10 Questions with ... Dustin 'Fletcher' Matthews

NAME:Dustin 'Fletcher' Matthews TITLE:APD/Morning Host STATION:WFNX MARKET:Boston COMPANY:Phoenix Media Communications BORN:Knoxville RAISED:Knoxville

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Weekends/Swing: WIMZ/Knoxville, TN (1999-2001); APD/Nights: WIMZ/Knoxville (2001-2003); MD/Nights WFNZ/Knoxville (2003-2004);

MD/Afternoons; WDYL/Richmond (2004-2006) Under the reign of Mike "The Wolf" Murphy, also Manager/Agent of The Sandbox; PD/Afternoons WFXH/Savannah (2006-2007); APD/Mornings WFNX/Boston (2007-present).

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

My first radio job was at 15, so I haven't worked outside of the industry... yet.

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

The Ghostbusters Soundtrack. For a band I believe it was Aerosmith "Get a Grip."

FIRST CONCERT:

The Ninja Turtles "Coming Out of Their Shell Tour." It was rad.

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

U2

1. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

I grew up listening to WIMZ in Knoxville. Even though most of the playlist was Classic Rock, it was all new to me. Plus, the personalities were amazing. Billy Kidd, Jack Ryan, and Shane Cox are why I wanted to do radio. I ended up getting a weekend job there in 1999 at the age of 16 and had the opportunity to learn from the people I admired most. Randi Ellis and Jim Spector were great mentors. I owe a ton of my programming knowledge and comedic timing to Randy Chambers. He's still Programming WIMZ and they've had tremendous success.

I was also a huge 99x fan whenever I was in Atlanta. They started streaming when I was in high school, so I listened in class instead of learning Algebra.

2. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

Usually it's my age (25). I also spent the summer of 2003 helping to develop the CERN "Super-collider."

3. What part of your job do you like best? Least?

Being able to work for an independent company that encourages creativity and gives their employees freedom to make decisions is definitely the biggest plus to being here at WFNX. You hear it a lot, but, the FNX staff is also very tight. It's nice to work with your friends. It's also sometimes destructive. Watch "Will It Smash Vol. 4" online at wfnx.com now.

What I like the least is easy to answer... the alarm going off at 3:45am. Being on the morning show is a blast but, I've been known to say "mornings are stupid" as I enter the building.

4. What is your typical day like at the station?

Morning prep and coffee start at 5:00am each weekday. The show is live 6. I yell at an intern at 6:39. Wrap up the show around 10. Post show we prep, map out the next day with Keith "Tugboat" Dakin, record interviews, and create promos.

Outside of the morning show I'm part of the Programming Team. So, Monday and Tuesday are long days for me with cattle call and music meetings. I will also schedule a log or two, hold aircheck sessions, and work on planning weekends and promotions with "Tugboat."

5. How would you explain The Sandbox and your role on the morning show?

The show consists of four regulars: Charlie, Special Ed, legendary Newsman Henry Santoro, and Fletcher (me). We call it "The Sandbox" because we wanted the show to be different and "Morning X" seems to be taken in several markets. The idea is everyone is invited to listen and be part of the show regardless of age, sex, religion, or political affiliation. The slogan for the show is "Smart, Funny, Mornings," with a focus on Music, Pop Culture, Politics, and Sports. No Hawaiian shirts, no fart jokes, and no strippers in the studio. We believe there is a way to be "edgy" while still being accessible to everyone.

As far as my role, I handle all things pop culture related and also fancy myself the Jr. Politico. Charlie and Ed will have you believe that I'm a Euro Wannabe Elitist. This isn't true.

6. What is your favorite part of the show?

When something random on the show becomes a phenomenon for the listeners. On a recent Friday our poll question was "Who Would Win in a Fight: Pirates Or Ninjas?" That could have been the show for the entire morning and we still wouldn't have been able to put every caller on the air.

Henry also called Mitt Romney "Mitler" in a newscast during the Primary Season. The listeners went nuts. There are now "Mitler" shirts in existence.

There will be bits...

7. What would an outsider find most surprising about the Boston radio market?

We have 19 stations in the market that play STP "Interstate Love Song." I've contacted the mayor about changing the city slogan to "Nobody Plays More STP" or "When You Hear STP, you know you're in Boston, America's Stone Temple Pilots Authority." *explosion f/x*

8. What would shock people the most about WFNX?

We are owned by the Phoenix Media/Communications Group so, we have access to a ton of resources most stations don't. We have writers and bloggers from the Phoenix (A&E Weekly) and Stuff @ Night on the show. Plus, our web department isn't a traditional radio department. WFNX.com is one of the best, if not the best, radio station websites with tons of blogs, videos, and podcasts updated daily.

9. Favorite artist you have met?

Thom York of Radiohead. I got backstage at the Atlanta show in 2003. Ed and Johnny were there and amazingly nice. I figured that is as good as it would get. When I was just about ready to leave Thom came out holding a book and a glass of red wine. I'm sure I embarrassed myself. That will be my favorite until I meet Bono. Or Jesus.

10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?

Coffee and my laptop. How did morning shows exist before the internet?

What are your hobbies?

Music mainly. I try and get to as many shows as I can. Also spending time with friends and my boxer Rigby.