10 Questions with ... Jim Maschio

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I grew up in radio, since I was a kid I was in and out of radio stations with my dad until I started working for his company (Coastal Broadcasting Systems) in 2008 as a board op out of high school. I worked with Coastal until 2016 when I went and joined the entertainment team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and ended my Disney career in 2020 as the Park Audio Crew Chief Of Entertainment at DAK. I moved back home In June of 2020 and we decided now was the right time to get back in the alternative game and here we are.

1. Welcome back to Alternative! What led WJSE to flip back to Alternative after a 3+ year hiatus?

One of the biggest reasons we came back was to freshen up the airwaves in South Jersey. It felt like everything was stale and complacent, for a while when we came back the first time it seemed like everyone was on their toes and making shiny new radio happen again. Which I hope to get back to that healthy competition and make radio pop in South Jersey. Also with the positive energy and hope that this mess of a world will return back to normal soon we’re positive there are going to be a lot great things, not only business wise but artistically speaking as well, to come out when the world is ready to come back to life.

2. You relaunched the station with no DJs and you’re the station voice. What’s the plan for the station heading into 2021?

So, much like everyone else, we still have to play it safe. Coming back with no DJs was a suggestion i made in order to not only ensure we had the means to do what we want to do, but I think people really just want to hear some new music right now. There’s so much on the air and in the news about what’s going on that we already know, we all care, but we don’t want to be overburdened with it all the time. So, your favorite rock station’s back? Oh, and they’re not talking about the pandemic 24/7 or complaining about the same old things? And I don’t have to make playlists on apps? (Which I already did for them, at wjserock.com) Sign me up!

3. Your dad owns the station. Tell us about Coastal Broadcasting.

Coastal Broadcasting is my dad’s baby, he took it over in 2008 with his business partners and it’s been a crazy journey that none of us would regret, but radio is pretty nuts lol! I think though from a grass roots perspective the company is a family owned and operated company that does what it does, it creates great content for the people of South Jersey, which is who we are and we never acted like we weren’t. We do like to try new things though and have been told multiple times that it does seem bigger than it is from the outside and that’s certainly something we’ve worked our butts off to achieve.

4. How does the new incarnation of WJSE compare to the previous one and why do feel the station will be successful?

The new JSE in comparison to the old JSE is a little fresher in the new music aspect. The old JSE I always felt had a very Active Rock flare, which was awesome, but with the reincarnation I’m trying to stay slightly more true to the Alternative realm of now, without getting overly saturated into the pop world.

5. Let’s talk about the music. 106.3 WJSE's slogan is "The Rock Alternative." The Alternative format has shifted very pop lately. How will that impact the music you play on 106.3 WJSE?

As I mention, I don’t want to get too saturated with “pop” music. In every sense of the term most things on the radio are pop. It’s how it is, you can either accept it or cry about it. I think when it comes to JSE though we stand out with some of the deeper cuts. I never found it repulsive to play a Pearl Jam song that wasn’t charting, or never go back to an old Rancid song that was big but wasn’t a major hit. Without DJs it gives us a little more time to focus on our specialty shows as well. Sundays we have a lot, starting off the day all-acoustic like before and from 5 to 7p it’s all new music and a featured local or unsigned artist as well. Then from 7-midnight we go into the older alternative from Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden but even playing stuff from The Clash, The Smiths, Ramones and even Fugazi.

6. You mentioned WJSE will be new music centric and you have a Brand-New Music Show that also highlights local artists on Sunday nights. The station was previously very aggressive with new music. Give us the 411 on the music on the station.

WJSE is definitely the place to go for new music in South Jersey. Our Brand-New Music Show keeps growing and I let that content be dictated by what’s big in our area and what I think can work. Our area is a very tight community and there’s lots of great new music that should be heard. As far as regular format goes it just needs to be fresh and far from audio wallpaper.

7. Talk about your social media strategy. I noticed your on-air promos are targeted to “Follow Us On Facebook 1063 WJSE.”

Well I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag on any big new projects (which are coming) but if anything in this world has taken over its absolutely social media. I think we want to focus on giving the listeners content at their fingertips as fast as we can and let’s face it, in radio you only get it out there as fast as your clock ticks unless it’s breaking news and, if it’s that urgent we’re going to get it to you on-air ASAP. But it’s also going to be hit over the head with social media and everyone and their mother is on Facebook, honestly so much that I only go on for WJSE anymore haha. I personally can’t stand it, but as far as business goes it’s a necessity.

8. How else are you staying connected with your listeners and navigating through the COVID pandemic?

We do have an app coming soon, we are running local and national news on the station throughout the day as well.

9. Tell us about the station's signal in South Jersey, which reaches coastal Delaware and the Ocean City, Maryland.

Our signal is 6000 watts conveniently placed directly between Atlantic and Cape May counties. It covers directly into Atlantic City, all of Cape May County and some of Delaware while covering most of the southern parts of Atlantic County and a nice chunk of Cumberland County as well.

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

Coffee, from anywhere, at this point if I could take it through drop it may do me better. haha

My Vinyl records time break up the monotony of radio.

And my kids! Which are number one always but without coffee they win... if you’re a parent you’ll understand that. lol

Tell us about your kids.

I have 4 amazing kids, 9, 6, 4 and 2. They’re my world and know how to push my buttons and win me over quickly. I’ve got 3 boys and a girl, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. Plus, they have great taste and love the station. haha

What are weekends like for you?

Weekends for me are super adventurous from going to the zoo, the park, trying as many new things as you can in a global pandemic. Or complete opposite doing absolutely nothing. lol

What are your favorite places to eat in the area?

This is super hard question because there are so many amazing mom and pop shops in our area, but I think my favorite place to eat is Dogtooth Bar And Grill in Wildwood.

Favorite food?

Pizza, every time!

Favorite drink?

Nonalcoholic - the biggest meanest Red Bull you could buy

Alcoholic- come to NJ and let’s talk music and drink Jameson and Guinness

Rank your sports teams in order of passion.

Philadelphia Flyers- I’ll bleed orange for life

Philadelphia Eagles- one with the underdogs

Tampa Bay Lightning- I was subject to only lightning games in Florida for 4 and a half years so I got hooked! Plus, the Amalie Arena is super bad ass.

Favorite new band over the past year?

Favorite new band over the last year would probably be Low Cut Connie out of Philly! Their sound is awesome, they’re doing it different from everyone else and I’d love to work with them when we can all breathe in the same room together.

Anything else you would like to add?

I’d definitely like to thank you for being awesome as always and I’d love to tell the record and radio world, 106.3 WJSE is back and we’re not afraid to try cool new stuff! Let’s make radio magic and bring eargasms and joy to the world, it needs it! Hang in there everyone, we’re sending our love from South Jersey!