10 Questions with ... Gabe Reynolds

NAME:Gabe Reynolds TITLE:OM/PD STATION:WWCT MARKET:Peoria, IL COMPANY:Independence Media BORN:Pekin, IL RAISED:Central Illinois

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started as intern/board-op at 1290 WIRL-A/Peoria, promotions/morning stunt boy at WWCT (then-Rock 106) and later moved to overnights.

From 1997-2006 Orchard Communications/Peoria. Began at WJPL (96.5 Smooth Jazz) promotions/Production Director then PD at '80s WCNL (Channel 94.3). Left to become Production Director for Broadcasthouse/Lincoln, NE cluster for less than a year. Returned to WWCT/Peoria as PD of AAA The Stage for one year before the station flipped to The Buzz.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Ruppman Marketing -- I answered phone calls from people who had problems with their Brother Fax Machines

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Rush - Moving Pictures

FIRST CONCERT:

Kenny Rogers (1st show at the Peoria Civic Center)

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

Rush

1. How did you become interested in radio?

Honestly it happened when I realized there was little to no math involved.

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

Top 40 WKZW (KZ93). The morning show with Gary & Donna is what started me in the direction of thinking me about working in radio. I would call-in to the station at night when I was Junior High. One-time I won a Motley Crue cassette of Dr. Feelgood.

3. What led to WWCT flipping from AAA to Alternative?

There was a lot of unfamiliarity with the music which made the station a tough sell to advertisers and listeners. So we took a look at the market and even though we've got our share of rock stations, we thought a really good sounding Alternative station could make a dent.

4. How would you describe the music and imaging on the station?

Our main competitor in the market is an Active Rock station so we kept that in mind when we put together our playlist. When people tune in we want them to hear songs they know, but we also want the station to sound different from the competition so listeners have a reason to stay. We're playing a lot of artists and songs that have been missing from the market, so even the older tunes sound fresh. We kind of took the same approach with the imaging as we did with the music; we wanted it to sound different than other stations in Peoria. So while yes, you will hear the occasional dick and fart joke, it's not the focus of the imaging or the station. Most sweepers are quick, to the point and back to the music.

5. Give a rundown of your on-air lineup with a brief description of each jock?

Mornings -- Lex and Terry (syndicated show out of Dallas). What I like about their show is the fact that they don't sugar coat anything. If you're calling in for advice they're going to be blunt and honest.

Afternoons -- The Work Release Program with Kotter (aka Gabe Reynolds) -- this guy sucks.

Nights -- The Half-Assed Night Show with Ryan. You could put Ryan at a car remote on a Tuesday morning and people are going to leave feeling like they just had the time of their lives. When it comes to working a crowd, he is one of the best I have ever seen.

6. What would surprise people most about the station?

That our corporate office is very hands off, they stand back and let us do our thing.

7. What features and specialty shows do you have on The Buzz?

Saturday, 10p-midnight -- Skratch n Sniff

Sunday, 8p-10p -- The Edge Bradley Student Radio (students from Bradley University come in a host a two hour show)

Sunday, 10p-midnight -- Little Steven's Underground Garage

We're also working on a local music show.

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

That I can make balloon animals...it's not a talent I talk about all that often.

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

Hands down, scheduling music is my favorite thing to do. I love the whole process: working on clocks, listening to new music, picking categories, etc.

Least favorite thing is probably the hours, I'm at the station a lot...thankfully I have a very understanding wife.

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

Mountain Dew.

What are your hobbies?

Improv and spending as much time with my family as I can.