10 Questions with ... Joe Mack

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started at Flinn Broadcasting on the street team in 1998. The station was 107.5 KISS FM. I eventually produced the afternoon show for PD Chris Taylor. I moved to Adult Top 40 WMC FM 100 where I worked on-air and street team in 2002. I moved to Kansas City in 2004 and worked for KMXV on the weekends and as programming assistant and Music Director. After 2 years there, I moved back home to Memphis and returned to Flinn Broadcasting as the Promotions Assistant and on-air. Since then I've been promoted to APD/MD/Afternoon jock on CHR Q1075. I also program ALT i96.

1. How did you first become interested in radio?

The funny story is my brother was always the one "playing DJ." He ended up in the Military and I ended the DJ. Chris Taylor introduced me to radio. I would run around with Jill Bucco who is on the air in Orlando now. We had a portable slot machine we called the KISSINO. All summer we would drive around a let people pull the lever for prizes. I moved up thru the years from street team, to promotions coordinator, to on-air, then MD and APD.

2. You've spent over a dozen years working at Flinn Broadcasting. What is it like working for the company?

It's great to be able to work for a radio company in my home town. The owner Dr. Flinn has been great to me and I've gotten to experience a lot of stuff working for him. I wear a lot of different hats in the company. This is a very unique situation having one owner and not a lot of layers of corporate above you. If we need something we call him. He allows us to do what we need to do for the stations to win.

3. In addition to APD/MD/afternoons on Top 40 WHBQ Q107.5, tell us about your role with Flinn's Alternative WIVG i96.

I work on the programming and music; I do all the imaging with our voice guy Gary McClenagahn plus on the air in the morning. It's a full plate

4. Give us the 411 on i96 - The New Alt Revolution.

The station has been on the air for just over two years. We've had a big response from the audience. We play it pretty tight on music, focusing on the big ALT hits and we rotate them like crazy. This market was without an ALT station for a lot of years so we have to familiarize not just the currents but a lot of the recurrents as well. We are on two places on the dial...the main signal 96.1 covers the south side of Memphis and North Mississippi and a translator on 96.3 that covers the east part of Memphis. Our midday jock is Bethany, who is from Memphis, she entered a "on-air fill in" contest and was so good, we kept her here. Afternoons is another Memphian, Latty. He also works around town in restaurants and bars so everyone knows him. Kiran does nights; she also works weekends on our CHR Q1075.

5. What makes the station unique?

It's really programmed like a CHR. High rotations on the currents, good imaging and out on the street. There is no other choice in Memphis if you want new rock.

6. What is your favorite part of your job?

Connecting to the audience. I love hearing a listener say that we did something that caught their ear. We are involved with all our stations in every big event in Memphis, so we meet a lot of people. It's motivating when they give you positive feedback.

7. What do you like best about living in Memphis?

Memphis is home. It's where I grew up.

8. You just recently returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. How was it?

D.C. is like my second home. I have family who live about 45 minutes west of the city in a town called Manassas. So I go and see them and just chill.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?

Hearing my 2 girls argue over whose slime they are playing with

10. What would surprise people most about you?

I'm on the PTA board at my daughters school and I'm a room mom

What are your hobbies?

Working out, Netflix, home improvements

What is a typical weekend like for you?

Sleep late, sometimes a remote or station event, and catch up on things I missed during the week.

First record ever purchased?

Metallica- Ride The Lightning

First concert?

Boys II Men- Revolutions Tour

Favorite band of all-time?

Green Day

Anything else you would like to add?

I like Beef Jerky