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10 Questions with ... Paul Kelly
March 3, 2009
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NAME:Paul KellyTITLE:Partner/OMSTATION:WJSE, WMGM, WTKU, WOND-A, WTAA-AMARKET:Atlantic City-Cape MayCOMPANY:Atlantic BroadcastingBORN:Red Bank, NJRAISED:Eatontown, NJ
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started as intern at WAYV in 1994, worked up to weekends, nights, afternoons, MD, APD to PD from 1999- May 2008. In June 2008, I became partner in Atlantic Broadcasting of Linwwood, LLC and purchased WJSE, WMGM, WTKU, WOND-A, and WTAA-A from Access.1 Communications. Now handling day-to-day Operations Manager duties for all five properties.
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Working at a TCBY on the boardwalk in Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ.
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
J Geils Band "Freeze Frame." I was 8 years old. I accidentally left it too close to the heating vent in my bedroom and it got warped, so it was actually the first AND second album I ever bought.
FIRST CONCERT:
Hootie & The Blowfish in 1994. Amazingly, I had never been to a concert until I began working in radio.
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
The Beatles
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I think I became interested in music by listening to my parents Beatles and Paul Simon albums as a kid -- but my earliest radio memories involve waking up early on Sunday mornings to hear AT40 with Casey Kasem before church and then rushing out of church to go sit in the car to find out what #1 was.
2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
Z100 in New York. I'm proud to say that I am part of the first generation of kids who ever grew up listening to America's best CHR.
3. What has been the biggest change at WJSE under the new ownership?
The biggest change would have to be switching the format from Active to Alternative. That being said, we've made LOTS of changes. New station name, new station voice, new morning show, new website, and new station vehicles for starters.
4. Why did the station switch back to Alternative from Active Rock?
Primarily because the station had suffered through six consecutive down books before we got here -- this is pretty hard to do, even if you try. 'JSE was sharing a ton of music with Classic Rock sister station, 103.7 The Shark (WMGM). When the station was at its peak 7 or 8 years ago - it was a stand-alone Alternative station. So we're going back to what was successful then (like bringing back the old logo - and using the call letters as the name of the station), and obviously adding to it - like putting together an edgy, interactive morning show that is very tied in to the local community.
5. What led to the station's increase in the Fall '08 Book?
Obviously we made lots of changes - but I think a big part of the big ratings increase we had was TELLING people that we made lots of changes (for the better!). We did TV, print, and outdoor marketing campaigns that simply said, "JSE Is Good Again".
6. How would you describe the music and imaging on WJSE?
It "Rocks". That's the only positioning statement we use on the air -- "102.7 JSE Rocks". If you like 'JSE, you know how to use it. No sense in us taking up valuable airtime talking about it. We'd rather just play another song that you love. That being said, I think we have a nice balance of '90s, '00s, and current/recurrent product. The people who loved 'JSE back in the day when it was successful seem to be coming back to hear Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Jane's Addiction again -- and the younger end of the demo is coming to us for the new stuff no one else in the market will play.
7. What would an outsider find most surprising about the Atlantic City radio market?
How crowded the radio dial is. In addition to all the signals that call this market home, we can hear all the Philly stations and many of the Monmouth-Ocean stations in many parts of our metro.
8. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I am an NFL junkie. I am completely unavailable on Sundays from September through the first week of February because I'm camped out in my man cave watching all the action. My family and friends have learned to schedule events that they want me to attend around the NFL schedule. I even had my twin daughters baptized on the bye week.
9. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Good programmers can program any format. Good radio is good radio. I've found myself doing Hot AC, CHR, Urban AC, Classic Rock, Classic Hits, and now Alternative. I've come to love all of them. It's the challenge of doing it well that's so exciting. I can't wait to sink my teeth into Classical one day. Maybe not.
10. If you were to leave radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
Professional football handicapper. Or WWE Superstar.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
I love spending time with my family, but that's not exactly a hobby. I also enjoy skinny-skiing and going to bullfights on acid.
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