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10 Questions with ... Jonathan Pirkle
January 26, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started out at WORI AM-1550 in Oak Ridge after much begging.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I grew up in a radio house; my father programmed WNOX during the late '60s and launched "progressive rock" at WROL "W149". He was granted the license for WOKI 100.3 and has since owned several stations. He never encouraged me to be in radio, quite the opposite.
2. What led to WNFZ returning to the Alternative format a few months ago?
There had been an "Alternative" hole in the Knoxville market for a couple of years. We had been looking for a signal where we could bring the format back, and when WRVX switched formats to "Duke Classic County" so bringing the format back home to WNFZ was a very simple decision.
3. The previous Alternative incarnation of WNFZ was very Active-leaning. How would you describe the station now and how aggressive is the station with new music?
94Z is a very current-based Alternative, but we're also rotating roughly 1400 songs in our "Gold" category too. There is a good balance between classic artists like Talking Heads, David Bowie and newer artists such as Meg Meyers and The Struts.
4. Tell us about how you sort through all the new music with APD/MD Kevin Summitt?
Kevin and I are still working on getting our routine down. He was previously the MD at WUTK, The University of Tennessee's college station and he has brought a lot of new artists to 94Z such as The Mispers, Circa Waves and The Colorist. We get together during the week, scan All Access, and take it from there.
5. What is it like having your father as owner of the station?
Very tough. He never really wanted me to follow in his footsteps, but it's in the blood. Even at lunch yesterday he was explaining how to maximize AQH listenership.
6. How would you describe yourself as a programmer?
Having been in News/Talk for the past few years really let me actually hear music on the radio again and gave me a few new tools to make it fresh for the listeners.
7. What would surprise people most about 94Z?
That we're all local, with the exception of the one South African in the Sales Dept.
8. What do you love most about your job?
The planning and then actually hearing it all come together.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
My tunes!
10. What would surprise people most about you?
If I had it to do all over again I wouldn't do it any different.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Adventure touring on motorcycles. ADV 4 Life. That's how I met my lovely, and talented, wife, Lindsay.
First record ever purchased?
AC/DC "Dirty Deeds" after my sister gave me "High Voltage" for my 8th birthday. Took that sucker to music class for "record" day and gave Mrs. Earl, the music teacher, a possible stroke in her haste removing it from the turntable.
First concert?
First one I can remember was Elvis in March of '77 here in Knoxville.
Favorite band of all-time?
The Clash, David Bowie, Joe Walsh, Jellyfish, ZZ Top, and Cheap Trick.
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