10 Questions with ... Jude 'The Afternoon Dude' Walker

NAME:Jude 'The Afternoon Dude' Walker TITLE:APD/MD STATION:KFTE MARKET:Lafayette, LA (#102) COMPANY:Regent Broadcasting BORN:Youngsville, LA RAISED:Breaux Bridge, LA

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Nights at Country KMDL 1998-2002; middays at AC KTDY 2002; 2002-present KFTE (middays, now afternoons APD/MD).

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Sheetmetal Construction with my brother. LA summer heat hanging sheetmetal is a bitch.

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Crap, I think a Randy Travis album

FIRST CONCERT:

Tracy Lawrence

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

2 Skinnee J's (yeah I said it, big whoop!)

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I used to listen a lot in high school and became friends with some jocks. They convinced me that TV was not for me, mostly because you have to comb your hair.

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

I like listening to all the cool new music -- hearing the new artists before they make it big.

Least?
Stupid listeners! I'm sure no one else has any of those do they?

3. What is your biggest challenge in your new role as MD?

Keeping up with all the new music out there. I can listen to a new record and two days later get asked what I thought of it, and have no recollection of what it sounded like!

4. What makes Planet Radio unique?

We're pretty laid back and keep it real for the listeners. I know that sounds cliché, but we don't have any boss jocks here! Ha! We like the listeners to feel like we're one of them.

5. What would an outsider find most surprising about Lafayette?

That we don't take boats to work. And that there are lots of rich people here. It was news to me too.

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

Checking my email and/or my fantasy teams.

7. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Odd, but that no one gets fired from radio, they get themselves fired!

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

A Country station here in town that I'll leave unmentioned.

9. Not many folks make the transition from Country to Alternative. What has been the toughest part of your transition?

I've worked at every station in our building. I even voice track at our Cajun station. I like the passion that Alternative listeners have with the music. It's different vibe, but people are pretty eclectic down here. There is a lot of shared audience between Country and Alternative, which I know is surprising. It's not as dramatic a change as one would think.

10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

I'd be in the big leagues right now or television.

What are your hobbies?

Playing fantasy everything, running playing in an adult baseball league, chasing my wife and two year old around (my wife doesn't chase me back though). And since I live in south Louisiana, I'm under contractual obligation to say drinking.