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10 Questions with ... Dave Mazur
July 5, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- WXRX/Rockford (weekends)
- WERV/Aurora-Chicago (weekends)
- WSOY/Decatur, IL
- WERV/Aurora-Chicago (weekends)
- WXSS/Milwaukee (weekends)
- WRTS/Erie (APD/nights)
- WVKS/Toledo (nights/afternoons/APD/MD)
- WKQI/Detroit (weekends)
- WFKS/Jacksonville (voicetracked)
1. Why Radio?
When I was a kid, my parents never let me watch that much tv unless it was Saturday morning cartoons or Mr. Rogers. They pushed me out the door. The one thing they did let me do was listen to the radio. I grew up in Chicago and had the opportunity to listen to some of the greatest radio stations in the country. I fell in love with the music, then the personalities. It sounded so fun to be a part of something like that. I loved Eddie and Jobo, Mancow, Alan Kabel on the old Z95, George McFly on B96 was the man. They always sounded so excited to be on the air, interacting with the people that called in. I wanted to be a part of that.
2. 10 year-old Dave Mazur wanted to be a(n) __________?
I think my answer to question #1 answered this. I wanted to work at a radio station. But I also wanted to work at Six Flags, that didn't plan didn't work out so well.
3. You grew up in Chicago. Any similarities with Madison?
The biggest similarity Madison has with Chicago is its people love their city. When someone leaves Chicago it is bred into them that they need to tell everyone that they are from Chicago. It's the same thing here, everyone here loves this city. They are so proud, and they want everyone to know how great State Street is, the Farmers Market is, and everything else that is great about Madison. Madison has been ranked several times as one of the best places to live in the United States, and it's because the people here care about this city more than any other city that I've worked in. (except Chicago).
4. If you could do it all over again, what would you major in at Illinois State?
I probably wouldn't go there at all. Although, I met some of my best friends in life at ISU I feel as if I also created a monthly bill just to meet some of the professors. I was going to end up on the radio anyway, and honestly it's still one of those businesses where you really do not have to go to school to get a job in the field. As a programmer, I have learned that you have to retrain most kids that enter radio out of college anyway. Why go to college, when you're going to have to relearn everything anyway?
5. What would probably surprise most people about Madison?
Since Madison is in Wisconsin, and Wisconsin is known for fried food and beer. You'd be surprise that most people in Madison are extremely fit. Sure people gorge on cheese curds and spotted cow, but all these people get out of bed at 5:00 a.m. and are busting themselves on the treadmill at the gym.
6. Best live show you've ever seen?
Haha! Which Pearl Jam show should I talk about. I have seen that band about 35 times. I'm going to go with March 10th, 1994 at the Chicago Stadium. It was the final concert at the old stadium before they tore it down, and the band was on fire. Eddie Vedder sang the Empire Carpet commercial jingle and it was Jeff Ament's birthday, it was an amazing show.
7. I know this is a broad, open-ended question but what can Rhythm radio do better.?
I think that it's imperative that the format needs to concentrate on being Rhythm radio, instead of a hybrid Top 40.
8. How often do you get to meet with the sales staff at Jamz?
I meet with a representative from sales once a week at our promotions meeting. We obviously go over promotions for the station. I also have an open door policy where individual reps can stop by my office to discuss client needs. I feel that it is important for a programmer to basically be an evangelist for their station. One of the things that I do is I'm constantly sending our director of sales updates on what the station is doing, pictures, etc so they have all the tools they need to sell Jamz.
9. Is your hometown of Chicago your dream market to live and work in?
Yes, absolutely. I would love to be back home in Chicago working in Radio. I would love to be at B96 at home. I have listened to that station since I was a kid, it always sounds amazing and I would love to be a part of that. Plus, it would be nice to be back in town with family.
10. As we head into the second half of 2016...see any new stars emerging on the music scene and on the radio?
Fifth Harmony, Kent Jones, Kevin Gates, Chainsmokers ( but they aren't really new).
Bonus Questions
Pick an artist to run for President in 2020?
Being from Chicago, I'm going to say Kanye West should be president in 2020.
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