10 Questions with ... Dennis 'Newman' Hughes

NAME:Dennis 'Newman' Hughes TITLE:Middays / PD Clear Channel HD2 'New Country' / Assistant to the VP of Country Programming / 'In Studio' - Syndicated Host STATION:WSIX MARKET:Nashville, TN COMPANY:Clear Channel BORN:Waynesboro, VA RAISED:Waynesboro, VA

Please outline your radio career so far:

OM/PD WAYZ/Hagerstown, MD; PD WKCY/Harrisonburg, VA; as well as stops along the way at: WXLK/Roanoke, VA, WRVQ/Richmond, VA, WWWV/Charlottesville, VA, WWYZ/Frederick, MD to name a few.

1) What got you interested in radio, and what was your first radio job?

2) If you were just starting out in broadcasting, knowing now what you didn't know then, would you still do it?

Well - since I have seen what the greeter gig at Wal-Mart is like first hand - absolutely!!! I can't imagine NOT doing this!!! It is a blessing everyday to have this be my "job"!!!

3) You do middays for WSIX, assist the VP of Country Programming, AND host your own syndicated show. Is there anything you DON'T do? How do you do it all?

In today's environment - it's not a matter of what you "don't" do - but more about what all "can" you do - You gotta be able to wear as many hats as you can while finding the balance to get it all done - and done well!!! Speaking of which - I can also throw in a little voice tracking for WTNT in Tallahassee (there's your shout out Woody!!!) as well as programming the Clear Channel "HD2 New Country" channel!!!

4) How did your new show come about, and what would you like to see it develop into?

It was really just a concept that came about after we tested it on Brooks & Dunn one day here - where they took over for an hour. The thought of having the artists be the "jocks" was something that wasn't being done and to be able to get that "different side" of them was something we thought was cool - as opposed to them answering the same questions over and over again for the millionth time. It's all about them and what they want to talk about. As far as what we want to see it develop into - at this point being able to grow the affiliate list (baby steps - gotta think baby steps).

5) What are some of your goals you'd like to accomplish this year?

Getting the show off the ground and really rolling, continuing to evolve on air and learn as much as I can everyday and keep reaching for the stars.

6) If you could change one thing about the current state of radio, what would you change?

That's easy - Being able to tackle every day with a full staff. A little less hat wearing and more opportunities to free up the time needed to touch more people by being out pressing the flesh like we used to do and make impressions one person at a time.

7) In today's world of multi-tasking and wearing many hats, how do you find time to show prep and what sources do you use?

Life is 24/7show prep - so it's not hard to find time at all - You can't forget that the things that happen to us happen to everyone - it's up to us to convey it!

I spend the day online in the studio starting with OUR OWN WEBSITE and every artist website, as well as sites like perezhilton.com, tmz.com, etc. Of course using the various prep sheets is great - But everyone has immediate access to them. I'm constantly looking to find the things that aren't necessarily on the beaten path to share.

8) WSIX is broadcast on XM Channel 161. While you guys want be "local," how does being on XM affect your station programming? What do you do to try to stay inside your listeners' heads, wherever they are?

We are totally dedicated to being local. XM doesn't have any bearing whatsoever on our programming. We are solely committed to the lifestyle in Music City - as a bonus - anyone who listens on XM gets the true experience of having a piece of Nashville in their lives. There's rarely a day that goes by that someone doesn't call who used to live here and loves being reminded of the things they miss about being here - and they can get their fix thanks to XM.

9) As we all know, Nashville is the place to be when it comes to Country music. What is the biggest advantage and disadvantage (if any) of being at the center of the Country universe?

Having the opportunity to get to hear the music first, and be around the people that make the music and becoming friends with them. The only disadvantage (if you wanna call it that) is the pressure of being under the microscope all the time.

10) If you were to leave radio today and choose another occupation, what do you think you'd like to do?

I would love to go on the road either as a road manager for an artist or playing drums, maybe a job in NASCAR, say as a driver's day-to-day person - or perhaps something in the Nashville Predators organization.

1) If you could trade places with anyone in the world, who would it be? (It doesn't necessarily have to be someone in the industry.)

I have never really thought about it - but, I'm pretty sure you can rule out Britney Spears though. I'd have to think that being Derek Jeter or Dale Jr. for a while wouldn't be all that bad!!!

2) You have just won the lottery. What is the first thing you do?

I don't know - but if you ask my wife - I'm pretty sure she will devise a master plan to spend it all rather quickly.

3) What are your favorite foods?

Chinese/Italian/Mexican

4) What CDs are you currently obsessing over?

I don't know that I am "obsessing" over anything at the moment. I honestly don't know how I survived before having an iPod and being able to hit "shuffle" and download music to create my own playlist!