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10 Questions with ... Johnny Maze
November 12, 2019
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Stops at many stations. Most notables: KTBZ Houston, WRXW Jackson, WXZZ Lexington, and KICT Wichita.
1. You and I first became friends over 20 years ago when you were doing late nights at KTBZ (The Buzz) in Houston. What stands out the most from starting your career at your hometown station?
Has it been that long since we met? WOW! What stands out is just that, Houston is my hometown and a Top 10 market. Getting to be on the air and listened to by family and friends on a daily basis was pretty cool. I remember going to my 10 year high school reunion while employed there, and many classmates/friends didn't realize it was me, since the name alias. Also, being in a major market, there was a concert/event on average 3-4 nights a week that I was able to attend or be a part of. Being able to meet many of the artists/celebrities of the time on a regular basis was not a bad experience as well.
2. How long have you been at iHeartMedia/Huntsville and what led you to your current job programming multiple stations for the cluster?
I've been in Huntsville almost 18 months now and love it. Huntsville is a great city and rapidly growing. It's been said that it will overtake Birmingham as the largest city in Alabama in the next 5+ years. The city has everything from NASA, an Army base, a huge tech industry presence, and an Facebook and Toyota plant are currently being built. I was brought in to oversee our Classic Rock, Classic Hits and CHR and be on the air on the Classic Rock. Since arriving, I've also been given oversight of our new Alternative station in the cluster and also am on-air on ALT 92.9.
3. It's now been a little over a year since ALT 92.9 signed on. Tell us about how the station has been growing on an HD3 signal.
It's been a steady growth. The market has never had a station fully dedicated to the alternative format. Stations have dabbled in certain artists and titles to expand their libraries, but we are fully dedicated to the format. We play and highlight many bands/ artists that have never had exposure in the market.
4. Give us the 411 on the station and your on-air lineup.
As I mentioned in the previous question, ALT 92.9 plays bands that have never had airplay in the market. We've had a great response from not just listeners, but our advertising partners and the area concert promoters to now take a better look at Huntsville when looking at the routing of tours from alternative artists.
Our on-air line up consists of "The Woody Show" as our morning show. I split the midday daypart with Wendy Rollins. Market vet Freak Daddy, who's been on the air and who has huge market equity does afternoons, followed by Mike Jones at night.
5. What would surprise people about ALT 92.9?
Just that, as I previously mentioned that the market has never had an alternative station. North Alabama/Huntsville has lots of transplants of people from bigger cities around the country where there, they had an Alt station to listen to. Moving here and finding out about ALT 92.9, they are happy. I get about a dozen comments a week from listeners via email or social media letting us know they appreciate the station.
6. What is your favorite part of your job?
Being around creative people, conceptualizing and executing plans whether it's a concert, event, or on air promotion is a great reward of the job. Being around the music and attending concerts/festivals is certainly a positive of the job.
7. What's your take on the state of the Alternative format?
I think the format is very healthy. The strength of twenty one pilots, Panic! At The Disco, Cage The Elephant, Weezer, Lumineers and the like coupled with Blink-182, Green Day, Beck, The Black Keys and format staples. Newer artists like Billie Eilish, Shaed, The Interrupters, Rex Orange County keep me excited about the future of the format. Plus, new albums from the bigger bands coming in 2020 are exciting.
8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Two cups of coffee in the morning, checking my fantasy baseball team during the season, and a healthy dose of All Access to keep me updated on the current events of our industry
9. What is a typical workday like for you?
Overseeing four stations is a daily challenge with all the moving parts. Every day is different and I tackle and block what needs to be done. I get in around 7:45am and make sure all is good with the stations before checking email and pouring my first cup of coffee. Then it's off to the days agenda. I'm also a jock on two of the stations, so I spend quality time doing show prep. Also, everything from sales calls, to client meetings, and daily communication with the promotions, production, sales team and digital departments to make sure those needs is addressed.
10. What may surprise people to learn about you?
I come from a large, great and crazy family. I have several family members in show business, with one the host of a reality show currently on the USA network. Others have been in big movies and TV shows. My older brother was in the movie 'The Godfather'. My other brother is a doctor and once operated on a HUGE rock star's wife. My great uncle was a recent guest of the President at the last State Of The Union address, another cousin was one of the creators of the game 'Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon', and some other strange things with my family. It's always a great time at family functions.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Well, I live in Alabama and am a huge fan of Texas teams, so I tend to hit the sports bars during football season since I don't get the local coverage. Being a life-long Houston Astros fan has been great the past few years. I also like to road trip to Birmingham, Nashville, Chattanooga or anywhere if a concert/festival is in the area. A round of golf, catch a movie, or a local event in town. Otherwise, I sleep in when I can and relax with the dog.
What are your hobbies?
Sports events, concerts, a round of golf, Texas Hold Em poker, and quality time with my dog SJ
What are your favorite restaurants in Huntsville?
Huntsville has many of the big national chains which is fine, but I enjoy learning about and trying the local cuisine. There is a really good sushi place here, and mom and pop Mexican and Italian cuisine restaurants.
I know you're a big fan of the Houston Astros and Houston Texans. Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
It's funny, when you first move to Alabama; the first question people ask is "whose side are you on?"...meaning Alabama or Auburn. I've made it no secret, much to the dismay of the locals, I say emphatically, "neither." Haha! However, just to be able to fit in on occasion, I did buy an Alabama and Auburn t-shirt for my closet. The Houston Astros, the Houston Texans, and the Texas Longhorns are my top 3 that I follow year round.
Your grandmother has been a big part of your life. What are your top priorities when you get back home to Houston?
If you follow me on social media, I post a lot of pics of my grandmother. She is 99 years young and the matriarch of my large extended family. We celebrate her 100th birthday in February and so far, over 100 people are planning on flying in to Houston for the occasion. I have been really close to her all of my life and feel incredibly lucky and fortunate that we still have her with us. I visit Houston 2-3 times a year and see her as often as I can. I also talk to her a 2-3 times a month just to say hey and hear her voice.
First concert?
Growing up in Houston, I went to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo as a kid, but my first REAL concert was when I was in 9th grade, I won the tickets from 93Q - KKBQ Houston, and it was 10th row floor, center stage floor tickets for Motley Crue and their "Theatre Of Pain" tour. That was the turning point in my wanting to do this as a career.
Favorite band of all-time?
That's a really tough question, but I really dig the band TOOL. Foo Fighters, STP, Soundgarden, Godsmack are also favorites.
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