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10 Questions with ... Laura Lee
January 19, 2021
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. When stations rebrand, you usually have time and budget to make those changes. We did not have that luxury. Those difficulties though, turned into opportunities. If you’ve seen the YouTube video of our triumphant return, Randy spray paints CD929 over the old CD1025 logo. Listeners asked for it to be turned into a t-shirt and it’s available now at cd929fm.com/store.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Interned at WXRK (now WNYL)/New York, started in overnights at KWOD/Sacramento then moved across the street to do weekends and be the assistant morning show producer for the Rob, Arnie and Dawn show at KRXQ. First full-time gig was morning co-host at KRFR/Bakersfield. Hopped across the street to do afternoons at KRAB. After that, stops in Milwaukee, Tampa, Atlanta, Charleston SC, Fredrick, MD, Wilmington, NC and now Columbus, OH. (fun fact... I’m REALLY good at putting IKEA furniture together).
1. 2020 was quite a whirlwind for you. You spent the first half of the year On The Beach after getting downsized at WRMR/Wilmington. Take us back to last summer with the sudden passing of PD Mase Brazelle. I know Mase was a friend, so this was a real bittersweet moment for you to have the opportunity to join WWCD. What was it like succeeding Mase?
Losing Mase was devastating. He was truly a good friend. We’d talk several times a week while I was on the beach. If I was applying to a station where he knew someone, he’d reach out to them on my behalf. When he passed, I reached out to Randy Malloy and Tom Butler simply to connect with people who cared about Mase as much as I did. In early July, Randy reached out to me when he suddenly found himself needing help in the programming department. I drove the 9 hours to Columbus the next day. Later that evening Randy brought me to the station and showed me around. Sitting down in front of Mase’s computer was a very surreal moment. These were the biggest pair of shoes I’ve ever had to fill.
2. Another stunning moment at WWCD occurred on November 1st, when WWCD signed off the FM airwaves temporarily when the station's LMA agreement expired. The station continued broadcasting online and it was full steam ahead with the team, while owner Randy Malloy searched for a new FM frequency. Thankfully that only took 3 weeks. What were those 3 weeks like for CD102.5 without an FM stick?
When Randy sat us all down on Oct 30th and told us the news, there was a brief moment of shock and disbelief, but when he said we’d solider on as an on-line station, everyone was on board. Not one member of the staff left. We all knew if anyone could make an online-only station successful, it was Randy. Soon after that news, we then learned there was an opportunity to get back onto the airwaves, so we went on like business as usual.
I know some of the on-air talent would have liked to of taken advantage of the lack of FCC rules while we were streaming only, but we had several clients commit to stay on with us while we sorted everything out. That and we had so many listeners continue to listen to us online. I had one guy call me, he was a teacher and just wanted to make sure we weren’t going to be playing unedited songs due to the fact he listened to the station at school while students were present.
I did adds and moved music like we were still being monitored by Mediabase. We ended up getting a new imaging voice as well, so not only did everything have to be rebranded but anything that may of still be useable was now not. Does it make any sense if I say that those were both the longest and the shortest three weeks of my life? I still can’t believe we pulled it off in such a short amount of time. It took the efforts of every single person in this building to get it done, and everyone stepped up to the challenge.
3. Tell us about WWCD returning to the FM airwaves and the rebrand to CD92.9 on November 21st.
When stations rebrand, you usually have time and budget to make those changes. We did not have that luxury. Those difficulties though, turned into opportunities. If you’ve seen the YouTube video of our triumphant return, Randy spray paints CD929 over the old CD1025 logo. Listeners asked for it to be turned into a t-shirt and it’s available now at cd929fm.com/store.
4. Beginning JANUARY 1st, WWCD added a second FM translator signal in Delaware. Tell us about the two signals and the station's coverage area.
Dammit Jim, I’m a PD not an Engineer! I can’t get technical, but our main stick is right in the middle of downtown Columbus, so it just floods the city in all directions. The FM translator in Delaware strengthens our signal to the north, giving us great coverage.
5. What is it like working for Randy Malloy and the amazing team at WWCD?
Randy Malloy is like Michael Scott (The Office) meets MacGyver meets Willy Wonka meets Evel Knievel meets Einstein. He’s easily the best boss I’ve worked for in years. He likes to be involved but doesn’t micromanage. He hired me to run his programming department and trusts me to do so. If we have a difference in opinion, he doesn’t pull his boss card and shut me down… we talk about it. He’s not just a boss, he’s a true leader.
Everyone at the station is awesome. It’s a unique situation to have your promotions manager and sales staff only be focused on one station. I’m used to working in clusters where everyone has their own agendas and focus. Here, we’re all working towards the same goal. As one of the last remaining independent alternative radio stations, we all understand that if we don’t do our jobs, we don’t exist. On the other side of the coin, as an indie alt station, we have a LOT of fun as well. Check out our station TiKTok @cd929fm
6. Take us inside the station’s music meeting. What is the process and who is part of the music meeting?
Every Wednesday, a group of us hang out in the programming office and listen to new music. It’s a mix of the entire station… talent, promotions, front office… even our I.T. guy will sit in on the meeting. We rank songs and talk about our opinions. I love having the ability to get instant feedback from people. An example would be Sports Team “Camel Crew.” Honestly, I wasn’t a fan but everyone else in the meeting was all about that song. We ended up adding that song and it sounds so good on the radio. With the consolidation of alt programmers, I don’t rely as heavily on the charts as I used to music meetings are essential.
7. How has your programming philosophy changed joining a unique independent Alternative station like WWCD?
As I said, I don’t rely as heavily on charts as I used to. Having an actual staff is a great resource, especially someone like my MD, Tom Butler. He’s worked for WWCD for over 22 years and knows what Columbus likes. I like to say that he’s the record person and I’m the radio person. He’s immersed himself in the music scene and knows so much about so many bands. I was raised on radio hits and rarely go much deeper than that. I think we’ve got a great dynamic going on in the programming office. I’m trying to lean CD 92.9 a little more mainstream to draw in more casual radio listeners and Tom helps keep the station hip enough to separate us from our homogenized competition and to keep our P1s happy.
8. You told me a few years ago that your favorite part of the job is being on-air. What do you love most about being on-air?
It’s therapeutic. I don’t feel as if I’m ever talking AT someone, I like to talk TO them. I keep it light, but I keep it real. The other day I went off on the fact that when you Google “First dinner date ideas” that there were no TRUE blogs dedicated to this. You can’t just slap your favorite recipes to your Tumblr and call them good first date dinner ideas. I mean, I don’t know about you, but if this is the first home cooked meal I’m making for someone, nowhere in recipe should I see Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus…you get the idea. I had several people email me actual good first date dinner ideas. It’s fun to make that connection with your audience and not just rattle off celebrity birthdays.
9. You’ve worked at several radio stations. How different is WWCD?
I remember when a former co-worker was given the “opportunity” to do work on another station within the cluster. When asked what the compensation would be, the answer was that they’d be harder to fire. And it’s sad but true, that statement has become an accepted form of payment in radio.
You won’t find that type of mentality at WWCD. When the station succeeds, we are rewarded. Treating your staff with respect and appreciation seems like the world’s best kept secret, but it’s a no brainer. Even if it’s just grabbing your staff cold beers and bar snacks on Friday afternoon, no one is in a rush to leave for the weekend. Everyone seems genuinely happy to be working here. There’s a true feeling of being a part of a radio family.
10. What is a typical workday like for you?
I get in around 8:30 and check my to-do list. I’ll track my midday’s out a couple hours at a time in case I get sucked into a meeting or long phone call. My office is right by the studio, so if the phone rings, I can bounce in there and chat with the listeners.
I’ll glance at the charts on a daily basis, just to see who I need to keep an eye on for Tuesday adds. Tom and I share an office, so we’ll chat about music or what’s going on in the world. I’ll knock out the music log, try to keep my email inbox to a dull roar and chat with some label buddies. Since we had to reimage, we’re currently rebuilding all of our personality-based sweepers, so I’ll bust out Microsoft word and attempt to be creative. We’ve got set days of the week for meetings but whether it’s an idea for a sales pitch or for social media, all of us at the station are always constantly brainstorming. I anticipate once the world returns to some type of pre-Covid normalcy, my list will grow much bigger with the incredible music scene Columbus, OH has to offer. I’m really looking forward to the first Big Room Bar show we can have again with listeners in attendance.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
I get the adulting done on the weekends… shopping, cleaning, laundry. I like to start the week off fresh. With Covid, I can’t say my weekends are too action packed. Since Covid, I’ve gotten to documentaries, so you’ll probably find me on my couch with an adult beverage checking one of those out. Trial by Media was a great one.
Favorite food?
My forbidden favorite food that I never allow myself to eat? Mac and cheese. What you’ll find me eating more often than not? Instant pot chicken chili. Make that on a Sunday and it’ll last alllllllll week.
Favorite drink?
Tito’s and soda. I am a basic bisssssssssssssh.
How often do you get back home and what are your top priorities?
I’ve lived in a total of 14 states. I would consider home to be where my parents live and that would be Georgia. Since Covid put flying home for the holidays out of the question, I drove the 18 hours round trip to see my mom and dad for Christmas. We’re all getting older and some regrets are easily avoidable with a little effort put forth.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion
Nashville Predators, but I just LOVE hockey in general. Once we can resume going to hockey games, I’m totally buying a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey.
Minnesota Vikings
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee BucksFavorite new band over the past year?
grandson
Anything else you would like to add?
If anyone needs a 10th crewmate for Among Us, hit me up. My Steam handle is @lauraleeradio
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