-
10 Questions with ... Chris Scimone (a.k.a. Chris Simmons)
May 9, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Every Radio Felician music hour features a representative blend encompassing four decades of great alternative rock. The format has such a rich, multi-faceted heritage, and we're not afraid to showcase that along with today's current alternative sounds. We play established hits, we take chances on new music, and we make our own hits. We call our formula 'Alternative Rock … Done Right
-
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
On-Air Talent WLIR/Long Island; WXXP(Party 105.3)/Long Island; WBZO (103.1 Max-FM; B103)/Long Island; WKJY (KJOY 98.3)/Long Island; WRHU Hofstra University/Hempstead, NY); Program Director of Radio Felician - The Falcon/Rutherford, NJ.
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
My love for radio started when I was 5 years old. One of my first recollections of commercial radio was during a car trip with my parents in the summer of '83 listening to Z100 during its launch phase. I must've heard The Police "Every
Breath You Take" a dozen times during that trip. Growing up in the shadow of the world's largest radio market, I spent hours listening to various NYC FM stations. I also watched a ton of MTV in the late 80's which started featuring more alternative titles in regular rotation that piqued my interest. Just before high school, I discovered 92.7 on the dial (WDRE at that time), and realized there's an entire FM station devoted to alternative rock right here on Long Island. I was immediately hooked and knew I wanted to be a part of it. I went to meet WLIR's Andre Ferro at a local car dealership appearance in my town, landed a college internship with the station (thanks Matt Wolfe), and became part of the LIR air staff.
2. What were your biggest takeaways working at the legendary WLIR?
I was literally living a dream and playing the music I loved on my favorite radio station. WLIR had some of the most passionate listeners ever. They lived and breathed the music and the lifestyle. I did every shift in every daypart at least once. I got to work with the legendary Malibu Sue (who I used to badger with requests as a listener), Larry The Duck, Mighty Maxx, and other awesome people. I learned essential on-air skills and formatics. There was no automation in the studio. All music and station sweepers were on CDs and carts. Board tightness and correctness was imperative, so you had to bring your "A-Game" every time. Big thanks to Andre Ferro and Jon Daniels for giving me what I consider the opportunity of a lifetime to crack the mic on what really was the coolest radio station to listen to and work for.
3. What led you to become PD of Radio Felician University Of New Jersey in 2018?
I knew I always wanted to program an alternative rock station and envisioned curating a format where heritage artists who shaped the framework of alternative over the years could coexist with today's artists and the current landscape of the format. In the summer of 2018, Dave Plotkin, Director of Creative Services and Production for 1010 WINS New York, was in charge of building the station's amazing state-of-the-art studios. Dave and I go way back to our college radio days at Hofstra University's WRHU. He offered me the opportunity to program Radio Felician. The station needed a format, and we decided it was going to be alternative.
4. Radio Felician University is a full-on student-run Alternative station broadcasting 24/7 from Rutherford, NJ. Tell us about the station and how you work with Station Manager Ed Robinson?
Radio Felician - and its music - has a certain energy and a fun vibe. As a college radio station, our mission is to offer students the opportunity to learn the tools of the trade in a setting they can easily adapt to and identify with. I've known Ed
Robinson for over 20 years going back to my days at WLIR. Ed is also the station's primary on-air jock and winner of the 2023 Radio's Got Talent competition for Alternative personality. It's a pleasure working together with someone who really "gets it." Ed does a stellar job cultivating an enthusiastic team of student DJs each with their own unique style and on-air persona. Student participation and interest in the station continues to grow. Our newest program, spearheaded by Ed, is a partnership with the university's Athletics Department called Protecting The Nest - a weekly 15 minute segment featuring student athletes talking to other student athletes. Ed also produces the station's lineup of podcasts which are available on-demand 24/7 at radiofelician.com.
5. Why is the station branded Radio Felician and tell us about the station's voice and imaging.
Actually, the station is positioned on-air as Radio Felician - The Falcon (the university's mascot is a golden falcon). Alli Mitchell-Merlino, Creative Services Director - WNEW New York, voices and produces the station's imaging elements. Despite being a rock-based format, we wanted imaging that captures the essence of the fast-paced Top 40/CHR presentation style, and Alli's production does just that.
6. How would you describe a typical hour of music on Radio Felician and what makes the station stand out from all other Alternative radio stations?
Every Radio Felician music hour features a representative blend encompassing four decades of great alternative rock. The format has such a rich, multi-faceted heritage, and we're not afraid to showcase that along with today's current alternative sounds. We play established hits, we take chances on new music, and we make our own hits. We call our formula "Alternative Rock … Done Right." A typical hour might include Tame Impala, Weezer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The White Stripes, Cage The Elephant, and a couple of throwbacks from The Smiths, New Order, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cure, and even A Flock Of Seagulls. We pay close attention to and value listener feedback. Recent songs by Metric, Milky Chance, Muse, and Foals - which have not been retained by terrestrial alternative stations - have really resonated with our audience and remain on our playlist.
7. Talk about the station's Flashback Saturday Nights
Flashback Saturday Night is our most popular station feature. It's 8 hours of 80's New Wave & 90's Modern Rock Non-Stop — a classic alternative party every Saturday night 6p-2a. Eastern. We've brought the "oh wow" factor back to radio. The playlist is deep and expansive, and we like it that way. We even invited veteran alt rock DJ Scott Lowe…and his record collection…in as a guest host for an all vinyl edition to make good use of the two turntables in studio. Flashback Saturday Night is appointment radio for our listeners who chime in regularly with their own retro requests.
8. How are you marketing and growing the station's audience?
When the station first launched, we had only one online platform - Mixlr. Within the last year, Radio Felician has expanded to multiple platforms. Listeners can now find us on Apple Car Play, Alexa devices, Tune-In, the Audacy app, iHeartRadio, and our own Radio Felician app. These platforms have been essential in growing our core audience. Our most recent listener data shows the average TSL across these platforms is 3 hours, and we're proud of that. Radio Felician is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and we are getting ready to unveil an exciting update to the Radio Felician app which will take the interactive listener experience to the next level. Stay tuned!
9. What sort of passion are you seeing from students who want to explore future opportunities in radio?
Student participation is a relatively new endeavor for the station this year. The current group of students is really enjoying their time at the station and continue to demonstrate their eagerness to learn. We hope the skills acquired by our students will be carried forward into real world settings be it in a traditional broadcast environment or in the realm of podcasting and content creation.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
I have a collection of over 3,000 CDs…and growing…spanning various music genres.
Bonus Questions
Let's learn a little more about you.
In addition to doing part-time on-air work for various Long Island commercial radio stations over the last 20 years, I've worked full-time in Higher Ed since 2001.
What are weekends like for you?
Relaxation, catching up on sleep and "life stuff", watching baseball during the spring and summer months, sampling the latest new music, and an occasional visit to some of the great independent record shops Long Island has to offer.
What are your favorite places to eat in the area?
Paisano's in Rutherford, NJ. The maple-glazed pork chop is sensational.
Favorite food?
Anything pasta
Favorite drink?
It's a tie. Water (bottled) and Coffee (Dunkin')
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Let's see…Mets, Mets, and Mets
First record ever purchased?
If my memory serves me correctly, the 45 for Tears For Fears "Everybody Wants To Rule The World."
First concert?
The Bangles at Jones Beach in 1989…and it rained!
Favorite band of all-time?
Depeche Mode - still maintaining their relevance and sustainability after over 40 years with their 2023 top ten alternative single "Ghosts Again." A truly remarkable feat!
Favorite new band over the past year?
Inhaler (Bono's son's band)
Anything else you would like to add?
Thanks to Dave Plotkin for presenting me with this incredible opportunity to bring our version of alternative radio to our loyal audience and for his continued support during the last 20+ years.
-
-