10 Questions with ... Greg Ausham

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

On-air at KSTP & KDWB/Minneapolis, PD at WCMF/Rochester, WQFM & WLZR/Milwaukee, WRIF/Detroit, WLVQ/Columbus, WMMS/Cleveland, WDVD/Detroit, and now WNNX & 99X/Atlanta.

1. What was it like for you to help put together 99X's 25th Anniversary on October 26, 2017?

John Petrini (Cumulus Atlanta's Director of Marketing and Media) earlier in the year came in my office and brought up that it was coming up on the 25th anniversary. We had a quick meeting and then it turned into a building collaboration. Connecting with 99X's past was both fun and a learning experience.

2. You have been part of some heritage Rock brands, WRIF/Detroit and WMMS/Cleveland in the 90s. What was your big takeaway from 99X25?

Just like WRIF and WMMS, 99X was a huge part of many listeners' lives and no matter what the brand had gone through (drifts in format, frequency changes and more) the emotion that listeners felt for that brand never dies.

3. It was so great hearing The Morning X - Barnes, Leslie & Jimmy sharing the 99X heritage. What was it liking having the old morning show back for one day from 6-10a? Who else from the legendary 99X programming and on-air staff was part of the 25th reunion?

Putting a show back on the air that has not been in a studio together for 14 years could have been disastrous. Barnes, Leslie & Jimmy were completely relaxed, professional and sounded like they never had left the air. As soon as the mics opened, they were on their game.

We also had Crash Clark, Todd The Butler, and former GM Mark Rainer in in the studio. On the phone Steve Craig, Brian Philips, and Axel Lowe.

Collective Soul's Ed Roland and Will Turpin stopped by to say hello and ended up performing live. 99X was very instrumental in the early days of their career. Pictured; (l-r) Steve Barnes, Ed Roland, Jimmy Baron, Leslie Fram, and Will Turpin.

4. Give us the 411 on ninety-nine x today.

The 99X today is much like the original 99X when it comes to music. We focus on new and local and not the past.

5. 99X has always been about New Music Discovery. How is 99X devoted to new music discovery?

To continue with the thought from the previous question, 99X features a lot of the local music from Atlanta and we do it during regular hours instead of just playing it on Sunday night. New music is a collaborative project with the entire staff and we also play brand new music in regular hours through the week and not just on a special weekend shows.

6. What may surprise people most about the station today?

For the better part of 25 years, the DNA of 99X has always been music discovery. The station has given the Atlanta radio listener an introduction to music and artists that may not be in the mainstream. From the early days with artists like Pearl Jam, Silverchair and Nirvana to today and artists such as Cage The Elephant, Alt-J and Cold War Kids, 99X has been at the forefront of new music.

7. In the '90s, 99X was one of the most influential Alternative stations. What sort of things is Cumulus doing to make 99X cool again?

First, 99X is still "cool." How do we know? Our 99X25 celebration showed us that the station is still very relevant to the Atlanta radio listener. When we decided to celebrate 25 years of 99X, our first thought was to bring back the Morning X with Barnes, Leslie and Jimmy. We started teasing #99X25 back in June and it caught fire. Once we revealed that the Morning X would be returning (for one day) 99X was once again on the minds (and in the ears) of Atlanta radio.

So how do we continue? 99X has always been about building a community. A community of passionate people who love music. We are still a mainstay for the local music scene and art community. We have hosted several showcases, in several neighborhoods around the city, awarding grants to aspiring artists. Local bands and musicians dominate our playlist throughout the day. We continue our community work through the 99X Foundation and our 99 Minutes of Service Project. Since we are not the monster signal we used to be, we have a comprehensive and strategic digital and social presence. We also program the station for the music lover...quick stop sets and then we're right back to the music. As for the current programming, we don't look back. The 90's and early 00's don't live on this version of 99X...that's why we say 99X is about What's Next. However, going into 2018, we are looking at the possibilities of bring back some classic 99X programming and promotions...with a current twist.

8. What do you love most about working for Cumulus?

Collaboration, resources, and a great atmosphere. It's the first job I've had that I actually enjoy coming to work every day.

9. What is a typical workday like for you?

Deciding on music, discussing content, solving problems, listening to other ideas/concepts, and planning for the future.

10. What would surprise people most about you?

I don't think it's a surprise but most people find out after talking to me that I really do believe in this medium and fully believe in radio's impact for both listeners and advertisers.

Barnes, Leslie & Jimmy on October 26, 2017

What are weekends like for you?

Living in Atlanta has advantages. Many things to do in a great city.

First record ever purchased?

2nd generation radio broadcaster so that is a tough question.

First concert?

Grateful Dead in St. Paul

Favorite band of all-time?

Way too many great bands and musicians to narrow that down to one single band.

Anything else you would like to add?

I love this business. I recorded my first lines for a commercial when I was five or six and never looked back.