-
10 Questions with ... Dan Connelly
June 23, 2015
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Intern/Promotions at Heritage Media/Entercom's WBEE, WKLX & WBBF in Rochester, NY from 1993-1998. Promotion Director at WWHT in Syracuse 1998-1999. Promotion Director for Cox Media Group in Tampa 1999-2014. Helped launch WSUN in November 2000. After PD Shark left in early 2014, I was promoted to Director Of Branding & Programming. WSUN is a 2014 Marconi Award Nominee and 2015 Crystal Award Nominee.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I've always loved radio. I remember taping songs and listening to Danny Neaverth on WKBW in Buffalo as a kid. His catchphrase "Danny moves your fanny in the morning!" was repeated to me many, many times as a first and second grader. It wasn't until my second semester at SUNY Brockport when I found the college station, 89.1 WBSU that I realized that radio could be a career. During those four years at the station, I got so much hands on experience and I found a group of people who are still some of my closest friends.
2. After 15 years in marketing & promotions at 97X, what has the first year been like since being promoted to Director Of Branding & Programming?
It's been a year of learning! 97X runs in my blood, I know the brand better than anyone, but there was a lot to learn. Some of the basics were what I was lacking, but luckily, I have a company, and a couple specific individuals who have supported me and have made this one of the most rewarding years of my life.
3. What has been your biggest challenge in this new role?
I think my biggest challenge has been finding my own voice as a programmer. Meaning, for so long people knew me as the "Promotion Guy." It takes time to gain the respect of colleagues, labels, and others as a Program Director.
4. How would you describe yourself as a programmer?
I believe that my background in promotions has made me a Programmer that is very "sales-friendly." Let's face it, the industry has a lot of competition out there for spending dollars and stations need to be aggressive and open to finding ways to create promotions, features, and opportunities that work for both the station and our clients. The brand is always paramount, but you have to collaborate and find solutions in order to survive.
5. Tell us about the station's hyper rotations.
97X has had some image problems over the past couple of years. We were 97X Tampa Bay's New Rock Alternative for the longest time, then we went 24/7 Listener-Driven with 97X You Control The Music. We found ourselves playing music from a huge library of over 1,000 songs and for over a year, listeners had no idea what they would hear on 97X. I believe the brand suffered because of this.
When I took over, the belief is we needed to build consistency with our music and reestablish our brand. That's when we launched as "97X Your New Alternative" and initiated our hyper rotations. This way, when listeners tuned in, they were going to hear the biggest hits. Additionally, 97X is a big believer in supporting crossover songs. When the pop stations in town begin playing one of "our" songs, we wouldn't drop it, we would instead, step up and increase our rotations, matching their spins.
We embrace crossover songs. They are widening the exposure for the alt format and creating more fans that could check out the "home" for those bands...97X. In the past couple of weeks, we've slowed down our rotations primarily because of the lack of "Alt-pop" crossover songs currently in the format. I think we have to be flexible and make changes based on the depth of music. Those rotations could be back!
6. What else makes 97X unique?
I think first and foremost the passion that we see from our listeners makes us unique. No other radio station can motivate listeners like 97X can. It's not uncommon to consistently have hundreds of listeners lining up hours before one of our free show ticket drops just to get a ticket. Whether it's on Facebook, twitter, snapchat, through the free 97X App or at 97Xonline.com, the audience is always interacting with the station. 97X is also my first experience in my career where people on the team have grown up listening and going to our shows and now, they are working at their favorite station. It's this passion and interaction that makes 97X special.
7. You have been producing the 97X Barbeque in May and Next Big Thing concert in December since their inception. What continues to make these two events special and successful for the station?
When we started 97X Next Big Thing back in 2001, we had three goals in mind. First, make sure the audience has an amazing experience. Second, make sure the band has an amazing experience and finally, make sure the clients and sponsors involved have an amazing experience. That is still the belief that these shows are built on. We strive every year to find new elements to our show that will add to the listener's experience. From having a band suddenly pop up and start playing an acoustic set in the middle of a beer line to handing out $100 bills to random people, we want to make an impression on fans. The social media around our shows and the fact that listeners continue to make every show successful tells me we're doing a good job.
As far as the band experience, I truly believe that we produce (In house, with no assistance from a third party) the best radio shows in the country and I believe this because agents, managers and bands themselves tell us. After 15 years, we are buttoned up, things run on time and everything is planned out. We sweat over all the details and I think the bands appreciate that. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Next Big Thing is in December. Who wouldn't want to be in Tampa in December?
The third component is the sponsor experience. Without sponsors, the shows wouldn't be possible. They help keep ticket prices low (or free) and ensure that we'll have the strongest talent lineup possible. With sponsors, we don't just sell a booth or throw their name in a promo. We truly integrate them into the listener experience and because of that we have sponsors that have been with us since the first show. We truly view them as partners and in the end it's a win-win.
8. What do you love most about working for Cox Media Group?
What I love most about working at CMG is the passion that everyone has and it starts at the top. We're a family owned company and that's something special these days. This past March at our Company meetings, Alex Taylor our Executive Vice President spent one morning sharing with us, his family story and outlining his vision for the company. After hearing the passion in his voice and the story that he told, I knew that Cox Media Group is where I want to stay. This isn't just a job; there is a true passion in this company. A passion to succeed, a passion to win, and a passion to do the right thing.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
My phone (if you had asked me last week, it would have been "A Pepsi Max" but I'm trying to cut my soda intake).
10. What would surprise people most about you?
I think most people would be surprised to know that I once told Natalie Portman that I loved her and that I would leave my wife and children for her. Surprisingly, she didn't take me up on the offer and even more surprisingly, my wife didn't leave me. I've got it on tape if you want to hear it.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
I love video editing, I love spending time with my wife and boys, movies, podcasts, running (when the mood strikes me), and video games.
Last non-industry job?
My last non-industry job was when I worked at Peterson Drug Store in Perry, NY while in high school. I worked with the pharmacist and basically counted out meds and filled prescriptions. Even at the time, I was asking myself, should a 17 year old really be doing this?
First record ever purchased?
Please no judging...The first cassettes I remember getting was Huey Lewis & The News "Sports" and Tina Turner "Private Dancer."
First concert?
The first concert I ever went to was Sha-Na-Na at the Erie County Fair, but I was like six. The first concert I ever went to by my own choice was the Monsters Of Rock Festival at Rich Stadium in Buffalo on June 19, 1988. The lineup featured Kingdom Come, Metallica, Dokken, Scorpions, and a Sammy Hagar fronted Van Halen.
Favorite band of all-time?
This isn't fair. I can't just point to one artist, it depends on my mood. Some of my current favorites include Jack White, Of Monsters & Men, Manchester Orchestra, Fiona Apple...the list could go on and on...I love music.
-
-