10 Questions with ... Phil 'PK' Kukawinski

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Worked my way up the ladder at 89X (CIMX) in Detroit starting in 2009 as an intern, and eventually becoming APD/MD. Now the Program Director for ALT 92.1 (WFUZ) here in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA.

1. What has your first year been like as PD?

It was quite a whirlwind for the first year. I think I've finally reached a point where I have my feet under me and can stop the madness! When I got here, I was basically just thrown into it with, "we need our summer show booked, we just flipped the branding a few months ago so rework the imaging and get to work." A lot to handle straight out the gate for a first time PD, but now it's easier to get work done since I'm finally caught up and getting the station moving in the right direction.

2. What do you feel has led to ALT 92.1's ratings increase this summer?

We've finally reached a point with the station where people are learning that it's different from what they're expecting. This particular frequency has changed formats and changed branding quite a few times in the last 5 years, so it's been a challenge trying to get people to revisit it and change their perception of what the station is. We've been more active in the community by bringing more shows to the area and focusing on putting together fun experiences for our listeners. We have the benefit of being locally owned, so there's a 100% chance that when we give something away, it will be someone in the area winning as opposed to all the national contests. We've been connecting with new listeners and bringing them the music that they want to hear, so I think it has really helped push the station in the right direction.

3. How is ALT 92.1 positioned musically and what is most important to you when deciding what new music to play?

The station has a pretty strong pop lean to it. We've been finding more and more success with acts like Imagine Dragons, Panic! At The Disco, AJR, Lovelytheband, etc. than we have with any of the more Rock crossover. A lot goes into determining what goes on the station; sales, streams, chart, tour routing, etc. Ultimately, it's what's going to benefit the listener that I'm most concerned about.

4. How would you describe yourself as a programmer?

Easy-going. I try to be the guy that always answers the phone, replies to emails, and is just honest about what I think. There's no benefit to leading people on when it comes to records or promotions. I'll tell you if something sucks or if I don't have any interest in it. It's not me trying to hurt feelings, but I let my opinion be known from the start and then we can move on to the next thing that I have more interest in. You might not like my answer, but you know that I'm going to tell you the truth.

5. What is PK like on-air and what is your favorite part of your afternoon show?

I like to be the "escape" for listeners. I'm not beating you up with celebrity gossip or any of that nonsense. My listeners are there for the music and to unwind from their day at work. I keep it light and entertaining. My favorite part of my show is definitely our Soundcheck feature at 4:15PM when I can play something brand new. It's great to have people discover something new and then let us know what they think about it. It's the easiest way to get immediate feedback on a song too, so it's beneficial for my role as PD.

6. What's it like working at Shamrock Communications in NEPA and how does it compare to your previous station?

I don't know if there's enough space to explain how different it is than my previous station. Going from a station where you have two offices in two different countries that hardly saw/talked to one another, to an office where everything is in one building and locally owned is a HUGE difference. There's less of a corporate pressure and less cooks in the kitchen, so I'm given a lot more freedom to make the decisions I think are right. Being locally owned does come with a few down-sides, like having fewer resources and fewer bodies in the building. I really enjoy the freedom, though, so it's a vast improvement.

7. What stations do you like to keep tabs on and why?

I like to focus a lot on stations in the area; WRFF in Philly, WNYL in New York, and WZNE in Rochester. Just seeing what's connecting and happening in the local-ish area is beneficial in itself, but I also like to look at some stations across the country that continue to perform in the format; KTCL in Denver, KNRK in Portland, and KTBZ in Houston. I pay attention to KFOG in San Francisco, too, which is going through the same struggles I have with multiple frequencies reaching different cities, a new sound, etc. I'm still a young programmer and there are a lot of great people in the industry that I can continue to learn from. Seeing the way they go about things with music, contests, on-air talent, etc. gives me an idea of how I might treat similar situations when I come across them.

8. What may surprise people about ALT 92.1?

We're not really in the business of surprises right now, thankfully. We've been in this incarnation of Alternative for just under 2 years now, so we're still changing the minds of listeners. We pride ourselves on being able to have everything we do be local to the area. I guess the biggest surprise would be that we only have 1 full-time employee that works JUST for this station (we have sales and promotions people that cover all three stations in the building). I can't wait to add to that and keep building the station.

9. How did it feel to win Station of the Year at the 2018 Steamtown Music Awards on September 13th?

It was a pretty awesome feeling! We've been working very hard to create a strong bond with the local community and local music scene here. Winning "Station of the Year" just shows that we're really starting to create more of an impact and that the community is starting to get behind us even more.

10. How do you use social media?

Personally, I try to limit what I do. I find it to be super depressing most of the time. Professionally, I try to keep the station as active as possible. I won't lie, though; I try to schedule as many posts as I can in advance. Nobody has the time to constantly post things throughout the day, especially when we don't have any sort of social media department or staff. 90% of it falls to me, so I try to stay ahead of things when I can. I use social media a lot during my show, though. I'm 28 and hate talking on the phone. I can't be alone with that mindset, so it's always easier to have listeners use social media to get in touch with us as opposed to calling.

What are weekends like for you?

My weekends are considerably more relaxed these days. Outside of the occasional station event, I like to spend time at home with the wife and puppy. The weekend is usually our only time to get things done around the house, too, so it's a good escape for a few days. We like to get out to different local events when we can, too, such as the arts festivals, local shows, and take trips to the park with the dog.

You are a big hockey fan and former instructor. How does hockey remain part of your life today?

Unfortunately the only hockey I get these days is watching on TV. Thank DeJesus Christ that hockey is back (even if it is just pre-season)! And, even though they're the farm team for the Penguins, I'll probably still try to make it out to some WBS Penguins games.

Rank your sports teams in order of passion.

Detroit Red Wings. They're the only team I'm passionate about. Yes, I cheer for all my Detroit teams, but I'm finding it more and more difficult to sit through Lions and Tigers games.

Favorite new band in 2018?

Lovelytheband, Billie Eilish, Dennis Lloyd, and Grandson have been the new acts that have been on my playlists all year. It really is great seeing new talent exploding and standing side-by-side on the chart and sales with Imagine Dragons, Weezer, etc.

Anything else you would like to add?

We've got some exciting shows and promotions coming up through the rest of this year, so I'm just excited to keep building ALT 92.1. We'll close out 2018 strong and keep the momentum going into the next year, so thanks to all my label friends who have been helping us out so much and all my other radio friends who have helped make me a better programmer and talent.