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10 Questions with ... Alex Waters
October 18, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Content is key. That's the one thing that makes radio better than streaming, and the fact that Spotify tried to launch a ‘morning show’ with The Get Up proves that they know it, too. That's why every day on both Waters After Hours and The Gluten-Free Radio Show, I strive to create an experience that's irreplaceable, built on real content. It's clear now that radio needs more young people (my age-ish) who aren't afraid to just ‘do something’ in between songs. Once that becomes the norm and not the exception, we'll start to find our industry doing a lot better off than most people think!
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I got into radio accidentally at Emerson College in Boston, and quickly became Emerson's first full-time student host. After doing PM Drive at Triple-A 88.9 WERS-FM Boston, I graduated and moved to Chattanooga, TN for a winning stint on live nights with Hits 96 (WDOD-FM). Right before the pandemic, I moved to Virginia Beach to join Hot 100 (WVHT-FM). Early 2022, I created The Gluten-Free Radio Show, which launched with a #1 P25-54 at WDOD - and just recently, the kind folks at X103.9 (KRXP-FM) in Colorado Springs added me to the team for live nights out West.
Email Alex
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
The first radio station I loved was the now-defunct Active Rock juggernaut Project 9-6-1 in Atlanta, when I was a teen. At Emerson College in Boston, I meant to audition to be a news journalist and walked into the wrong room, where they were auditioning student DJs for WERS-FM. I went for it anyway, and it wasn't long before I realized that I could have a lot more fun in the studio than the newsroom.
2. Why did you want to join the team at KRXP (X1039)/Colorado Springs?
Who wouldn't? The team that Shawn Lucero has assembled here is incredible - we're fully-staffed and full of incredible talent. Everyone here is focused on the mission, creative, and uniquely great on the air. They've welcomed me with open arms, and I'm already getting to know the area too. Feels like home!
3. How would you describe your on-air style for Waters After Hours from 7-midnight?
Unhinged, and un-miss-able. At any given moment, I could be roasting a celebrity, joking around with callers, dishing out terrible advice, or simply telling the story behind a song. And it's all delivered loud 'n' proud!
4. Give the 411 on your brand new weeknight features Test The Waters and Nineties at 9.
Test the Waters is our new-music segment: I play a song at 7:20pm MST, and then leave it up to our passionate and opinionated listener base to decide if it should ever play again! One lucky caller usually wins a prize for their feedback, and we'll have the artists themselves on the show every now and then to make their case.
Nineties @ 9 is a trip down memory lane, featuring everything that made the 90s great. We play the music, obviously, and couple that with trivia, sounds, and stories that make the 90s still relevant today. It's a blast!
5. What is your show prep routine?
It's cheesy to say this, but my life is my show prep. If I go somewhere cool, meet someone awesome, or make a fool of myself in public, that all goes into the show. An hour before I go on-air, I sit down and scour the web (read: Twitter) for the stuff people are talking about, and then start creating content based on what's important to our listeners. But you know what they say about the best-laid plans... Once 7pm hits, anything could happen.
6. What do you love most about being on-air?
The connections that we make with people. Here's something that warms my heart, actually: I usually call myself either "Alex Waters" or just "Waters" on the show, and yet some callers have started calling me just "Alex"... so we're on a first-name basis with each other! You can't fake that kind of connection, and it never fails to make me happy that I can be a friend to people that I've never met before.
7. Rumor has it you have a Twitter addiction. How are you using social media to augment what you're doing on-air?
Can confirm. I like to use Twitter as an "outline" for the show, telling people what they can catch on any given night. On Instagram, I share clips from my exclusive artist interviews (I've reached 68,000 accounts in the past 30 days by doing that!). Off the air, I also use my platforms to educate fandoms about how certain aspects of the radio business actually work. There's a lot of misinformation, but I've found that "stans" are genuinely interested in what we do, and I think that's good for radio. We've just gotta be respectful to them, and they'll be respectful to us!
8. Who is your favorite on-air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
I'm a sucker for Roman Kemp, Sonny Jay, and Sian Welby of Capital Breakfast in the UK. They're on-trend, high energy, and a great example of how to build a complete show. I routinely take notes when I'm listening to those three!
9. Tell us about The Gluten-Free Radio Show.
We're a winning formula for CHR and Hot AC stations that's content-focused, creative, and in-demo - hosted by myself and my good friend Calista Liew, five nights a week.
I run almost the whole operation, so if you'll indulge me, here's the sales pitch... The Gluten-Free Radio Show wins because we're what the modern radio listener wants: content. We borrow the techniques from YouTubers, TikTokers, and other "influencers" that are stealing radio's audience, and bring them back home in a package that's always fresh and entertaining. At our debut station (Hits 96 WDOD Chattanooga), we're currently sitting in the Top 3 for every CHR demo, including P25-54.
The GFRS is my baby, and I'm very excited to share it with the world. If you happen to be looking for a high-quality, customizable, and personality-driven night show (or know someone who is), let's connect: WatersOnAir@outlook.com.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Working. "Hi, my name is Alex... and, well, I'm... a... a... workaholic." Feels better now that I said it.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Intense. It's usually a mix of housework, errands, preparing for next week, chasing those Victory Royales in Fortnite, and eating cookies if I'm lucky. As Bill Belichick once said, "No Days Off."
What are your favorite places to eat in the Springs?
My house, honestly. I make the best stir-fry dinners I've ever had. If you want the recipe, just holler.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Based on the number of flatbill hats I own with their logo on it, the Boston Red Sox are #1. Big love to the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, and even ATL United... as well as the New England Patriots and/or whichever teams Tom Brady chooses to play on for the next 20 years or so.
First record ever purchased?
I had a Zune HD (remember those?) as a kid, and I remember being so proud when I had saved up the $12 necessary to download Metallica's legendary Black Album.
First concert?
Believe it or not, it was Paul Revere & The Raiders.
Favorite band of all-time?
Either Three Days Grace (Adam Gontier era only, sorry) or Chevelle.
Favorite new band over the past year?
New to me? I've spent a lot of my time this year enjoying songs by Diplo, Joel Corry, David Guetta, Sofi Tukker, and Becky Hill. When I'm not dancing, I've also recently re-discovered some cool alternative artists like Upsahl and Dreamers.
Anything else you would like to add?
Content is key. I know I say it a lot, but that's the one thing that makes radio better than streaming, and the fact that Spotify tried to launch a "morning show" with The Get Up proves that they know it, too. That's why every day on both Waters After Hours and The Gluten-Free Radio Show, I strive to create an experience that's irreplaceable, built on real content. It's clear now that radio needs more young people (my age-ish) who aren't afraid to just *do something* in between songs. Once that becomes the norm and not the exception, we'll start to find our industry doing a lot better off than most people think!
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