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10 Questions with ... Joe Mack
June 16, 2020
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. I am a very passionate person that eats sleeps and breathes radio. I know exactly how I want a station to sound, from the music we play, to the imaging, right down to how the jocks are on the radio. There is nothing like turning on the radio and hearing really great radio being executed. I am very hands on and won’t settle for the status quo.
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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. You started working at Flinn Broadcasting 22 years ago. What stand out the most from when you first got started in 1998?
I would say the technology. Social media is a big part of my day and aspect of what I do now. It’s to a point to that is where I am now discovering new music.
2. After a couple years in KC, what brought you back home?
A love for the city and being closer to family. The owner that I started my radio career signed back on a Top 40 station and new I could be a valuable person for him, knowing the market and the station. It’s not a lot of times in this business that you can work in the market you grew up in.
3. You have a full plate at Flinn as APD/MD/PM Drive of Top 40 Q107.5 and PD Alternative of i96, Take us through a typical workday
After playing Mr. Mom to my amazing 2 daughters, I will start my workday when I get in my car listening to any new music that has dropped and making and returning record calls. Crack my door open and start on music and imaging for multiple stations in the cluster. Take a break from that and see if I have a like on Instagram. Ha. I also have to get mixes done for the morning and midday shows, as well as start show prepping about 1 hour before I’m set to crack the mic. When my shift is done with the new world we are living in, I will play cleaning crew and completely disinfect the studio for the new jock.
4. Let’s shift the focus to your Alternative brand, i96. The station returned to the FM airwaves at the beginning of 2020 after a brief switch last fall to an 80’s format. The station continued to run online at i96Memphis.com. What led to bringing the station back on FM?
It is actually a good and simple question. Listener response. The passion of the listeners and their love for alternative music in the market. After really looking and listening to what they were saying and weighing everything, it just made sense to give the listeners in the Midsouth what they wanted, a true alternative station back in the market.
5. How has i96 been growing and covering the market on an HD2 signal with an FM translator?
It’s hard with the world That we are living in now with the pandemic, but we use social media a lot and focus on our position on being the only station in the market for new rock. We are looking for events to be coming back like the Beale Street Music Festival that got moved to October, we are really involved with that music festival and other concerts and events here.
6. How much has the station changed since first launching in 2016?
We continue to look for events to tie into locally and ways to interact with artists online especially socially media. Music is always evolving; we always want to make sure that we are evolving with it.
7. How would you describe the music and imaging on i96?
Music is very tight with high rotations and we keep it pretty familiar. The imaging and music is pretty similar to a Top 40. We have a killer voice guy David LaBonte out of Delaware. Shout out!!!
8. How would you describe yourself as a programmer?
I am a very passionate person that eats sleeps and breathes radio. I know exactly how I want a station to sound, from the music we play, to the imaging, right down to how the jocks are on the radio. There is nothing like turning on the radio and hearing really great radio being executed. I am very hands on and won’t settle for the status quo.
9. I hear you spend way too much time on social media. How are you using social media for i96?
We are always trying to find ways to connect the listeners with their favorite artists, from Instagram live, to winning concert tickets (when we had concerts), to posting content that is informative and really tapping into the listeners lives.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
My mentors would definitely consist on my current OM Chris Taylor. He gave me my first start in the business and has really shown me what it took to be a radio jock and a programmer. There are many people that has influenced my career that probably have no idea, some of the greats, George McFly, Greg Thunder, JoJo Cookin’ Kincaid with their energy and delivery on the radio. When you listen to their air checks man it gives me chills. Guys like Maney at Kiss 95.1 in Charlotte and Matt McCoy at 92ZEW in Mobile, they are some really funny guys. When you listen to them on the radio, you know that you are going to be entertained. I could go on and on.
Bonus Questions
You not only have a full plate at work but at home too. What are weekends like for you with 2 girls?
It will typically them trying to have me do a TikTok video with them, knowing that dad can’t dance. I live backed up to about 40 acres of forest so well go hiking and exploring. That’s my way of having them get exercise during this pandemic. We are huge into being outside, riding bikes, skateboarding, climbing trees, coaching my oldest one in softball.
What are your favorite places to eat in Memphis?
That really is a loaded question. We southerners are really into food. When you bring up BBQ spots, you just might get into a fight over what the best place. Corky’s has some of the best ribs. Central has the best pulled pork nachos. Gus’s fried chicken. Top BBQ (don’t go to BBQ) the burgers are legit. I may need to have Guy Fieri on this question.
Favorite food?
I can only be found with a burger in my mouth. I could live on burgers.
Favorite drink?
Sweet tea. Little bit of tea with my sugar please
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Pro Football is Dallas Cowboys all day (SIGN DAK), Pro Basketball is Memphis Grizzlies, college ball is Memphis Tigers, MLB is Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals. I don’t really watch hockey. Is NASCAR a sport?
Favorite new band over the past year?
Tones And I
Anything else you would like to add?
Wear a freakin Mask.
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