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10 Questions with ... Randy Malloy
August 25, 2020
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. The feeling of helplessness watching so many small business’ struggle as they were forced to be closed, we just felt we needed to do something. As paid advertising was drying up, we just saw this as a way to add some sense of normalcy to the airwaves and help the local community and businesses survive. So as some bars and restaurants had to pivot to delivery only or curbside pick-up, we ran free advertisement so that hopefully they could get through to the other side.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I went to a lot of concerts. I like music but I have no discernible musical ability. While in college, WWCD CD101 came on the air. The radio station was doing a promotion on a ski movie and I was the president of the ski club at the Ohio State University. I asked if they had an internship program, they said no. I said, “I would love to be and in turn and lo and behold I became one of the very first interns. So basically, I got to hang out with rock stars and somebody else paid for my beer. When I was done with school, I was offered a job in the promotions department so basically now I was being paid to hang out with rock stars and someone else was buying my beer. I moved up the small corporate ladder to become Marketing Director, Director Of Operations, General Manager, and then in 2010 I had the opportunity to purchase the intellectual property. So, I got to hang out with rock stars and now buy everyone else's beer, Obviously I did not choose wisely somewhere along that career path timeline.
1. Tell us about how you went from intern to owner of WWCD.
I'm stubborn, I outlasted my bosses, Obviously I'm crazy, and not in it for the money. I got really lucky that I had some great mentors that believed in me that helped me flourish. And, on a scale of other jobs that truly suck, radio is not that bad of a gig. So, I just stuck with it.
2. Let’s talk about WWCD turning 30 on August 21st. Congrats on very big milestone! Needless to say, it’s been tough to really celebrate during the COVID pandemic. Tell us about CD102.5 is doing on-air and online to celebrate its 30th Anniversary.
Well the pandemic sucks, normally we would have had a blowout concert with lots of bands, huge gatherings, fireworks, parades Mayoral Proclamations, hot air balloons, sky writing, bat signals… Did I mention giant concerts? But alas none of that is meant to be at the present time with governmental lock downs still in place. Bands aren't traveling, music venues aren't open, and there is social distancing and all that. So, we will mark the occasion with some minor fanfare and hopefully plan for larger more grandiose celebrations once we get back to some sense of normal.
3. For those that have never been inside CD102.5, take us inside the station and share with us some of the unique things the station has to offer, from The Big Room to an Ice Cream Truck, and what makes your independent station so special.
Well you kind of gave it all away, the radio station building itself has a music venue inside of it that is open to the public for concerts of about 200 people So not only do we have bands that come in for radio station events, we also have bands that come in from the local community, touring acts both regionally and nationally. The building is an old club, the Swiss Club to be exact, so it has a history of partying since 1963. It definitely looks to me in my mind what a radio station should be: a bar on each floor with Gold records and memorabilia covering almost every square inch of the walls. Most people that have not been to other radio stations just assume this is what radio stations look like, but bands and record people definitely know otherwise.
4. This has been an extra challenging year for you and the CD102.5 team in so many ways. Tears well up in my eyes as I think about how you have tragically lost two programmers, who were not only the heart and soul of the station, but beloved by so many of us in the industry. On June 6, 2020, PD Mase Brazelle suddenly passed away after a short illness. It was almost 10 years to the date of former longtime PD Andy “Andyman” Davis’ tragic swimming accident on July 18, 2010. How have you and the staff been dealing with another tragic loss to the CD102.5 family?
I mean, 2020 right. Andy's passing was 10 years ago and most of the staff never even had the chance to meet him, so he lives on as a larger than life figure in the memories and lore of the stories we share. With Mase, it was weird as well, no one had physically seen him since the offices were closed for close to 12 weeks. And, again like Andy, very sudden here the next day gone. Because of the pandemic, we have not had the ability to have a mass gathering to even mourn Mase or remember Andy, so it has been uniquely weird as well. It's all just a little too surreal.
5. Give us the 411 on The Andyman-A-Thon, which continues to be a big annual charity event for the station.
As far as that goes the donation letters are being sent out to record reps and labels to ask for memorabilia items, autographed band items, or anything else that we can use to auction to help raise money for the 28th annual Andyman-A-Thon December 11-13 this year
6. Tell us about the CD102.5 Cares Initiative that you launched for local business back in April.
The feeling of helplessness watching so many small business’ struggle as they were forced to be closed, we just felt we needed to do something. As paid advertising was drying up, we just saw this as a way to add some sense of normalcy to the airwaves and help the local community and businesses survive. So as some bars and restaurants had to pivot to delivery only or curbside pick-up, we ran free advertisement so that hopefully they could get through to the other side.
7. Five years ago, there was a major crowdfunding campaign for CD102.5. Talk About how that helped the station and how you’re powering through the unprecedented times of a pandemic?
We are a commercial radio station so as you know our revenue is solely based on advertising dollars. When the station moved from 101.1 to 102.5, I only acquired the intellectual property and not the license for the frequency, that is a TBA. I have with the license owner to operate the frequency. The attempt by the crowd funding was to be able to hopefully secure enough funding to purchase the frequency. Unfortunately, we fell miles short from that goal, so we are still operating under the TBA. And, as for powering through, we are just like any other small business, so we have had to adjust our strategy shift and pivot and try to find new revenue sources.
8. How did it feel to be nominated and win the Worldwide Radio Summit 2020 "Sean Demery Independent Spirit" earlier this year?
Well it was very surprising and a great honor to be nominated and even more surprising to win. Unfortunately, with the pandemic flights and events were canceled the week prior to the ceremony so I have this very cool glass trophy that sits on my desk with not much fanfare at all. Again, 2020...
9. You’re a very hands on owner/GM and actively involved in the music too. How would you describe your style and what is a typical workday like for you when we’re not in the middle of a pandemic?
Honestly there is no typical workday. I am of the mindset that if it needs to get done, get it done no matter if that is helping to write, create, and propose a sales contract or fix a running toilet in one of the bathrooms, or help the engineer keep the station on the air. Jack-of-all-trades master of none. Years ago, the office manager gave me the nickname of MacGyver. So honestly not much has changed during the pandemic. Just less things breaking down, because they are not being used.
10. Share something from the last 30 years that people might not know about the station.
Honestly there is not much that the world does not know. We are a small business standalone single owned Alternative rock radio station that has been in pretty much the same format for its 30 years of existence.
Bonus Questions
What stands out the most to you after all these years at the station?
Just how the industry as a whole has changed so much, while at the same time we have done our best to try and adjust to these changes.
What were weekends like for you before the Coronavirus and what are they like now?
On any given weekend especially in the summertime we could have 5 to 10 events go on between Friday and Sunday appearances, concerts festivals events. Now there may be a need for someone in the promotion department to work once every couple of weeks.
What are your favorite restaurants in Columbus?
Way too many restaurants to list Columbus is a foodie paradise one of the largest test markets in the country.
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