10 Questions with ... Dave Stewart

NAME:Dave Stewart TITLE:PD STATIONS:WARQ, WMFX, WZMJ, WOIC-A MARKET:Columbia, SC (#91) COMPANY:Inner City Broadcasting BORN:Auburn, IN RAISED: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, Rock 93.5/Columbia: 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?

I am a GENIUS! And despite Susan Groves efforts to sabotage all the work I put into launching this thing 13 years ago, the listeners have been very forgiving. But REALLY, it boils down to all the PDs who have been here not giving a damn what KROQ added, and paying attention to what works for Columbia.

2. What led to WARQ strong Winter '07 Book?

Diary placement. If you look back at the past couple years, the station's been pretty consistent in our core Men 18-34 demo. But in the last THREE books (Summer '06-Fall '06-Winter '07) we've gone 11.2-5.4-14.3. Which one of these is not like the others?

3. What are you most proud of from the Winter '07 Book?

That the jocks listened to me (for a change) when I asked them NOT to jump off the nearest ledge after the Fall book, and they came to work, did their usual awesome job, and life is good again. And to be honest, the S&M Morning Show. It's just me (S)tewart, Charley (M)cCain, and our producer (Dunn), and we've been the only Morning Show in the market with double digit shares in our core Men 18-34 demo four of the past five books -- #1 with a 14.3 share. We've got a lot of big name, big budget syndicated and/or heritage morning shows in this market, and we've kind of found a groove I guess. For that I am EXTREMELY proud and grateful. It's hard enough to get up in the middle of the night without worrying if there's anyone listening!

4. How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?

Over-crowded. There are five more stations above the line now than there were when I moved back three years ago. Hopefully things will stabilize a bit.

5. What would an outsider find most surprising about the Columbia, SC market?

There's a LOT more to do here than you would think. After living and programming in Miami and New Orleans, I know a little bit about where to go for a good time (what happens in New Orleans...), and there's actually PLENTY of trouble to get into here in Columbia. So if y'all get bored in Charlotte at the R&R Convention, gimme a call, we're just an hour down the road.

6. What makes WARQ unique?

I don't have to spend countless hours typing corporate memos to mid-level managers trying to justify there positions so they can hang onto their fat salaries without really contributing anything to the company's success. Yes, I worked for Clear Channel. And I could NOT be happier than I have been working here with Inner City. When I got here, there wasn't even a cookie-cutter in my New Employee Program Director packet!

7. In what ways has the station changed in the past year?

I now have two lamps in my office. And Cataldo, our night guy, has more steel in his leg than Pittsburgh has left in its factories. And Charley doesn't hate getting up in the middle of the night as MUCH as she used to. And there isn't a bar in town that Matt Lee hasn't done a remote in. And Dunn STILL hates the combo Overnights/AM Show Producer hours, but he's gotten used to it. Other than that, we've really been pretty solid and stable, which is fantastic.

8. Could you rundown WARQ on-air line-up with a little insight of each jock?

Charley McCain does the S&M Morning Show with me, and then handles middays. She has a great voice, she's funny, and she looks kinda like Heather Locklear's sister. I'll leave it at that.

Matt Lee, MD/PM Drive, does a fabulous job, has good taste in music, though it's like my wife's taste in clothes-every time I THINK he'll like something, he doesn't (and vice versa). But he's right most of the time.

Cataldo is our night guy as well as my right-hand man on ESPN Radio and our AM Progressive Talk stations, and I can't say enough good things about what a great job he does handling all his duties.

Dunn is our overnight jock and AM Show Producer, and my reality check with how old I am. He's a great asset to the morning show in keeping us in touch with guys in their mid-twenties.

9. Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?

Ass-kissing.

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

Radio is still a hell of a good time compared to the alternative (getting a real job)!

What are your hobbies?

Nick (9), Alex (8), and Jack (4). Since they were born, I've gladly given up just about everything else.