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10 Questions with ... Tony Cortez
September 26, 2006
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NAME:Tony CortezTITLE:MD/AfternoonsSTATION:KHFIMARKET:Austin, TXOWNER:Clear Channel
1 Please list your radio career stops so far:
KHFI Austin; KXXM San Antonio; KXTN San Antonio; KHFI Austin
2 How would you describe your first radio gig?
I started as a promo/research kid. I worked the boards on weekends and holidays for Rick Dees, Dick Clark, The John Boy and Billy Show. Then I would go and clock in for research to get hung up on by people eating cheetos in their living rooms
Interviewee: No thanks (crunch) ... I don't want to buy anything (crunch).
Me: No!! You don't understand ...I'm not selling anyth...okay, thanks.3 What led you to a career in radio?
Back before KHFI became "Kiss," Krash Kelly was the APD and did middays. After a little time and thousands of mock airchecks later, he ended up giving me my big break doing overnights. Thanks, man!! (I lost those old tapes, too. Darn.)
4 How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?
Actually, we've got a good size of the pie in Austin. We just hit #1 18-34 on our last trend ... that's VERY exciting. That happened despite the fact there are two Rhythmic stations going at it in the market, too. Recently, our PD Jay Shannon, created a new sound for Austin with our Jammin' station, KMFK. It's Rhythm old school hits for Generation X. From TLC "What About Your Friends," Paperboy "Ditty," even back to Michael Jackson "Billy Jean." Come on! Don't be jealous you didn't think of it first! LOL.
5 Could you give us a little insight into the KHFI on air staff?
Jay Shannon and Mac Daniels have both set up a powerhouse of a team at Kiss. Our morning show, Bobby Bones, has the most loyal listeners I have ever seen in a CHR market. Think of any morning show in San Antonio (where I came in from) and multiply the loyalty by two and maybe you can get an idea of the base. Micki Gamez does middays and is completely in touch with the Austin market. Cruz is our night guy. This guy is proof that great talent can come from small markets. I used to stream in from San Antonio just to get ideas for bits from this crack-head.
6 Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
There are too many too name just one. Growing up, I used to listen to Joe B. Nasty, when he did nights on KHFI. He was the tightest night jock you could ever hear - and he was using reel to reel and cart machines! I remember Adam Smasher, when he was with KRBE. He could really paint a creative story, if you let him. Fernando Ventura was a great afternoon jock, too. I can't believe I'm actually working his same time slot, on the same frequency.
7 What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I once was able to bench press 185 in high school!! Now, I'm lucky if I can lift a packet of "Splenda." LOL!
8 Austin is a hotbed for new, up and coming artists. What's your favorite place to catch live music?
OH! Are you kidding me? There are soooo many places to catch hellacious talent. I just ran into a place called Nuno's the other night and caught a young group from Canada called "Jo Hell and the Red Roosters." It was on a Monday night and there were maybe about 6 drunk people crawling around the whole place. But these cats played and whaled like they were in front of 40,000 people on the ACL stage. I don't even think Seattle is like this anymore.
9 What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?
The fact that there are hard-working people who envy what I do. Who hasn't has a listener come up and said, "You must have so much fun working in radio!" And this is from someone who works six days a week 9a to 10p, drives 30 miles, both ways, to get to his wife and kids. There isn't a single day that goes by that I do not thank my God for letting me do this for a living.
10 What advice you would give people new to the business?
Don't get a big head. For most of us, Radio is simply the bottom of the totem pole in immortality. Stay humble and honest to the ones around you. Learn as much as you can from the ones who have been in it for a while, and eventually your time will come.
Bonus Questions
Which character on a current TV series most reflects your personality?
Probably Peter Griffin from "Family Guy." I live vicariously through his life.
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