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10 Questions with ... Kevin Callahan
April 18, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Pamal has a strong belief in local radio and a growing plan for developing talent and connecting with the local communities in our market.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Current: (The longest title I have ever had) Corporate Director Of Operations and Programming
Prior: RVPP Country, San Diego Operations Manager, Brand specialist Audacy San Diego
Prior: RVPP Pamal working with many of the same stations I do today
Prior: a complete radio tour that includes crossing the country, multiple formats, multiple air shifts and multiple programming duties.
1. Why did you decide to leave your post at Audacy/San Diego as Western Region VP/Programming at the end of 2022 to return home to Pamal Broadcasting/Albany as Corporate Dir./Operations And Programming?
The #1 reason is family. Without making the story long my mom had a fall last year. She's fine but I didn't want to be 3 time zones away anymore. My family supported me on the move so here we are. The second reason is flying Southwest from coast to coast is equal to waterboarding, I think and is a hell of a commute.
2. Tell us about how this opportunity came about and your new position with Pamal?
I called our company COO and mentioned I was moving home, and we started the conversation. Pamal has a strong belief in local radio and a growing plan for developing talent and connecting with the local communities in our market. Because of that, they created my new position based on our goals and belief being in alignment. I also have a bit of a special place for the company. WFLY is in our Albany cluster and that is the station where I had my first on air position when I was 19.
3. What is a typical workday like for you?
Right now, the workday is mostly assessment of our 20 brands. We're going format by format and evaluating music, talent, digital presence, station-ality, community involvement and brand efficacy. I'm also the interim brand manager for our Country brand 100.9/107.1 The Cat in our Albany cluster although I hope to have a new Brand Manager announced very soon. Once we go through initial assessments, we will SWOT each brand and begin to tackle the necessary element fortifying strengths and reducing weaknesses.
4. For those that don't know Pamal Broadcasting, give us the 411 on the company.
Pamal is a family-owned business that started in the 80's in Albany with WFLY and WPTR. We have 4 markets, 20 Brands and a focus on our local community. We're one of a few companies hiring and growing talent. Just to put it in as many places as possible we have current programming and sales openings
5. Let's talk about your Alt brand in Albany, ALT 104.9 – Albany's New Alternative. Give us the elevator pitch on the station.
Alt 104.9 owns its own space in the market. Heritage EQX (a great group of people) have their space and Alt has its own too. There aren't too many markets left with 2 Alternative stations, so the format is well represented here. Alt appeals not only to Alt fans but more mainstream listeners that might not be into today's Top 40 music, making it the more mainstream Alternative choice in the area.
6. How do you collaborate with ALT 104.9 PD Ally Reid?
It usually consists of me saying "hey, have you heard _______" and Ally either humors me or rolls her eyes. On a higher level we talk about how to elevate the product using the resources we have. Ally has such passion for the music and the format I mostly just have fun watching her work on her labor of love.
7. You have programmed every format. What's your take on the Alternative format in 2023?
There are music cycles that ebb and flow. Current based formats including Alternative are in the doldrums, but I believe we're more than halfway through that. That said, audiences still have an appetite for new music, so a PD or MD really needs to be smart about picking the right stuff. The format has enough heritage that it's ok to lean into gold a bit too if that works for your audience.
8. What makes ALT 104.9 unique?
Honestly, it really is the passion that you see from the team that makes the station happen. Everyone wears multiple hats, but Alt is the labor of love. You don't see that at all stations anymore. The entire team wears multiple hats, and their passion is what drives the station.
9. What is your favorite part of your job?
I work out of the Albany cluster 10 minutes from my mom, because this is my third time here in my career, I get to work with some great old friends and outstanding talent. There are people here from my previous stops and some talented new people as well. The teams you work with are everything. Short answer here is "working with brand teams in all the markets." We have veterans and newer talent and programmers. It's fun to watch the collaboration.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
Wow, what surprises people in 2023 is an interesting topic. I guess it could be musical tastes. As a kid I grew up with more cows as neighbors than people. With my background people assume I may just like Country, but I have a high passion Classic Rock, Alternative and (my guilty pleasure) Triple A. Also, I consider myself a Fried Chicken snob.
Bonus Questions
Tell us the small town where you grew up in upstate New York. Are there still no stop lights?
My hometown is the one that is most top of mind. Hoosick Falls, NY. It does have a blinking yellow light, but this is a town that still does a parade for about every holiday, summer band concerts and is probably most famous for a very large company allegedly poisoning the water.
What do you miss most about San Diego?
In no particular order: The weather, my west coast Audacy team (some of the most talented in the industry and all good humans), Grand Ole BBQ, swimming in January, Street Car Merchants Chicken Bar, Hodads, sunsets, my kid that is finishing college at Cal State, off road trails in the desert, Blue Water Grill, Dave's Hot Chicken (there's one in Albany and another coming to Amsterdam so I'm very excited)
What are weekends like for you?
After setting up the place we just moved into, it would have to be sitting by the fire with wifey sipping some wine or bourbon and shooting the bull. Now that spring is here, we'll do some of that fire and sipping at the cottage we have on a lake near the VT border. Outdoors or puttering in the garage always has a place on the weekend too.
What are your favorite restaurants in Albany?
Admittedly, I need to explore more. Ripe Tomato in Malta & Druthers Brewery (a couple locations but prefer Saratoga) - Mac and Cheese that would blow your mind. Bound By Fate Brewing & Amigos Cantina (Schuylerville)
Favorite food?
Fried Chicken & Mac n Cheese
Favorite drink?
Maple Old fashioned, About any milk shake from Stewart's (local C Store chain), local beers.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
(Haters about to have a field day)
New England Patriots
Boston Red Sox
Dallas Cowboy's (Wifey's team)
And I choose the XFL over any basketball, Golf or NASCARYou have a pretty eclectic music palate. Who are some of your current faves?
Over the last few months, I've had a playlist that has:
Paul Cauthen
Bailey Zimmerman
Nicki Minaj
Morgan Wallen
Young Gravy
Cody Johnson
Lone Bellow
White Reaper
The Heavy Heavy
Portugal. The Man
SZA
Jax
Beach Weather
Rosa Linn
Just to name a few…Anything else you would like to add?
I'm looking forward to the summer! More outdoors.
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