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10 Questions with ... Becky Pohotsky
March 11, 2008
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NAME:Becky PohotskyTITLE:APDSTATION:WURHMARKET:HartfordCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:10/16/78RAISED:Beverly, Massachusetts
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WBRU/Providence 1996-2000; WMRQ/Hartford 2001-2002; WLZX/Springfield, MA 2002-2004; and WGIR/Manchester, NH 2004-2007.
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Worked as a receptionist and filer of many, many papers right after college. My grasp of the alphabet was very essential...
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
Madness - Our House on a 45, a real record!
FIRST CONCERT:
Squeeze at the college around the corner from my house, so it was parentally accepted (I was in 8th grade)
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
I hate coming up with only one, but for today we'll go with The Smiths.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I always loved music and listening to the radio, but truly became hooked when I went to a summer program where one of my "classes" was learning how the college station worked. When I arrived at my boarding school in 9th grade and discovered they had a radio station which was like a typical college one, my career path began to take shape.
2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
WFNX in Boston. I found it in 5th grade and was hooked. I ended up getting an internship there in high school, discovered what a Program Director was and decided that was what I wanted to do with my life.
3. What led you to FM 104.1?
I always have been a fan of the alternative format. When the station flipped I found an opportunity to return to a market that I enjoyed working in at WMRQ. After six years at rock stations, I was excited to go back to the format which made me want to go to Brown for college because I wanted to work at WBRU.
4. What would surprise people most about the station?
That we plan on remaining very music focused. I know that personality driven radio is the most typical plan, but we decided to let the music and the listeners BE the personality of the station.
5. How would you describe the music and imaging on FM 104.1?
We are a '90s gold-based Alterative station. While new music of course is important to the station, we are trying to create a station for people 25-34 centered around the songs they grew up with in high school and college. I find it somewhat analogous to the mainstream rock world I just left, but aimed at a younger audience and therefore alternative-based vs. classic rock-based. Our imaging is very minimal, dry sweeps in a conversational tone.
6. What would an outsider find most surprising about the Hartford market?
While there has not been an Alternative station here for a few years, the market for one sure has people excited to hear songs they haven't heard in a long time on the radio. We can have our own nice niche here as a station and make many in the area very happy.
7. How can we expect the station to evolve in the months ahead?
We will increase the content of our website exponentially as that will be the main means for listener interaction. We also will start having jocks on the air in a slightly non-traditional manner... you'll just have to wait and see what that is!8. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
While radio has fulfilled one aspect of my musical interests, I also used to sing and study classical music for many years.9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Law and Order. It's my relaxation time!
10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
Well I majored in Public Policy in college, so I probably would be doing something with that, perhaps as a lawyer or working for a nonprofit.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Am I supposed to have time for those? I enjoy hanging out with my boyfriend, my cat, and just relaxing.
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