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10 Questions with ... Greg Roche
April 21, 2009
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NAME:Greg RocheTITLE:MD/PM driveSTATION:WWDCMARKET:Washington, DCCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:October 3rdRAISED:Philadelphia
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
1998-1999 WCZT/WWZK/Cape May, NJ; 1999-2001 WJSE/Atlantic City, NJ; and 2001-Present DC101.
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Selling used cars in the beautiful Kensington section of Philadelphia
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
Let's do first CD instead since I never bought a record and can't remember what my first cassette was. That would be 10,000 Maniacs, "Our Time in Eden", Pearl Jam, "Ten", U2, "Achtung Baby". It was a triple purchase with Christmas money.
FIRST CONCERT:
Samantha Fox at Six Flags/Great Adventure. I've carried that hidden shame around with me for 20 years. Now it's out there. I feel liberated.
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
Pearl Jam. All eras. They are aging like a fine wine.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I always listened to the radio but I was never the guy who talked up songs in his bedroom as a kid. Radio was always that pie in the sky job that didn't seem obtainable. Yet, here I am.
2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
WCAU-FM was "THE STATION" for me as kid. Terry Young is still the guy I think of when the term "disc jockey" is brought up. I was a sophomore in high school when Stern was first syndicated to Philly. Needless to say, my mind was blown. I try to combine the old school chops of the Motormouth with the realness of Stern in my presentation. Wow, that came off as pretentious.
3. What are you most passionate about?
I love coming to work every day so I'd have to say I'm most passionate about the radio station. I love interacting with listeners. I love listening to music. I love talking radio. I love free stuff. I couldn't do those things if I didn't work here so there's your answer.
4. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
To the listeners: that I'm half black. I love screwing with the listeners when they see me and say "You're Roche? You're not at all what I pictured". When I say, "I know, I'm black" it leads to the hemming and hawing about how that's not what they meant. Hilarity ensues.
To people that know me: the most surprising thing about me is my love of history. I'm in the middle of a history of the U.S.A. book reading adventure. Just finished the Jacksonian era and am about ready to move on to the 1850s. See? You're surprised and bored.
5. What do you like best about your job? Least?
Hands down the best part of my job is getting to work with the staff here. Elliot Segal is the best morning show host period. Trying to match his high standard for the last eight years is the sole reason I've survived in this business. Our midday personality, Whitney, is the rare female jock who is hot, cool, fun, and has a sense of humor. We do a daily podcast (the Off Air Podcast with Roche and Whitney...now available on iTunes!) that is the highlight of my day. Our APD/Promotions Director, Dave Hennessy, is the most underrated and most vital cog in our equation. He's always looking for ways to create or re-invent but also handles the day to day operations that people like myself are too creative (i.e.; lazy) to do. As soon as he learns Selector, he'll be the next great PD in this business.
Least? It's hard to say. I know I work for the "monster that destroyed radio" but it doesn't feel that way. Our PD, Dave Wellington, does an excellent job of filtering that stuff out so we can go do good radio. Thea Mitchem, our OM, has an open door policy and has been tremendous in helping us excel in PPM and our Market Manager, Hartley Atkins, is a huge champion of the radio station. God, I sound like I'm ass kissing. I'll say the least part is being spread so thin. I like having my hands in all aspects of the station but sometimes I wish I could just focus on my show. But it ain't 1997 anymore so what can ya do.
6. What would surprise people most about DC101?
Externally? Probably how involved Elliot is in our station sound. Most successful morning show hosts could give a crap about the rest of the day. but Elliot has a genuine passion for DC101. He regularly sits in on promotion and programming meetings and if he feels a promotion would be better for the station if it was executed in another daypart, he'll say it. That really gives a flow to the station that you don't often get when you have a morning show that's syndicated. The synergy from AM to middays to PM to nights really comes through to the listener.
Internally, we continue to be amazed at the impact the radio station has. The passion that our listeners have for DC101 is incredible. Thank God for PPM because the rest of the market (and the country) are seeing what we've always known: This station is a monster. I think the staff has always known that but the diaries never really confirmed it.
7. How would you describe your afternoon show?
It's hard to describe without using clichéd terms like "interactive," "like overhearing a conversation at a bar", or "high energy". It's those things for sure but I think the thing I try to do most of all is be real. If I don't like a song, I'll say it. If I make a mistake, I'll call myself on it. If we play a song a lot, I'll make a joke about it. I don't try to be too cool for the room and I don't take myself (or the station) too seriously. To me, it's all about acknowledging what's obvious. I work at a corporate radio station. By acknowledging that, I feel I gain honesty points with the listener. They have to answer to a boss, just like I do. I don't want to be a "superstar personality" to the listener. I want to have that kinship of "we're fighting the man together" with them.
8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
That's a tough question since I've never had a cup of coffee in my life. That's the go to answer to this question! I'll go with checking my email. I'm the guy that goes on vacation and sneaks off of the beach three times during the day to check email.
9. What kind of music do you listen to when you are away from the station?
I'm a mainstream rock guy so musically, DC101 is my wheelhouse. I do listen to copious amounts of Pearl Jam in my free time (especially the more recent stuff). Other artists I enjoy are Our Lady Peace, Juliana Hatfield, Chevelle, and, The Streets.
10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
Well, I went to college to be a teacher so probably that. But I did flunk out so I'd imagine that would be a hindrance. Let's just say I'm EXTREMELY lucky to be in radio and leave it at that.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
You mean OTHER than reading books about American history? I'm a soccer fanatic (DC United and Ajax Amsterdam are my clubs) and now that the Phils are World Champs, I'm renewing my childhood love of baseball. I'm also getting into grilling. It's a kick to make something from scratch and have people actually enjoy it.
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