10 Questions with ... Casey Krukowski

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

WCER /Canton OH weekends; WDVE/WXDX/Pittsburgh Production Intern; WONE/Akron Production Director; WDYL/Richmond APD/middays; and WRXL.

1. What's the first thing you do when you get to the station?

Get a cup of coffee and turn on Elliot in the Morning.

2. What is the most challenging part of the job?

Putting on Chili Cook-Off each year. We don't use an outside promoter. We handle everything in-house from the booking of bands to back-stage riders and catering to port a johns, merch, and vendors. It's a gigantic task. Oh and we put on a chili competition too. When I tell people we do it all in-house without a promoter they are floored. This year we had over 15,000 people rock out to Chevelle, Papa Roach, Skillet, Crash Kings, and Evans Blue. As difficult and time consuming as it is to produce, it's truly rewarding when you see 15,000 freaks having the times of their lives.

3. How has The X changed since your direct competitor recently flipped from Alternative?

Not at all really. We've always focused on what the X listener wants, not necessarily what the competition was doing.

4. Since The X leans in a more Active Rock direction, what are the most important indicators for you when evaluating the plethora of alternative songs that arrive each week?

Research and requests

5. What daypart has shown the most growth over the past year?

Afternoons. Crash has done a great job focusing his content on what the audience wants to hear in the confines of a music intensive show. We carry Elliot in the Morning from DC101 and the show has kicked ass here since day one and continues to grow. In fact, we've seen growth in every daypart over the past year.

6. What makes the station unique and stand out from the competition?

We're an alternative/active rock hybrid not straying too far in either direction. Plus we're in the South so more of the blue collar rock stuff works here rather than the indie/alt rock sound.

7. What has been your biggest accomplishment at the station?

Being employed at The X for almost 10 years.

8. What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?

There are too many to mention. I like stations that aren't afraid to buck every musical trend that comes along and has personalities that are not only engaging but smart.

9. What stands out the most from your first job in radio?

Changing the reel to reels to keeping the automation going through the weekend.

10. How do you keep your passion for the Pittsburgh Pirates after so many losing seasons?

I lost the passion for the Pirates a long time ago. Thank God for the Steelers and the Pens!

When you're away from work, what are you music listening habits to the radio, iPod, online, etc.?

The iheartradio app is awesome! I plug my headphones or speakers into my Droid and listen to the hundreds of stations on iheartradio at home and in the car. I'm bored with my iPod and I have a gazillion songs on it. The spontaneity of radio, the personalities and the science and art of programming the right mix of music makes radio much more interesting to me than an iPod.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Telemarketing/record store