10 Questions with ... Josh Brandon

NAME:Josh Brandon TITLE:PD STATION:WOWF - 102.5 WOW COUNTRY MARKET:Crossville, TN COMPANY:Peg Broadcasting BORN:Rockwood, TN RAISED:Crossville & Rockwood, TN

Please outline your radio career so far:

Comcast-BBB Communications (TV News Anchor - 1995/1996)
WOFE/WUFX - Rockwood (News Director/Morning Host/PD - 1996-1997)
Dick Broadcasting-Citadel/WIVK - (1997-1998)
South Central Communications/WNFZ - (1998-1999)
ETSU's WETS (Campus Radio) (PD - 1997-2000)
Citadel/WOKI - (Morning Producer 2000-2002)
Citadel/WIVK - (2002-2003)
Peg Broadcasting/WOWF - (Production Director, then PD - 2003-Current)

1) Who are your programming mentors?

Les Acree gave me my first big shot at WIVK in Knoxville and I have Les in my prayers as we speak for a complete recovery (Les Acree suffered a stroke last week). It was part time, but I learned so much from him as well as Chris Huff who was MD there. Chris really took me under his wing and taught me a lot, whether he wants to admit it or not. Tim Sheehan was my PD when I worked Classic Rock and he really made me feel like my opinion mattered, which was really key coming straight out of college. Mike Hammond was my mentor in my second stint at WIVK. I can't say enough about Mike's wisdom and guidance. I sponged everything I could from him and all the successful people there. Learning Country Radio from Mike is like learning Physics from Einstein, you take notes. Coming to Peg Broadcasting four years ago was a blessing. Gordon Stack, Jeff Shaw and my consultant Scott Huskey are constant teachers. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Tom Headley, Tammy Hayes and the Jedi Master Candy Bryant, my professors at East TN State. Candy is the wisest radio mind not currently in the business in my opinion.

2) Can you be a boss and also a friend to your employees?

Ask me this in 10 years my answer may differ. As of now I say it's possible with the right people. My morning team (Joe Bennett & Ronni Chase), my midday host (Barbara Allen) and I are pretty close. We don't hang out a great deal outside of work, but we have a very family atmosphere here. I have a tremendously talented staff, which makes my job much easier. But just like any relationship, it starts with respect.

3) If you are wearing more hats today, than say last year, what area is suffering, and what are you doing about it?

WOW. I prefer, rather than one area be completely lacking, that all areas suffer a little. Equal Opportunity ADD is what I call it. No, for me I am doing an afternoon show, serving more or less as Executive Producer of the morning show, Programming, which is everything from label relationships to music to remotes to everything in between. I'm also responsible for the company's five websites, maintaining the email clubs, text clubs, etc. You add promotions stuff in there, and man I have a lot on my plate, but it's no more than I've asked, so I shan't complain. Sadly, though there are days where I go "Oh crap, that graphic needed to come off the contest page last Friday!" and I'm scrambling trying to take it off. I'm a perfectionist in many ways like that. Is it the end of the world? No, but that one person that goes to the site and sees it's out of date may not come back so it is one too many. I'm anal, sue me.

4) Has the advent of Satellite Radio affect our biz? Explain!

Rather interesting that we all said when XM & Sirius popped up that there wasn't room in the market for two. We're in a medium where there are so very many options and radio isn't the first option for most people anymore. We're quickly becoming second or third string for music. Now, when it comes to information, we're one or two and that's refreshing. So what's the answer? Localize EVERYTHING you do. Give them great music to keep them around give them the info they need give them personality that they will talk about. It's about the total package. People I know that have satellite still listen to terrestrial radio. If you ask me, iPods are the real threat as far as music goes and terrestrial radio is shooting itself in the foot by no longer grooming new talent. We gripe about never being able to find people but where do we expect them to come from if not weekends or overnights? You gotta learn somewhere.

5) What do you like best about your job? Least?

The thing I like best is that I am able to wear so many hats around here. Here, I don't feel like my talents are wasted at all. The downside is that it gets overwhelming, but that's when you step back, prioritize and delegate. Family first and foremost, then let's see what we can get done in a workday. I am able to do a lot of my work on the websites and show prep, production/imaging and stuff like that at home, which drives my wife nuts, but frees me up.

6) What can we be doing with our station's web sites to better our stations as a whole?

Our websites are the visual extension to go along with the sound we're cranking out. Your website needs to reflect the feel of your station. Your website needs to have in depth info on your announcers, because that's a great place for listeners to get to know you. Contact information is vital. News, weather, community events, etc. are an important service. Utilize email and text messaging. Stream Stream Stream! You can use the web as your liner cards. Why is your jock rattling off valuable airtime giving minute details on a promotion or event when you can simply give the basics and direct them to the web? Facts are facts it's the P1's that are going to be active in this stuff. Make it compelling and worth talking about and maybe they'll covert that friend who's your P2. Maybe you should think of sending school closings out over texts. If you're the only game in town offering that service, you can snag some strong brand awareness in some P2's and P3's really easily that way. People want to play they're just waiting for you to invite them to the party. Rethink how you're doing your websites. Position them to be your listener's newspaper. Give them News, Weather and the things they want, but also give them things you need them to see. Have them make your website their Internet homepage, you don't get any better top of mind branding than that. Now, if I can just get my OM Gordon to approve the "Station Studs" online calendar. Me, Thong, Body Oil, 'nuff said?

7) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as say, six months ago? Better than it was? Same? Elaborate please!

I think the music of the last 18 months is really spectacular. I think it's safe to say that we went through a rather strange lull period there for a while. The downside, of course, is that really good songs don't get the airplay they deserve which, I suppose, is better than the alternative. "Drinking Me Lonely" was one of the best songs to come out last year in my opinion. Now, there are a myriad of reasons it didn't crack the Top 30, but congestion is a big reason. Is there a problem? I'm not the one to ask. We've got solid success stories with Little Big Town, Rodney Atkins, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean & Craig Morgan, Sugarland. A lot of these new acts are seeing success on the charts and on the shelves, so that's refreshing. It's sad to hear about Lonestar and Diamond Rio, but you look at Tracy Lawrence, Neal McCoy, and the lot, there's room out there for solid hit makers. I will say this though, its do or die time for Nashville Star. We've got four big guns out of American Idol with Pickler, Bucky, Gracin & Underwood; NS has yet to provide us a legitimate star. I'm a fan, I think Angela Hacker may be our pony, and Chris Young's not done, that's a fantastic CD! I know it's great cranking the mic right now and REALLY being excited by what you're playing.

8) If you could add any one full-time position to your budget, with no questions asked, what would it be?

Promotions Director. Period. Right now there are three or four of us swapping out on different promo duties and none of us are really experts. I wish we had it in the budget for someone that could work the concert/contests/events for us. I'm still pushing for that every budget.

9) In your opinion, what is the greatest song ever that never made it as a hit?

Now, THAT's a tall order we're talking decades of music. I'll say that three of the songs I still love that didn't really hit were Anthony Smith's "If That Ain't Country", Chris Young's "Drinking Me Lonely" and Tim McGraw's "Kill Myself". The last one was never released as a single but should have been. BLAST McGRAW AND HIS GOOD MUSIC! I gotta throw Randy Travis' "Angels" in there too, I lied four songs.

10) Most surprising record of the past 12 months?

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say "Lost In This Moment" by Big & Rich. Here are a couple of guys that come into the party blaring their music and smoking cigars, loud and obnoxious. This party is a really tightly wound, reserved soiree. But here come these guys with their midgets and their proverbial "Freak Parade". They splash with a Devil May Care attitude and some people really don't take to them. Then all of a sudden, the little song that could, "8Th Of November" pops in and says, 'Hey, these guys are serious musicians". Now their new song just blows me away. Hearing new music from their forthcoming CD has me excited that they just might break out of that niche and get the respect they deserve.

1) Do you read.....everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What's your favorite reading material?

Ya know, I just recently took up reading again thanks to Mitch Albom & Dan Brown. I read trade magazines, some news online. All Access is a must, but I can't take it to the potty, so my goal now is to get through all of the Star Wars novels before I die, there's like 80 or something. Yes, I am a dork.

2) Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?

Yes and I am not ashamed. I can't get enough TV Theme songs, Barry Manilow, The Willy Wonka soundtrack is one of my favorites. Can you believe I was still able to get chicks in college?

3) You are on a desert island...what 5 CDs are in you portable disc player?

Gary Allan's Greatest Hits, Barry Manilow's Greatest Hits, Pearl Jam's Greatest Hits, The Audiodisc version of Velvet Jones' "How To Be A Ho" and Tom Hanks' "How To Get The Hell Off A Desert Island/How To Make Love To A Volleyball (With Foreword By Wilson)". Close runners-up would be a custom disc with some Dave Matthews, Matchbox 20, Third Eye Blind, BareNaked Ladies, and Conway Twitty's Merry Twismas.

4) Describe your favorite meal?

We start out with a salad of baby spinach, romaine & red leaf, mozzarella cheese, Sliced Roma Tomatoes, Fresh Cracked Pepper and Crispy Bacon, croutons optional. Ranch or a nice vinaigrette works. My Lemon Pepper Grilled Salmon, Butter Rice, Sweet Carrots is the main course. Finish off with Mayfield Peanut Butter Cookie Dough ice cream fresh out of the carton. If you can work O'Charley's rolls into that whole mix, we're good. I cook, and I have quite a few dishes so it's hard to decide but I'm jonesin' for some salmon right about now. Ooh, how about my Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, now THAT's good.