10 Questions with ... Polychronopolis

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

1996 -- KEGE/Minneapolis, intern, and then weekend/swing jock. 1997-- KZNZ/Minneapolis, overnight/swing jock. April 1998 -- Radio One Networks/Vail, CO, overnights/middays/mornings/specialty host. October 1999 -- KAZR/Des Moines, overnights/swing. August 2000 -- KXXR/Minneapolis, weekends/overnights/swing. 2002-present -- Waitt Radio Networks (now Dial Global Local) -- MD/afternoons/imaging/specialty.

1. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

I have to admit I started as a Top 40 kid. KDWD and WLOL, but that quickly transitioned into 93.7 The Edge and 93X in my high school years and beyond in Minneapolis.

2. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

I'm into photography. Learning slowly but surely. Just bought my first REAL camera a couple months ago. Got some pics done up at the camera store I bought my camera at and got some compliments, which for a rookie felt pretty good coming from Photo pros.

3. What do you like best about living in Omaha?

It's a smallish city. I used to think I wanted the huge city, but I don't think that's me. We still have culture. We have a music scene, art, sports, etc., and it's much easier to get around and it's cheaper.

4. What has been the biggest change from Waitt Radio Networks to Dial Global?

We have a much bigger pool to pull from. Dial Global is HUGE and they've been great. It's nice to have the resources to pull from that we have now.

5. What resources do you now have with Dial Global?

We have TM Century at our disposal. We have more experienced brains that have been around the industry for guidance and assistance. We have an entire programming dept in Seattle that has taken over some of our network programming. We get some research insight from them and etc. Dial Global is apart of Triton Media, which (to my knowledge) is the largest company in the world for network radio. We have buildings in Seattle, LA, Denver, Omaha, and New York. There are lots of talented people to pool from for sure.

6. How do you describe the station?

We don't focus on one market, so it's kind of down the middle with currents as far as sound goes, but we definitely lean more to the alt side with heavy focus on our '90s gold. I believe that's still the strongest music our format has to offer.

7. What is your goal when searching for new music to add to the network?

The main thing we consider is do we believe in the song and artist. We don't have market research. We aren't "monitored" (as of now). So, we just go with the old "if it's good, play it" mentality. Certainly we are playing most of the Mediabase Top 30 though.

8. What would surprise people most about the network?

How local it sounds. That's always been what separates us from the others. We specialize in sounding local. It means a lot more breaks per hour, but I believe we really do pull it off and pull it off well.

9. What stations do you like to keep track of?

I definitely keep an eye on KROQ. I don't know how you can't.

10. Tell us about your other full-time radio job and your specialty show?

Well, thanks for asking about that as it, too, is a pretty big part of my day. I do afternoons for Modern AC KQKQ here in Omaha. I'm really really proud of our station. The numbers are consistently great (knock of the console). We're truly a unique station. Sure we play Kelly Clarkson, The Fray, Pink and etc, but we also play Airborne Toxic Event, Muse, Kings Of Leon, etc. NRG Media is the parent company, which is nice because there isn't that regional corporate programming. We decide in our building what's best for our listeners in Omaha and the PD Nevin Dane does an excellent job of that.

How did you get the name Polychronopolis?

Hahaha. When I started at KEGE in Minneapolis I was doing my little weekend thing and after listening to some airchecks of myself I QUICKLY realized that Paul just didn't have any flash and flare. I was a HUGE Adam Sandler fan, still am but not like back then. There's a song on his "What The Hell Happened To Me" album called "Steve Polychronopolous". I changed the spelling a bit and it stuck. Only downside to it is everyone calls me "Poly" now. Don't like that as much. Maybe if I was Italian and ran with a mob!

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Auto Sales (reluctantly, a good learning experience)

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Beach Boys - Endless Summer

FIRST CONCERT:

Beach Boys, Minnesota State Fair.

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

Pearl Jam