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10 Questions with ... Tedd Roman
June 12, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I graduated High School early then lied about my age to get a job with Mark & Brian at KLOS in Los Angeles. They said I "looked more like an Anthony than a Tedd" so they started calling me "Young Anthony" on-air. I started as a board opp when they began syndication of the show and eventually worked my way up to Asst. Producer and Writer several years later.
I moved to Seattle in 1998 to join the morning show at KZOK, but as soon as I got settled in, Y107 in Los Angeles offered me a gig with the morning show that I couldn't pass up, so I packed the few things I had and came right back to Los Angeles. The station flipped to Spanish about a year later. I got really bummed out by radio so I started producing and casting reality TV shows shortly thereafter, until in 2007 I realized that I loathed the reality TV world and missed radio. I returned to the radio world with a part-time gig at Indie 103.1 where I also got my real name (Tedd Roman) back thanks to then-GM Dawn Girocco. After Indie went from a traditional terrestrial station to an online only station, I volunteered to take on more responsibilities at the station, and after a few changes in management, when the position as Content Director became open; I did everything in my power to get the job.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
One of my earliest memories is of my Grandparents listening to the "KNX 1070 Drama Hour" every night before bed. I could hear it from my room and it got to the point where I couldn't fall asleep without hearing The Lone Ranger, Dragnet, Burns & Allen, Superman, etc. At some point I started writing and recording my own radio shows using neighborhood friends and family members and the little tape recorder I had. I guess it never really stopped after that.
2. What part of your job do you like best?
It may sound cheesy but it's 100% true, this is my dream gig. I wake up every morning and I GET to come to work. There are a lot of people who go to work because they have to and they're miserable every minute of the day. I GET to search for and listen to new music all day. It's something that a lot of people would kill to do. I absolutely love everything about my job and I learn something new every day.
3. For those that are unfamiliar with Indie 103.1, how would you describe the station?
We're the online radio station that your FM and satellite stations don't want you to know about.
4. How has Indie1031 changed since moving off the FM dial?
I think the biggest change is in the music. We're able to play amazing tracks from artists that most people never knew existed because terrestrial stations would never be able to get away with playing them.
5. Give us a rundown of all the different Shows on Indie1031.com with a brief description of each show?
We have some killer new shows that will be added to our lineup over the next couple of months. I can't say what they are just yet because details are still being worked out and I don't want to jinx anything, but I'm REALLY excited about it. I think they're going to make a great addition to the shows in our current lineup of shows listed below.
Passport Approved is our International music show. Sat Bisla is the King of breaking international new music. It's been a favorite show of mine since before I started working at Indie.
Breakfast With The Smiths - Hosted by Jose Maldonado -- All the Smiths and Morrissey music you could ever want in two hours.
All Time is Now - Hosted by DJ Shark - Songs that made some type of impact in the music world during that week in time regardless of the year. I call it the "This week in music history" show.
The Lopsided World of L - I recently described the show to one of my friends as "a show where Jonathan L literally plays anything and everything he likes from every genre of music". It's pretty fun to listen to try to figure out what he'll play next.
Retrograde - Hosted by Dred Scott - Legends of Indie rock from the '70s, '80's, & '90's.
All Up In The Interweb - Hosted by Bob Forrest - A music & social discussion show.
Chaos - Hosted by Full Metal Jackie - Our Metal show.
Barely Legal - Hosted by Joe Escalante - Entertainment Law, & free legal advice call in show.
Sala De Espera - Hosted by Jose Galvan- Indie rock in Spanish
Something Different - Hosted by DJ Santo- a mix of classic and modern funk and soul, South American grooves, afrobeat & downbeat electronic music.
Suicide Girls Radio - hosted by Nicole Powers & various members of the Suicide Girls - Late night music & talk show
Alter-Native - Hosted by Reggae legend Native Wayne Jobson. Our reggae show.
Space Invaded - Hosted by some guy named Tedd - I try to play as much new music as possible and sprinkle in some musical & celebrity interviews. This is basically where I get to play DJ for a couple of hours per week and forget about all the business stuff.
6. How does the My Music section on Indie1031.com work?
Users create a profile on the Indie page that enables them to upload their music to the site and be heard and rated by other users. We don't limit it to any specific genre or type of music so literally any artist can upload their stuff to be heard. It's pretty killer and we've gotten some great stuff that has been added in to the rotation on Indie.
7. What is the most challenging part of your job?
Internet radio is the future of radio. It's game changing in every way and being at the forefront of that and the responsibility it entails can be a little overwhelming at times. I have to stay confident in my choices and trust my gut on decisions because I have to take responsibility for all choices that are made.
8. What would surprise people most about Indie1031?
The thing most people seem to be surprised about is the fact that we have a strong listener base all over the world. People are amazed when I show them how much mail and email we get from other countries. Requests, suggestions, thank you's, etc. I save everything just because I think it's so cool.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
MASSIVE amounts of coffee.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
I turned down a full Mechanical Engineering scholarship to a very well known Southern California College and a Government job designing aircraft to pursue my radio career.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Can drinking wine be considered a hobby?
Last non-industry job?
I've been working in the Radio & TV industry since 1991 so technically I've never really done anything else. But before I started my first radio gig I sold meat over the phone. I think I was too young to realize what a horrible, horrible job it was. I just considered it practice for my future in radio.
First record ever purchased?
This is actually an argument my Dad and I have from time to time. He bought me the Eddie Murphy album "Comedian" but the first album I purchased with my "chores money" was Frank Zappa "Ship Arriving Too Late." More important question, What 8 year old has those albums?
First concert?
My Dad took me to see Van Halen, sorry Van Hagar, at the Pacific Amphitheater on August 28th 1993.
Favorite band of all-time?
Hands down, 100% The Beastie Boys. I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard Licensed To Ill. It was mind blowing to me. I made sure I saw them in concert every opportunity I could through the years and have been fortunate enough to meet them on several occasions. When I heard about MCA passing away I literally broke down crying, as I'm sure a lot of people did.
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