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10 Questions with ... Fred Persinger
June 12, 2006
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NAME:Fred PersingerTITLE:PDSTATIONS:WJLS-FMMARKET:Beckley WVCOMPANY:First MediaBORN:BeckleyRAISED:Beckley
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
1990-2002-WTNJ-FM/Beckley MD/mid-days
2002-2004-WHKX/WHQX/Bluefield WV, afternoon drive and Sports Director
2004-Present-WJLS-FM/Beckley-PD/afternoon drive1. What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
Started at WTNJ in May of 1990, working overnights. Actually I my first night of work was on the night of my senior prom. My earliest influence was my father. He has been in the radio business for over 30 years and every chance he got he took me to work with him so I can remember playing commercials with the cart machines when I was five years old. I also love calling play-by-play and remember listening to Jack Fleming the long time voice of the WVU Mountianeers.
2. Can you be a boss and also a friend to your employees?
Yes, I think you can. One good thing here is we all love what we do, and enjoy coming to work and that makes it easier when trying to get things done. It feels like a family atmosphere here.
3. Will the advent of Satellite Radio affect our biz? Explain!
I do not think it will affect smaller markets as much because in smaller markets local radio is still a very big part of people's lives. Especially here in Beckley and the surrounding area, high school sports are a very big part of people's lives and Satellite Radio can not offer that. We have two great sports broadcasting teams that carry football and basketball games of two of the bigger schools in our area and it really gives us a good presence in those communities.
4. What do you like best about your job? Least?
I love listening to the music! I also like talking to the people on the air and having the station sound the best it can. I can honestly say that I like everything about my job.
5. Who's your favorite air/personality not on your air staff?
I love sports talk radio and one of my favorites is Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio.
6. What is your favorite radio station outside of your own market?
The Wolf 96.1 in Charleston
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 Country music right now is better than it has been in a while. I think the emergence of new artists has really helped Country Music. There are a lot of good songs out there right now and then with the core artists putting out some of their best stuff out right now there is no doubt that country is better now than six months ago.
8. In your opinion, what is the greatest song ever that never made it as a hit?
There were a lot of songs that I have liked in the past that were not hits and I could not understand why. One of my favorites that was not a hit was Tracy Lawrence's last one "If I Don't Make It Back." I think that it was one of his best songs that he has recorded and when I saw him perform it live in concert, he got a standing ovation. Why it was not a major hit for him I do not understand it.
9. Favorite artist that you have met?
I would have to say Kenny Chesney. I also liked Pat Green and Dierks Bentley.
10. Most surprising record of the past 12 months?
I would have to say Jack Ingram's, "Wherever You Are." I love the song and knew that it would be a hit but I am surprised that it hit number one.
Bonus Questions
1. Do you read.....everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What's your favorite reading material?
I like to read Sports Illustrated, and I like to read books on Dean Smith. One of my favorites I am reading right now is John Schuerholz book called Built To Win, it is about how the Atlanta Braves built up their organization to one of the best.
2. Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?
I like R & B music, anything from Motown to today.
3. You are on a desert island...what 5 CDs are in you portable disc player?
1. Kenny Chesney "Be As You Are: Songs From An Old Blue Chair"
2. Tracy Lawrence "Then and Now: The Hits Collection"
3. Dierks Bentley "Modern Day Drifter"
4. Brooks & Dunn "Hillbilly Deluxe"
5. Gary Allan "Tough All Over" -
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