10 Questions with ... Bob McNeill

NAME:Bob McNeill TITLE:PD STATION:KNTY 101.9 The Wolf MARKET:Sacramento, CA COMPANY:Entravision BORN:A Long Time Ago in a Land Far, Far Away (Manchester, CT) RAISED:See above

Please outline your radio career so far:

VP Programming for Viacom, Westwood One and Heritage Media. PD WMZQ/Washington, WRVQ/Richmond, WRBQ/Tampa and KYNG (Young Country/Live 105.1)/Dallas.

1) What was your first job in radio?

My first "job" was in college doing the "Good Sounds of Music" show at Northeastern University, Boston.

Early influences? I grew up near Harford, CT and had the great opportunity to listen to Joey Reynolds, Sandy Beach and Dick Robinson at WDRC and WPOP.

2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?

While dripping the purple candle wax on my radio and getting my "Royal Order of the Night People" card from Joey Reynolds at WPOP.

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

No. I got into radio because it was "show business." Now it's real estate.

4) What makes your station or market unique?

Imaging. The songs are pretty much the same - it's how you present it that matters. We work very hard on emotional connection with people who listen to us.

How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?

It's the way I always try to win - on the streets and in the minds of people who listen to us.

5) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?

Actually, I am not. Last year I was Operations Manager for a five-station group, PD for the Country and AC stations and doing PM Drive on the Country station. NOBODY can do a good job with all that.

6) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?

Satellite radio is doomed. I can't wait for Eric Logan to read that. Internet radio is serious (not Sirius). It's the fastest growing threat to terrestrial radio.

7) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?

I believe that as the big real estate companies (the "C" companies) divest assets we'll see an upswing in operators who get that the product comes before the bottom line. If not, I won't be here in five years.

8) What format does not exist that should? Would it work?

Top 40 Classical. I have the playlist if anybody wants to do it. There are 250 very familiar classical titles that I would rotate. It would totally piss off every "classical" listener in the market.

9) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Radio is simple. Gick Johnson who was President of Southern Broadcasting put it the best over 30 years ago, "Get listeners, sell advertising and keep the expenses down." It's simple and complex at the same time. Note the order that Gick listed. Get listeners came first. Nothing could be truer today - although you'd never know it watching most operators.

10) Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?

Actually, I think this one was both. When Evil Knievel was jumping everything in sight, we put our night guy at Q94 in Richmond in a "rocket powered" port-a-john to try to shoot him across the James River. We thought a couple hundred people would show up. Thousands of people choked every highway in and out of the place, which didn't sit well with the police who were totally unprepared for the mess. Then, when we shot Steve Hendricks down the ramp to rocket him over the river the port-a-john hit the water and he nearly drowned trying to get out. Try getting legal to okay that one today.

1. You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have 5 CDs with you. What are they?

Little Feat "Sailin' Shoes"
The Beatles "White Album"
George Strait "50 Number 1s"
Aerosmith "Toys In The Attic"
Alabama "41 Number 1 Hits"

2. Describe your favorite meal?

A rotisserie chicken from Safeway with a bottle of Shiraz watching the sunset at Wialea, Maui.

3. What "reality show" could you see yourself appearing on and why?

Survivor - after all these years and all these companies I think I qualify as a survivor.

4. You just won the lotto and you have your boss on the line. What's the first thing that you would say?

How much do you want for the station?