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10 Questions with ... Zac Davis
November 17, 2009
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WWLD/Tallahassee (Promotions Director/swing) 96-97; WYVB/Daytona Beach (nights) 97-98; KQKS/Denver (swing) 98-99; KUUU/Salt Lake City (APD/MD/afternoons/nights) 99-02; WBVD/Melbourne, FL (PD/afternoons) 02-04; WGBT/Greensboro, NC (PD/afternoons) 04-06; KOSO/Modesto-Stockton, CA (PD/afternoons) 06-07; WABB/Mobile (PD/afternoons) 07-08; WRDU/Raleigh-Durham (APD/MD/afternoons) 08-09; KONN/Denver (PD/afternoons) April 09-present ... I tried to be brief...
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
FUN! I was a full-time college student at Florida State, on the air, and the Promotions Director in a college town! I never slept. Wild 106 had its best book in its history and I felt like an integral part of something really special. Lee Reynolds (PD) gave me a shot and is still a great mentor today!
2) What led you to a career in radio?
POWER 99 in Atlanta...and XL 106.7 in my hometown! What GREAT radio stations, great air talents, great promotions, great presentations. Last week we had a staff meeting and I asked everyone on staff what station influenced them to love radio. It was a lot of fun and eye-opening.
3) How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?
C-O-M-P-E-T-I-T-I-V-E. There are so many signals in the market, and many good products like KS 107.5 and Alice @ 105.9. Mix 100 is sounding better as a Hot AC, too. What surprises me is how long Denver went without an upbeat, fun-sounding Top 40 ... four years from 2005 until we signed on in April!
4) What is your favorite part of the job?
It's a tie: music meetings with Alan Burns and my MD Double A ... AND promotions meetings with Brian Degrasse (our Marketing Director).
5) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
My real name isn't Zac. It throws friends and ex-girlfriends for a loop. My parents and high school/college buddies still call me by my real name, but they all live in Florida, so to everyone else ... I'm just "Zac."
6) Could you give us a little insight into your on-air staff?
Fizz is on in the morning and is also the cluster Production Director ... um yeah, full plate ... Shor-T (Tricia) is on in middays and is the Assistant Marketing Director. I'm on in the afternoon from 3-7p. Then, there's Turk. This guy is raw talent. I'm amazed at his talent. He pushes the envelope and has great content in between the music. Turk helps out with the imaging as well. Double A is my Music Director and go-to guy, and Dustin rounds out our staff and keeps us live with listener-benefit giveaways throughout the weekend.
7) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
Jo Jo Turnbeaugh on Kool 105 here in Denver sounds AMAZING! He has such a presence and is so engaging and that BOOMING voice. Been a big fan of his as a talent and as a person since his days at Kiss 95.7 here in Denver! Oh, and he's a BIG Denver Broncos fan, so that's a PLUS!
8) What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?
The GOOD people who are doing radio and records alongside of me ... RADIO: Jagger, Romeo, Trey Morgan, Brodylicious, Jared Banks, Booker, AA, "Dirty" Degrasse, Jeff Norman, Tim Satterfield, Chris Shebel, Kasper, Joe R. to name just a few ... RECORDS: Josh Reich, Denny Bleh, Peter Gray, Ray Vaughn, Lee Leipsner, Megan Y., Jason Martin. All of these people are exceptional at their craft and I'm in awe of them daily!
9) What is the current state of the radio 'talent pool'?
Shallow, but some kids have figured out how to swim. When I put out an ad, I get many responses, but 80% haven't even been taught the basics. My buddy Romeo was just telling me online radio has a ton of talent, so when I finish this interview, I'm going to hit him up for some websites!
10) What would you like to do to save radio from its "dying-industry" image?
Create a new spin on things and be clever in their execution. I like Paige Nienaber's perspective on radio. He's all about making noise, eliciting a reaction and getting in the listener's face ... and memory. Heck, 101.5 The Pole was created in this building courtesy of Marketing Director Brian Degrasse and his twisted mind. It got national coverage. I believe you have to do something to stand out -- without losing the license...
Bonus Questions
What is the most challenging part of the job?
Maintaining a relationship with girlfriend.
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