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10 Questions with ... Mike Klein
April 21, 2009
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NAME:Mike KleinPOSITION:PD/afternoons (and weekends at WFLZ and WHTZ)STATION:WBVDMARKET:Melbourne/Cocoa Beach FLOWNER:Clear channel
Please outline your radio career so far:
Z104/Norfolk - nights, afternoons and MD
Z104/Washington, DC - weekends and swing
WKZL/Greensboro, NC - APD/middays
WHTZ/New York - weekends and swing
WBVD/Melbourne, FL - PD/Afternoons
WFKS/Jacksonville - VT middays
WFLZ/Tampa - VT weekends
WXXL/Orlando - VT weekends1) What led you to a career in radio?
When I was 12 years old, I won $107 from my favorite station, Q107, in DC. That's when I realized radio is where the money is at! Boy, was I mistaken!
2) You're so close to Orlando ... how does that impact your numbers?
It's challenging! Melbourne is less then an hour away from Orlando. Many of Orlando's stations do very well in my market. I am also up against WAOA, a station that's been known as the Top 40 here for over 20 years -- not to mention the name of their station is a major road in my market.
3) How did you get the highest numbers in WBVD history?
Yes, I can't believe it ... we are #1 18-34 persons with only 4,000 watts, up against a 100,000-watt Top 40. We are hyper-focusing on our core demo and being local as much as we can. We have a strategic plan in place, and we have found our niche in the market. We are on the streets almost every day to shake as many hands as possible. Also, we do fun stuff to try to get attention. For example, on Inauguration Day, we changed the station name to Obama 951! We got some great press on it, and we sounded like we were having fun. Radio needs to be more fun! Also I secretly drug people who have diaries.
4) Who do you consider to be your mentors?
- * Tom Poleman, Sharon Dastur and Romeo at Z100 in NYC, for letting me be on the biggest station in the world.
- Jason Goodman at WKZL/Greensboro, for teaching me incredible strategic overall programming, including managing a #1 morning show. He is very smart at what he does and has been successful at every radio station he has been at.
- Don London (WNVZ) is great.
- Michael Bryan (WXXL) for helping me get my first PD job at WBVD.
- Tommy Chuck, Todd Shannon and Rob Wagmen for answering all music and programming questions, and great advice.
5) What makes your station unique? How would you compare it to other stations you've worked at?
Kiss 951 is all about what's happening at the moment in pop culture, and what's happening in my market. I always say we are the female CNN ... always on top of it.
6) Are you wearing more "hats" than you have in the past?
Yes, and I love it ... makes radio more fun. I am involved with so much at my station. I am the Marketing Director, Music Director, Program Director and I do live afternoons from 3p-7p, while also flying up and filling in at Z100/New York - and voicetracking weekends for 933 FLZ, WXXL and WFKS.
7) What is the most challenging part of the job?
Making it work with limited resources. Finding ways to market my station without marketing dollars. Not having money for local research can be very challenging at times, as almost all aspects of my job rely on gut feeling.
8) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I love flying to new cities on weekends, and I hang in New York City is much as I can.
9) Could you give us a little insight into your on air staff?
I am so lucky that we have MJ in the Morning from 933 FLZ in Tampa -- hands down, one the best morning shows in the country. MJ is very pop culture and talks about what's happening locally and nationally. He will even talk about what's happening in my market sometimes. He is #1 18-34 persons here for the first time so I LOVE THIS SHOW! After MJ, JR from WFKS voicetracks with entertaining and relevant show prep. Next up, Ryan Seacrest from noon to 3pm. Every book he is growing, and he gives us credibility in the market. Afternoons is covered by me from 3-7p. I put on a ton of great calls while keeping the music going. Nights we have Wingnut, who is a superstar in the market. He grew up here, so everywhere we go everyone knows him and he's always shaking hands with everyone. Also on weekends we have some great mixers: Grooves from WIHT and DJ Goofy White Kid from 933 FLZ.
10) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
JJ on Z100 is great at targeting women 18-34 and talking about real life. Travis Bagwell at DC 101 is by far one the best night jocks on the planet. Toby at WITH ... you never know what he is going to say next. Julian from B96 is always is working his ass off 24 hours show prepping. Jason Goodman from WKZL is clever and relevant while being topical. Last but not least, Jason Kidd, who did a great job programming WQSR in Baltimore, and is now doing a great afternoon show: Jason and Jen on Mix106.5. They somehow mix show prep and being local in Baltimore.
Bonus Questions
What's the best sweeper/liner you've ever heard?
98YCR, where the weekends are made for winning.
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