10 Questions with ... Jimmy Lane

NAME:Jimmy Lane TITLE:MD/mornings STATION:WCTY MARKET:New London, CT COMPANY:Hall Communications BORN:Hartford, WI RAISED:Hayward, WI

Please outline your radio career so far:

I've been on the air for 28 years. I was PD at KYKZ/Lake Charles, KYKR/Beaumont and WYNG/Evansville, APD at WUBE/Cincinnati and now I am MD and mornings WCTY/New London, CT.

1) What/who influenced you to get into radio? Did you listen to the radio a lot growing up?

I loved radio growing up. I listened to WAXX in Eau Claire Wisconsin and they made things seem so much bigger than life. They were always interviewing the stars, promoting concerts and doing trips to Nashville. It seemed like a dream job. I really wanted to work THERE.

2) You do mornings along with programming the station. You must be one busy guy! What do you do to prepare for your morning show every day?

I recently gave up the PD part of it. I still am MD and Assistant PD. Dave Elder has taken over as PD, and he is great. He was my assistant, and thankfully he did most of the PD stuff from the start. As for show prep, I read two local papers and USA Today. Christie who does overnights gets a lot of great stuff from the internet. A lot of the stuff on the show is relating real life stories about our families and what we do in the community.

3) You and your fabulous morning co-host, Shelly, do a "Make It or Break It" song test every weekday morning. What are some of the songs that have surprised you as either 'making it' in the test and not making it as a hit, or vice versa?

We had to add Heartland's "I Loved Her First" after the incredible response on "Make it or Break It." It is also interesting that many songs by big artists will get trashed. "Suspicions" by Tim McGraw didn't even get one vote for "make it." It turns out our listeners are right most of the time.

4) I personally have never heard of New London, CT. What is something cool and/or unique about your town?

This is a great area! It is located near the ocean on Long Island Sound. It's two hours from New York City and Boston and very close to Hartford and Providence. The two largest casinos in the WORLD are here. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods are located here. We get lots of Country concerts! Mystic Pizza was filmed here in Mystic, CT.

5) What are some of your goals as a programmer for this particular station? Do you find that your audience in the northeast U.S. has different artist preferences and unique tastes?

People that listen to Country music are much more diverse. We have a 50/50 mix of white collar and blue collar. Professional people who work at Pfizer love us and so do the people who live in the country and drive pick up trucks. As a programmer and a morning show DJ you have to be aware of whom your audience is. We have to be a little more open to country songs from artists like the Eagles, Jewel and Alison Krauss. On-air you have to be a bit edgier.

6) In addition to being a morning guy and a programmer, we also hear that you are a journalist. Tell us about your weekly column in the Norwich Bulletin. How did you get this job?

The new editor of the Bulletin suggested the idea to our General Manager at a Rotary meeting. I was very eager to accept the opportunity. It is hard to come up with ideas for column every week, but the experience has been very rewarding for both parties.

7) What artists and/or singles have surprised you the most this year so far? Are there any breakout acts that you are excited about?

This is going to be a great year for Country music. Taylor Swift is a phenomenon like we haven't seen since Garth and Shania. Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, James Otto and Jewel are the new artists that are bound for superstar status. At the same time, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw continue to deliver terrific music.

8) What is your take on the industry today? It's changing everyday. Any idea where you see it heading?

I am very lucky to be working for Hall Communications. I have worked for the bigger companies and it is very stressful. When I worked in Evansville the station had three owners and three managers in my three years. My hope would be that radio gets back to the day when owner groups were small and serving the community was the most important thing. Caring about employees is the single most important issue facing the industry.

9) We hear that you are an avid poker player. What's the most money you've ever won playing poker? Do you have a lucky pair of sunglasses to shield your poker face?

Thank you for asking. I love poker as a hobby and a distraction. I guess I've won about $5000 overall (a little at a time), and I use it for fun things like vacations, laptops or gifts for my wife. Nope, no sunglasses :).

10) Who's your pick for this year's Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards?

Is it too soon to pick Taylor Swift? Then it has to be Kenny Chesney!

1) If you could have dinner with someone famous (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

I asked this question of my newsman on his first day and then I chastised him because he didn't select Jesus. I have to say Jesus.

2) Tell us what you're currently jamming to on your iPod or CD player.

I listen to a lot of Alison Krauss, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Sugarland. I just purchased Colbie Caillat, and I like her very much.

3) Seen any good movies lately?

The last movie I saw in a theater was "Walk The Line." It was great - I recommend it!

4) Any special plans for Memorial Day this year? What would be the perfect Memorial Day Weekend for you, aside from pulling a couple of air-shifts, doing several remotes and covering 2-3 concerts?

I often do a charity bike ride on Memorial Day Weekend, and the station does a backyard barbecue at a listener's house. That sounds like a good weekend to me.