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10 Questions with ... Dave Stewart
November 18, 2008
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NAME:Dave StewartTITLE:PDSTATION:WARQMARKET:Columbia, SCCOMPANY:Inner City BroadcastingBORN:Auburn, INRAISED:Athens, GA
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WARQ (Rock 93.5)/Columbia -- 1992-1996; WSHE/Miami -- 1996-1998; KKND (106.7 The End)/New Orleans -- 1998-2002; WYGY (Star)/Cincinnati -- 2002-2003 - WARQ, WMFX, WZMJ, WOIC-A -- 2003-Present.
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Video Store Clerk
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
Steve Martin - Let's Get Small
FIRST CONCERT:
Rush - Moving Pictures Tour
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
AC/DC
1. Why has WARQ been a successful Alternative station?
Consistency and longevity. The station has been around about 15 years now, and has stayed pretty focused over the years: a Rock based Alternative station that compliments our Classic Rock sister station Fox 102.
2. WARQ just had an incredible ratings book. What are you most proud of from the Summer '08 Book?
That no one jumped off a bridge after our disastrous Spring book, stayed on point, came to work, and got back to the top: #1 Persons and Men 18-34. Spring was one of those "so bad there's no WAY we could possibly suck that bad" kind of books (thanks Arbitron). But those books always make you second guess your personal and station direction, but we kept doing what we are good at, and it worked out. The ratings wobbles in this market are CRAZY (stations can go from double digit shares to ZEROES when you look at the monthlies), so it can be an emotional roller coaster at times. But when you look at 4-book averaging, we are at the top of the Men 18-34 mountain, and that's our goal.
3. What has been the biggest change at the station in the past year?
Kat Morrison joined the station a year ago as my morning show co-host and midday host and has done a great job. It took her awhile to adjust to the 4am alarm clock! But she's been a great addition to both mornings and middays.
4. How would you describe the music and imaging on Rock 93.5?
Music that dudes like, imaging with noises, and audio that dudes like.
5. What would surprise people most about the station?
That we don't have a Hootie And The Blowfish platinum plaque anywhere in the building!
6. What is a typical day like doing mornings and programming multiple stations?
Not as bad as I thought it might be thanks to great people around me. I'm responsible for keeping four stations on the air 24/7/365 with five full-time local air staffers. Needless to say there is NO way I could do it without them, so BIG thanks to Kat, Matt Lee, Weird Beard, Koko, and a soon to be named replacement for our recently departed Cataldo. And a big thanks to our engineer Trent who's magic with all these bells and whistles makes it work. The worst part of my day is seeing the number "4" on my alarm clock when I wake up. Once I stop cursing and swearing about the unholy hour I have to wake up, I'm fine!
7. How would you describe The S&M Morning Show and what makes the show pop?
I think it's because we genuinely get along and can crack each other up. You can do show prep, pre-produce bits all day long if you want. But I still believe if there's no chemistry between the people when the mic is turned on, listeners tune out. Oh yeah - and the naked pictures of Kat on our web site help. KIDDING!
And we've recently added Lemmy back to the morning show. After his stint in Sin City he's returned to God's country here in South Carolina. He won our morning show "Apprentice" type contest 3 years ago (The S&M Morning Show "Gopher" contest, winner got a part time job at the station). He writes parody songs that are unbelievably funny (see them posted on warq.com).
8. Of all your accomplishments at WARQ, what are you most proud of?
I'm most proud of our longevity! We may not be the coolest station on the Alternative panel, but I gave up on "cool" when I left college radio. I decided I wanted to make MONEY, and realized RATINGS are more important than record people thinking your station plays cool Alternative songs. Lots of once "cool" Alternative stations are now playing "The Macarena." I LOVE NICKELBACK! There-I said it!! I LOVE NICKELBACK, because NICKELBACK=Ratings, and Ratings=MONEY!
9. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I think many people who know much about me are surprised I was allowed to breed.
10. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid and what do you like best about the station?
96 Rock in Atlanta. (Thanks again to Clear Channel for torching a legendary radio station!) I still remember the first thing I did when I got my first car when I was 17. I drove to Turtles Records, got my 96 Rock license plate, and dutifully mounted it upside down on my '72 Monte Carlo!
Bonus Questions
When you are not watching college football, what do you enjoy doing with your free time?
Apparently I'm pretty GOOD at breeding since I have 3 fabulous sons, so I spend most of my free time shuttling Nick (11), Alex (9), and Jack (5) to pee-wee football practice. The next great Georgia Bulldog tailback has gotta have "Stewart" on the back of his jersey!
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