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10 Questions with ... AYO
December 13, 2005
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:AYOTITLE:APD/MD/NightsSTATION:KDGEMARKET:Dallas-Ft. Worth (#5)COMPANY:Clear Channel RadioBORN:Alexandria, VARAISED:Sierra Vista, Arizona, and Atlanta
1. If you were just starting out in radio, knowing now what you didn't then, would you still do it?
Why not? I've had the time of my life! I'd spend more time focusing on my show content, and less on social life and lifestyle, if I could go back to being 18 and start all over again.
2. What are you passionate about?
Music. It's our PRODUCT, and everything else pales in priority. Music can change your mood right up, get you high safely, and inspire you to become great.
3. In what ways has The Edge changed in 2005?
We're constantly changing and evolving. We're a Modern Rock station! Our audience always changing, so we always are always changing. Most noticeably with music, and our morning show. Music-wise, we've seen the demise of our sister Active Rocker, so we've made delicate, careful adjustments in our music to accommodate those males, and integrate the music and additional audience into our sound. It's working, and well. With our morning show, we've hit upon a new social chemistry between the current lineup of personalities that has mornings sounding more compelling, and more hilarious, than it ever has before, and effortlessly so on their part, it seems. It just comes natural to them. While I'm notoriously NOT a fan of The "Wacky Morning Team" mentality, and would much rather just play music, I'm very very proud of this morning lineup, how real they are, and how in touch with our listeners they are.
4. What would surprise people most about The Edge?
I would say our presentation. People come into town, turn us on, and go. WOW! I think, despite being in Market #5, were very overshadowed by a lot of other Alternative stations, as far as rep goes in the industry. Most of those stations exist on their reputation alone, and can be a bit of a letdown when you listen to them. I think it's the opposite with us.
5. What would surprise people most about Ayo?
Oh, probably how domestic I am. Sure, I go out and tear it up, but my favorite place to be now is in the kitchen of my new house, cooking dinner, sipping on Shiraz, and blasting a movie from the living room.
6. What is your biggest challenge?
Focus! Eighteen years in radio, and five in DFW, I have SO many distractions. I have to spend time alone, just to come down from all the attention, and humbly realize that I'm still just a regular-Joe listener and rock fan, and that I never, EVER, take any of this for granted, let it spoil me, or go to my head. That's when I perform the best as an air talent, and as a programmer, when I've had a chance to decompress.
7. It's our 10 Anniversary this year. What were you doing 10 years ago?
Haha. Happy. Happy, allaccess! I was working at WKLS getting ready for the Olympics to hit town the following year, getting sick of Atlanta, and Atlanta getting sick of me. I was partying too much, eating too much, and walking around thinking I was just this lucky asshole whom fate handed this life to, and I could put myself on autopilot, and not really apply an intense work ethic towards it all. I was a young idiot, in short.
8. Okay, I gave you over a year to ponder this question. Besides KDGE, what is your favorite station and why?
It changes all the time. I hesitate to give Sirius any credit right now, because I have SO many beefs with them as a listener (who is RUNNING that Comedy channel? JESUS), but the most amazing radio I'm hearing right now is SHADE 45. They are the very definition of free expression and radio free America, they play some AMAZING new hip-hop records, and they just hang their balls out there. Fucking awesome.
9. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Music has given me my career. My passion for it. That's never changed, it's only broadened and intensified.
10. What was the best concert you saw in '05 and what made it so great?
I gotta go with the mainstream on this one. U2 was just short of life-changing. Their ability to remain real through astronomical success, money, and attention, and their gratitude for the life they've been given. They pulled a 19-year-old kid up on stage here, gave him a guitar, and let him lead them through their first performance of "Angel of Harlem" in a number of years. Then, at his request, Bono traded his Armani shades for the kid's Eckerd sunglasses. Badass show that even included a cover of Dylan's "Old Man River."
Bonus Questions
What were your three favorite songs this year?
ASH "Meltdown"
My Chemical Romance "The Ghost of You"
Flyleaf "I'm So Sick" -
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