaws and issues. It's how we deal with them and each other that makes the difference. Expecting a boss/employee/co-worker to be somehow "perfect" is futile for the both of you.
9 What advice you would give people new to the business?
Immerse yourself. Totally. "Live" at the radio station. Do NOT think you can just punch in, punch out, and go home. Soak up as much as everyone will let you, including sales, promotions, news, and whatever else. Yeah, you'll occasionally feel like you're being taken advantage of (and sometimes you will be), but I have never met a successful personality/PD who didn't do it at some point. I remember hanging out with other jocks/wannabe PDs, just listening to out of town stations/airchecks together, all of us wanting not just to "critique" or steal ideas, but to learn more about WHY something was successful.
10 What do you think is the most pressing issue facing programmers today?
Finding compelling talent that can operate smartly within the framework of the format AND ALSO connect successfully with our target audience. Most jocks seem to get one part right, but not the other.
Bonus Questions
Name the artist you'd love to meet and why?
Donna Summer, so I could ask for my money back after a lousy 45 minute concert at Pine Knob back in 1980, despite having a ton of hits. She clearly wasn't working hard for the money that night. :)
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