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10 Questions with ... Dave O
March 3, 2009
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Please outline your radio career so far:
KFRX/Lincoln, NE (6/97-1/04) -- I got hired by the legendary Sonny Valentine and later worked under current Sirius Hits 1 Morning Mashup dude Ryan Sampson when he programmed KFRX.
KMXV/Kansas City (5/02-5/04) -- I would drive down every two weekends my last two years of college at the Univ. of Nebraska and worked Saturdays from 6-10p under the famous Jon Zellner and my current PD ... who was then APD ... Ponch. My Dad lives in KC, so I would stay with him before making the three-hour drive back in time for class! It was great working with Kelly Urich, Rocket & Teresa, Mathew Blades and Lucas. Oh, and using CDs and carts.
WNKS/Charlotte (5/04-9/06) -- I worked late-nights/full-time utility under John Reynolds and was blessed working with the entire Ace & TJ gang, Chad Rock (a.k.a. Artie The One Man Party) and Eric Tyler. Oh, and AGAIN, using CDs and carts!
WAPE/Jacksonville (9/06-12/08) -- I was hired to do nights by the renowned Cat Thomas and also worked under J.R. Ammons, who came to WAPE from KMXV, where I'm at now. I was lucky to work with Chase Daniels, who is one of the best young programming minds in the business. You will never meet a harder worker with a better radio mind.
KMXV/Kansas City (1/09-current) -- Made the circle back to do afternoon drive here under Ponch and replace the most talented jock to ever work Top 40, Kelly Urich.
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
I was hired at age 16 (the summer before my junior year of high school) to work 10 hours each Sunday (split-shift) running Heart & Soul (a religious show), Casey Kasem and Rick Dees. I would do the weather once an hour and I remember how much of a rush that was. I even quit playing high school baseball to pursue it.
The plan was for me to do that for quite awhile, but our overnight guy got mono and I ended up being thrown onto the air since we still used CDs and carts, and I was live every day for about a month that summer. I did weekend overnights from then on during my last two years of high school, before ultimately working my way up to co-#1 swing with Adam Michaels (now at Cox/San Antonio) while we both went to college (we're the same age, 28). I left when I graduated college to begin my full-time career under Reynolds in the 704.
2) What makes your station unique? How would you compare it to other stations you've worked at?
Our station is unique and different from others I've worked at in that for the first time in my career, I believe in the music 110%, and I really wouldn't change anything.
Ponch and Steve Serrano do an excellent job with it and both really understand the market. Ponch has been here for close to a decade and "gets" what a late-20s female in Kansas City wants to hear. We keep our powers tight, and get our "C's" in and out at the correct times, whether it be time to drop a song or move it up to sub-power or power. That isn't necessarily anything groundbreaking, but it's literally right on cue.
But the thing that makes this station truly unique and different musically is the old songs (think Golds) we sprinkle in, and how often we rotate them in and out so they don't burn. It's not uncommon to have Spice Girls, Sir Mix A Lot, Hanson, New Radicals, Right Said Fred or Oasis show up. And then once you hear them a couple of times, they go away and are replaced by a ton of new ones. It's a never-ending cycle.
I understand this wouldn't work in every market, and I also understand some people will snicker reading that, but the core to upper end of our demo really appreciates it, and I think it's something MAJOR that we and other radio stations can be doing to keep radio truly viable during a time where it's simple to download a Top 40's entire playlist via the Internet.
3) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I run a Nebraska basketball website which, is in its 4th year and has many former Huskers (even Hall of Famers) writing for it -- www.huskerhoopscentral.com. We get over 4,000 hits per day and have broken many stories.
I also do freelance former player interviews for a Kansas City Royals website and have an insane amount of Royals memorabilia. My girlfriend hates me during baseball season.
4) Could you give us a little insight into your on air staff?
Rocket, Teresa & Ponch hold down our morning show, which has a ridiculous following. They've been in the market for near a decade and like I mentioned earlier, can feel the heartbeat and read the thoughts of Kansas City. They give back to the community in a big way, and remind me an awful lot of Ace & TJ with how unique they are and how well they give back to the community.
Jenny Matthews does middays and is just as good of a jock as she is a person. JR (Ammons) told me I'd love working with her and that she'd be one of the two or three best female jocks I'd ever hear, and boy, did he peg her. She is upbeat, fun and phone-driven each day.
I do afternoons and do my best to be a friend to anyone hearing my voice. I try to be real and local and really focus on selling the radio station via the listener's voice. I love knowing that any given time I crack the mic, I could be affecting someone positively who maybe has been dealt a bad hand on that particular day, month or year.
Steve Serrano is our night guy and fairly new to the business. However, the guy has as busy of a night show as I've heard. I really think he will be a star in this business if he continues to work as hard as he currently does. He is an excellent communicator and really cuts through. I really like him.
5) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why?
Kelly Urich (now of www.kcradio.com). There is not a better jock to ever crack the mic when it comes to Top 40. Sure, there may be jocks with more energy or jocks who are tighter, but I promise you there has never been a jock more connected to his market and listeners than Kelly. The guy is a genius in marketing himself and genuinely one of the funniest people you'll ever meet. He makes the radio station larger than life and is the only remaining jock left who could have worked on the "War of the Worlds" broadcast. He won't tell me exactly what he plans to do with his future and his new web radio station, but I will tell you one thing; I will NEVER bet against him.
By the way, I won't elaborate on anyone else since I'm only allowed one favorite, but I would also like to give honorable mention to Eric Tyler of KBKS/Seattle.
6) Looking back, which years hold the best musical memories for you and who were your favorite acts at that time?
I think everyone would probably say their first year in radio was the best musically or at the very least, their early era. It's the nostalgia factor and part of the "good old days."
I agree with that sentiment, but I don't think anyone would disagree with me who loves Top 40 music, either. Back in the summer of 1997, when I first started, our powers were BSB "Quit Playing Games," Mark Morrison "Return of the Mack," Third Eye Blind "Semi Charmed Life," OMC "How Bizarre," Meredith Brooks "Bitch" and Verve Pipe "Freshman". I loved that era -- kind of the calm before the storm, when the true "Boy Band Era" began and rescued Top 40.
7) What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?
I touched on it earlier, and I admit it's a bit hokey to say it out loud, but just the fact that I have the ability to touch so many lives and make someone's day. The ability to be myself each day, do a show that's positive in an otherwise stacked-against-you world, and having each day be a little bit different. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life.
8) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
If you work hard and demonstrate patience, you will be rewarded. Also, the only way to truly be happy in your career and life is to primarily leave work at work and have a life outside of radio. Have balance in your life and throw yourself into other things when you're away from the office. Go balls-to-the-wall and 110% when you're at work so that you're tired when you leave, but leave it at that.
9) What advice you would give people new to the business?
Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you REALLY want to be in radio. I can't even count how many people who are just getting into radio -- whether it be as an intern or promotions -- SAY they want to be on the air and do it for a living. But really, do you? Are you prepared to move? Do you realize you have to work long hours and be willing to start for low pay? Do you want to work in a cut throat industry your whole life?
If you're willing to HONESTLY say "yes" to the above without a doubt, then do it. Otherwise, don't let it suck you in like the Bermuda Triangle.
10) What is the current state of the radio 'talent pool'?
I think it's dangerously thin. Now, that's not to say there aren't talented people just getting into radio. However, there's just no place for them to mess up and have training grounds. No overnights or part-time hours anymore. You can only get so good being voicetracked or practicing in a production room. Where is someone supposed to harness his or her raw personality and talent? Nowadays, it's on nights or PM drive! That's not fair to radio and especially our listeners.
The other problem is on the other end of the spectrum, the really talented and experienced people are getting let go of because they make too much money. And they're doing other things with their lives. So you're throwing these newcomers who have no chance to mess up on overnights/part-time and putting them on primo slots before they're fully ready. Thus, you aren't connecting to your listeners near as well as you could.
Bonus Questions
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Either what I'm doing now or the play-by-play radio voice of the Kansas City Royals. By the way, the Royals WILL win the A.L. Central this year. Their pitching is too strong not to. Any doubters feel free to send me an e-mail so we can arrange a gentleman's bet.
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