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10 Questions with ... Bill Baker
February 23, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- WRXS/Salisbury-Ocean City, MD morning show
- WOCQ/Salisbury-Ocean City, MD morning show/PD/ APD/MD
- WSBY/Salisbury-Ocean City, MD PD/MD/afternoons
- WDKZ/Salisbury-Ocean City, MD MD/middays
- WJKS/Wilmington, DE afternoons
- WZEB/Salisbury-Ocean City, MD PD/morning show
1) Morning drive, PD, husband and father of four ... how do you balance all?
Honestly I'm not sure! LOLP ... Nah, my day starts at 4:30am when the alarm goes off and I wouldn't change my life for the world. My wife is our office manager here at the station and is my biggest supporter. We're a great team. I got into radio because I love it. They always say do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. I'll admit sometimes things can get stressful and hectic and a lot of hours, but this is my passion and career.
2) So how did you decide radio was the career for you?
I've always loved radio. When I was young I used to call the radio stations all the time and try to get on-air. I would make requests, be a guest DJ and win contests. Just something about radio. Then in high school we had a TV station on cable access and I ran that for a few years. There was a new radio station, WRXS, that was just starting up and looking for part-timers and called over to my high school. I was recommended for the job and was hired. Then I was in!
3) You have worked a few formats, is it pretty much all the same when it comes to the audience?
I have. Top 40, Rhythmic, Urban AC and Urban. The major difference is where we work and how we do. I've been very fortunate to work for companies that are locally owned, so we are able to be out more and do more in the community. It's all about community and when you're out talking and touching the locals, that makes all the difference. I do believe the Urban and Urban AC audiences are more loyal but again, I think it comes down to how I've grown and how my partner, Jessica Martinez, has grown on the morning show. Every day, listeners stop by just to thank us for making their day and how they can't get through it without us; I get texts that thank me for what we're doing for the area. That's why we do what we do.
4) What do you like about doing mornings?
I've always loved radio and had a passion -- but especially for mornings. I've always liked listening to different morning shows. I like the laughing and carrying on. And of course with the laughter and bits there is also seriousness and community. I didn't get into this business to intro records, I got into it to make a difference.
5) You have worked corporate and local ownership; what differences have you noticed?
MAJOR! In a corporate world everything has to get approved and you are very limited. I'm not a fan of someone out of state telling us what works in Salisbury/Ocean City and they've never been here. LIVE and LOCAL radio is what works and why we win. We're able to do more, serve better, and make quick decisions based on the local audience; not based on research done in New Mexico or Texas like our competition.
6) How do you make decisions on the music you play?
A lot of different ways. Of course, we follow Mediabase, charts and other stations. But also we take a bunch of requests via phones, social media, etc. Our local mixers also bring new music to us and we listen to what people want to hear in the clubs, etc. Shazam is another big way to find out what people in our area are listening to and want to hear. I believe in bringing our listeners the new music first. Before WZEB, I used to hear people complain and say radio always plays music late and they have to go to the city (Baltimore/DC/Philly) to hear the new music first. Now we're beating them on some of the new records! That's what we're doing and its working!
7) Who did you listen to growing up, which stations and personalities?
As I said, I've always loved the morning shows. I grew up on Tom Joyner and WOCQ was the only game in town when I was a kid. But I also followed Hot 97, Power 99 in Philly, 92Q in Baltimore, and WPGC in D.C. Big fan of The Hot Boyz on Power 99, Donnie Simpson on WPGC. I remember listening to Russ Parr and Ron Banks on WOCQ/WRKE. I know I'm all over the place, but I just love radio.
8) You actually have a full air staff, what are the advantages to that?
Tons! There are NO disadvantages of having a live and local staff. The options are limitless. The station is out more. More help on and off the air. And of course every PD would agree ... there's nothing like having LIVE shifts and jocks taking LIVE calls.
9) Could you share with us your mentors and how each have influenced what you are doing today?
Buck Wilde (formally WBHJ/WOCQ) -- I was at WOCQ with him and he taught me everything about morning radio and tons about radio itself. Def one of a kind and a character.
Ron Banks (formally WOCQ/WRKE/WSBY, now nights with me at WZEB) -- Ron and I were best friends, competitors, and are now back on WZEB. He's also my MD. I also followed and grew up listening to Ron. He's taught me tons of radio just watching him, also hosting, and how to "do the clubs." Def someone I look up to still.
10) How do you prep for your show, how long does it take and how do you decide what to do on the air?
I'm prepping right now. Also prepping. I like to call our show reality radio. We talk about the local and entertainment and we have show prep services, but the main gist of our show is us being real. Talking about our daily lives, our families, our kids. That's what people relate to. Anyone can read show prep. I'm also a huge TV junkie so we always keep up on shows and things our audience relates to.
Bonus Questions
I've heard so many different answers to this question over the years. I've heard radio is dead and radio is done. I totally disagree. I believe radio is on an upward turn. LIVE and LOCAL radio is the future. Also, you have to be big on the Internet and apps. We have a HUGE online audience and people who listen on their apps. You can download the Power 101.7 app in your app store. When we're not streaming ... it's like we're off the air. So def big web-based. But in a recent study by Neilson, the majority of people still listen to good ol' FREE radio. Over TV, Sirius, Pandora, and anything else. Radio will continue to go strong and I'm so lucky and fortunate to be apart.
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