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10 Questions with ... Jon Mayotte
May 16, 2006
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NAME:Jon MayotteTITLE:PD/AfternoonsMARKET:Champaign, IL (#220)COMPANY:RadioStar, Inc.BORN:1-21-82RAISED:Kankakee, IL & Champaign
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
I washed cars at my grandfather's Ford dealership.
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
1999 - Junior year of high school I walked into the smallest building in the world to ever house three radio stations and asked for an internship with C-U Radio Group
2000 - Was signed on to board op and do weekend shifts for four stations (WEBX, WBNB, WQQB, WGKC) in our building
2001 - Moved up to doing nights on the former 93X X-treme Radio
2002 - Moved across the hall to the night slot on Classic Rock 105.9 WGKC
2004 - Moved across the hall AGAIN to middays on 93-5/95-3 The Rock and acquired APD stripes
2005 - Moved to afternoon drive on The Rock and was promoted to PDFIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
First one I remember was AC/DC- Razor's Edge.
FIRST CONCERT:
Matchbox Twenty, Soul Asylum, Semisonic at the Rosemont Horzion.
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
Toss up between Zeppelin, the Stones, and the Beatles.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I grew up just outside Chicago so I had the opportunity to listen to some great radio as a kid. My earliest memories of radio were as a small kid hearing WLS and some of the great jocks like Larry Lujack and Fred Winston. As I got older there was a rock station known as Rock 103.5 that was home to Mancow, Lou Brutus, Ned Spindle, Sludge, just to name a few of the big names. Hearing that station and the work of those individuals was what put me over the edge and made me say to myself, "I have to get into radio!"
2. What part of your job do you like best? Least?
I'd say the best part of my job is knowing that we have the ability to maybe make someone's day just a little better. We aren't splitting the atom or doing brain surgery but maybe someone will hear something on our station that will put them in a good mood or make them forget about the stresses of life for a few minutes.
The part I like least about this job would be the massive breakdown in communication that tend to happen, be it between programming and sales or the jocks and promotions or whatever. We're in the communications business and it seems there are times where we have no idea how to communicate with each other. It seems to be the root of many of the problems that are encountered on a daily basis.
3. About a year ago you switched from Active Rock to an Active Rock/Alternative hybrid. How has the station evolved?
A year ago our biggest competitor decided to tweak their format to be more of an indie/college rock station and moved away from the Alternative format that they had a stranglehold on for years. This left a big hole in the market for a mainstream Alternative station. It didn't take too long before we dumped the Active Rock golds of Ozzy and GN'R and threw in more Weezer and Beastie Boys tracks.
Up until about the end of last year we were running a pretty tight ship with around 350 song titles or so. We have since over doubled that number, mainly with more alternative golds like Oasis, The Clash, The Cure, and more deep cuts from bands like Sublime, Pearl Jam, etc. while still playing the active rock bands like Disturbed, Slipknot, and Static-X. Since we are the only station playing new rock in the market, be it Active Rock or Alternative, we have a lot of room to do quite a bit with the music.
4. How much new music are you playing and how often are you rotating your currents?
We spin about 30 or so currents per week. We decided to back off running songs into the ground. The most any one song will pop up is once a daypart instead of twice on some, which is where we used to be. I think it has people listening for longer.
As for how we decide on our new music I sit down with smAsh, my APD, and we'll listen to whatever we have for that week. We try to keep it diverse. I don't want our playlist to have thirty bands that sound exactly the same. I think it helps add to the unpredictable sound of the station and keeps the station from sounding bland and boring.
5. What makes your station unique?
The complete disregard for conventional status quo radio. While everyone else is following the same boring cookie cutter pattern from 10 years ago, we're blazing our own trail and writing our own rules.
6. What would surprise people most about the station?
That with one stick at 6kw and another at 1.9kw and both being over ten miles outside of the metro area we are still competitive in the marketplace and number one in many dayparts M18-34.
7. Biggest challenge at the station?
Right now it is simply adjusting to the many changes that have taken place around here over the last few months. AAA Entertainment sold our group of stations to the previous owners, Jim Glassman and Jack Taddeo. These guys know the market and know what it takes to win. I am excited and proud to work for these guys.
I was also able to hire back my former PD, Smash, to do middays and be my APD. He programmed 93X & 93-5/95-3 The Rock from '00 to '03 and was the PD at WQLZ in Springfield, IL up until this past November. It is weird in a sense to have the roles reversed from where they were back in the day. However, he and I both come from the same school of thought on how to do radio. His experience and knowledge is a huge asset to me. These are all welcome challenges and they make me excited to come to work everyday.
8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Coke. Diet Coke. What did you think I meant?
9. Biggest career highlight?
Helping put together the first ever Rockfest last Fall in Downtown Champaign. The show featured a one on, one off performance by Champaign's own Hum (remember "Stars"?) and drew about 3,500 people. It was the largest event ever held in Downtown Champaign.
10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
Probably car sales since it has been in my family for over 80 years. Either that or possibly residing in Joliet Correctional Center.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Playing golf, watching sports, live music, and being around family and friends.
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