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10 Questions with ... Garrett Capone
July 31, 2007
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NAME:Garrett CaponeTITLE:MD/AfternoonsSTATIONS:XTRA-F 91XMARKET:San Diego (#17) (the finest city in America, by the way)COMPANY:Finest City Broadcasting (see, it's even in the name of the company!)BORN:Sacramento, CARAISED:Northern California
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
2002: KXOA/Sacramento -- intern for The KiddChris Show
2002-2004: KWOD/Sacramento -- Morning Show Sidekick/Promotions Assistant/On-Air/Music Assistant
2004-2005: WIXV & WBMQ-A/Savannah, GA -- Nights and Programming Assistant
2005-2006: WHRL/Albany, NY -- APD/MD/Middays/Specialty Host
2006-2007: WHRL -- OM/PD/Afternoons/Specialty Host
2007-(as long as possible): 91X!!!1. What excites you most about being at the legendary 91X?
There are so many answers to that question, starting with the fact that I simply get to wake up every day and go to work at such a great and respected radio station (which just so happens to be in San Diego!). The team here is amazing -- PD Phil Manning, GM Trip Reeb, Creative Services/Nights Stephen Kallao. The list goes on and on, even our weekend airstaff has a wealth of PD/MD experience -- Chris Muckley, Annrae Fitzgerald. All the pieces are falling into place to once again put 91X on top.
Plus, I don't have to backsell Mudvayne or Disturbed records anymore. NICE.
2. Why did you want to leave your PD gig in Albany to become MD in San Diego?
You know, so many people have asked me that question. The obvious answer would be the change of scenery and being closer to family. But for me it's always been about finding the best professional opportunity. I went to Albany and helped make WHRL as successful as it has ever been. It was time for me to find a new challenge, to take the next step. It's not very often you get the chance to learn from such respected broadcast professionals as Mr. Manning and Mr. Reeb.
3. What put you over the top with Phil Manning for the highly coveted 91X MD/afternoon opening?
Well, I'd like to think I impressed him with my sparkling personality, ambitious nature, winning track record, and unparalleled work ethic. But honestly, from the very minute Phil was named PD of 91X I was on him about this job. And I never let up. I suppose that didn't hurt.
4. What part of your job do you like best? Least?
Being an on-air MD is perfect. For half the day my job is to improve 91X musically and for the other half I get to be a bonafide personality. All the fun of radio with half of the paperwork.
The only negative aspect of the job that I can think of has to do with the current climate of music. Let's face it, the product isn't that great. Sometimes it feels like we're picking the best of the worst. When is the revolution coming? Anyone? Anyone?
5. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
Before I got into radio I collected taxes for the California Franchise Tax Board. And I was pretty damn good at it, by the way.
6. What would an outsider find most surprising about 91X?
Not everyone in the building knows how to surf? Seriously though, every single person here lives and dies by 91X. I've worked with plenty of well paid fulltime radio cats who don't put forth HALF as much effort as our interns do.
7. Biggest career highlight?
It's a toss-up (avoiding the easy answer of getting the job here in SD, of course):
1) Walking down J Street in Sacramento at 7am on a Tuesday in January 2003 with nothing on but a diaper and a cell phone (thank you for that, Boomer). Talk about keeping your head level and your ego permanently in check.
2) Putting over 11,000 people in the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on a rainy Tuesday in September for Channel 103-1's Big Day Out 2006. For a tiny little station like WHRL to pull that off? HUGE.
3) My first ratings bonus check as PD of WHRL. I earned EVERY SINGLE CENT of that money (and my student loan provider was pretty stoked about it, too).
8. Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?
My goal is to improve on all of my skills every single day while continuing to gain new ones. We all have room to learn something new and work on the skill set that we already have. Yes, I'm fully aware that sounds cliché and no, I don't care that it does. It's 100% true.
9. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
Well, growing up in the 916 I spent a RIDICULOUS amount of time listening to KWOD from 1992 on. I'll also admit that as a kid I had a little bit of a soft spot for the hard rock, which included a lot of KRXQ (both as 93 Rock AND 98 Rock, by the way). When I was little my Mom always had that damn Oldies station on in the car, too. People say that's where my Pop ears came from.
10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
It's tough to imagine doing anything else besides being in the music industry -- radio, video, records, performance, management, whatever. I suppose I would get more actively involved in politics, activism -- make a difference in the world somehow?
Bonus Questions
When you're not busy keeping tabs on your fantasy baseball team and going to concerts, what do you enjoying doing with your free time?
As Shawn and the rest of the Industry Hardball league know very well, I suck at keeping tabs on my fantasy team. But I really like to keep up on Sports and Politics, play drums (decently) and guitar (very badly). Lately, I've been making frequent weekend trips up to Los Angeles as well. Plus, I'm completely addicted to MySpace. Forget fighting it, folks -- resistance is futile: www.myspace.com/gfizzle.
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