10 Questions with ... Mike Wheaton

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

In college back in the '80s I majored in Radio/TV/Film Communications. Just before my senior year of college I drove from Texas to California to intern at KROQ during the summer. I returned to my senior year to become GM of my college radio station (after being a deejay, MD, and PD). Upon graduation, I moved to Los Angeles and got a job at Radio & Records. Then I programmed 14 different channels for Digital Planet (a very pioneering Digital Cable Radio company). When Digital Planet went out of business, I got a brief position working for KTWV (The Wave) in L.A. as Assistant MD/Music Research. After that I got hired by Digital Music Express in Los Angeles. Digital Music Express was a cable radio company doing music for residences like Music Choice and creating music for Retailers like Muzak. I started up 40 different music stations and was a programmer for that company for over seven years. It is fun being involved in radio again in Orange County.

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I wanted to be in radio as a high school kid. I majored in Radio TV Film Communications at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. In the summer of my senior year, I interned at KROQ.

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

WHFS/Washington, DC -- a very influential progressive station.

3. How would you describe your specialty show?

Revolution Radio airs every Thursday night from 7-10pm on KOCI 101.5 fm in Newport Beach. It is also streaming live over the internet at www.kociradio.com.

It features an eclectic mix of music ranging from indie rock, alternative, electronica, '80s flashback, and new wave. I also frequently have live in-studio

musical guests performing live during the 9pm hour. In addition, I have had some live phone interviews with international bands (London and New Zealand).

4. What is your show prep routine?

I line up some live guests/bands and set up some phone-in interviews. I do some research. I select all of the songs I play by hand, but I don't figure out the order to play them in until I am live on the radio doing my broadcast.

5. How do you stay in touch with all the latest new music?

I keep my ear close to the streets, talk to bands, check out MySpace and iTunes, and look at what other Alternative stations are doing.

6. What keeps you driven and motivated to do the show each week?

A true passion for music and I like to challenge myself to produce the best new "fresh" Alternative show on a weekly basis.

7. What are you most proud of since launching your weekly Alternative show on KOCI?

Two Thanksgivings ago I read an article in the local Daily Pilot newspaper about a radio station opening up across the street from where I lived. One day I went to introduce myself and was asked to start contributing to the music programming on Dr. Barry's Traveling Medicine and Blues show. Last summer I was blessed with the opportunity to do my own radio show -- thus "Revolution Radio" was born. I would like to take a moment to thank the partners involved behind KOCI; Brent Kahlen, Brian Helvey, and Barry Jorgensen, they are all great guys and very supportive.

I have been very fortune to have some wonderful bands from both OC and LA perform live on my program. I am very impressed by the caliber of talent of these unsigned, indie bands.

8. What new bands are you most excited about?

It changes practically every week. My current favorites are Crystal Castles, We Are Scientists, MGMT, The Radio Dept., new DEVO, LCD Soundsystem, and Flying Lotus. Also, these local bands in the OC/L.A. area: The Ivy Walls, Pop Noir, Voxhaul Broadcast, The Color Turning, and San Diego's Neon Cough. Seriously, there are some many great alternative and indie rock bands and I enjoy the challenge of finding them!

9. What would surprise people most about you?

I volunteer at a hospital.

10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?

Coffee.

What are your hobbies?

Kayaking, movies, dining out, technology, and modern art.

First record ever purchased?

Roxy Music Avalon

First concert?

Two of the best concerts I've attended were The Smiths at Lisner Auditorium in D.C. and R.E.M. at Duke University in North Carolina.

Favorite band of all-time?

R.E.M. Radiohead is a close second with their creativity and originality.