10 Questions with ... Fitz

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Then morning host at Hubbard Radio Country KNUC (98.9 The Bull)/Seattle, Fitz took over as host of “Country Top 40” from the late Bob Kingsley in January of 2020. The show is now syndicated by Skyview Networks.

He relinquished his daily radio role at the end of 2020 to focus on his syndicated show and other projects. His 20 months at KNUC followed 12 years in mornings at then Entercom-owned crosstown Country KKWF (100.7 The Wolf).

Prior to taking over “CT40,” Fitz gained experience in syndication as host of the Sun Broadcast Group’s daily “The Fitz Show,” weekend countdown show “The Hit List With Fitz” and “Nashville Minute With Fitz.”

1. What led you to your career in radio? What do you love about it that has made you stay in the business?

From the beginning, I loved to perform! I started prank calling people and calling radio stations around North Texas when I was 6 years old. I would call all of the jocks at all of the stations in Wichita Falls, TX and Texoma and sing, tell a joke, write a parody song or play a character. I was that kid! I was addicted to hearing myself on the air! I got the entertainment bug very early. I knew I had to give the local personalities something good or they wouldn’t air my phone call. So, in a way, I started prepping really early.

I definitely got the performance gene from my Mama. My Mom was a Texas star twirler, Country singer and Texas pageant queen. She’s been teaching theater arts in Texas for over 30 years, and still teaches at the age of 71. My Mama is one of the most awarded theater arts teachers in the state of Texas. So, as a kiddo, middle school, and high school, aside from sports, I was always singing, acting and performing. If there was an event with a stage, I was there.

I’ll never forget when I asked my high school principal to let me do the morning announcements. I wanted to kick off the school day with an entertaining, two-minute morning show. Even then, I was thinking about PPM, LOL! The universe has always pulled me in this direction, but at that moment, when I started doing my school announcements/ two-minute morning show, God set the wheels in motion. I knew what I was supposed to do with my life.

2. You’ve been a part of several previous syndicated shows, including Sun Broadcast Group’s “The Hit List with Fitz,” “The Fitz Show,” and “Nashville Minute.” What have you learned along the way about what makes for great syndicated content?

That’s right. Before that, I hosted the nationally syndicated  “Fox All Access USA Countdown,” then the “Powered by Country Countdown” with USRN, followed by “The Hit List with Fitz.” I am very proud that each of those syndicated projects were highly rated, successful shows. This journey has been meaningful and educational. There have been incredible chapters throughout this adventure, with each chapter preparing and equipping me for the next page.

As far as what makes great syndicated content, I like to keep it simple. I think the word “content” is overused. I believe listeners of radio and other audio companions in 2022 don’t turn it on and say, “I hope I get some good content today.” I believe they give their time to us because of how we make them feel. We are familiar, we are their friends, we are family and we are relatable. We should also be their escape from this crazy world. You should be vulnerable with your feelings and focus on your stories. Your stories are gold (content) that can never be duplicated. So, relate to them. Let your listeners know that you’re experiencing the ups and downs of life just like them, and then give them something to let them escape. 

3. What was it like hosting mornings KKWF (100.7 The Wolf) and KNUC (98.9 The Bull)? Were there things about those roles that you liked/disliked more than your syndicated roles? Anything you miss about doing morning radio?

I loved every minute of it. My listeners in the Seattle/Tacoma market are family. They were with me in the peaks and valleys of the past 15 years of my life. They are true, die hard, Country lovin’, hard workin’ people who are loyal and passionate. They always showed up!

I loved everything about local morning radio. You get to have so much more fun. You get to see and feel the difference you are making in your listeners’ lives. Plus, you get to interact and see the faces of your audience on a daily and weekly basis.

I miss the days of having to quickly create something spectacular when something major would happen in your community. It’s the greatest feeling in the world when you walk into a local restaurant and someone says, “Hey, Fitz, I heard you this morning!” Nothin’ like it. Of course I miss morning radio. I don’t miss waking up at 3:33 a.m.!

I have had several discussions with some groups about the possibility of waking up early again, but it would have to be the right opportunity. I’ve also had discussions about a personality-driven afternoon show. In many markets, during the week, cume is higher in afternoon drive than it is in morning drive.

I always love to have creative discussions, but it would have to work out with my “CT40” schedule. My priority is to count ’em down and play the hits! Because, Fitz plays the hits! LOL.

4. You were chosen to take over Bob Kingsley’s “Country Top 40” show after his passing in 2019 and, I believe, even lobbied for it with the belief you were the best choice. Even so, did getting tapped for that host position shock you?

Yes. Shocked is an understatement. The words I would use to describe the moment would be surreal, emotional and gratitude. I was sad that the voice of my childhood was gone. Bob built it. I couldn’t imagine Country radio without Bob Kingsley. It still doesn’t feel right and never will. I definitely felt the magnitude of the situation.

Throughout my career, I have had several offers and opportunities to be the show to replace or follow some radio icon. Ya know, to be the show to replace THE SHOW? I turned them all down and I’ll tell you why. I always had a personal rule. I never, ever wanted to be the show to follow Seinfeld. Know what I mean? Ya never wanted to be the second show, the sacrificial lamb. Ya want to be the show that follows THAT show. Then, you come in and hit a home run! That was my philosophy! I mean, how do you follow the king of the countdown? How do you follow Bob?

Well, this time was different. This time, I felt like I had to do it. I felt like I had a responsibility. Ken Halford, Bob’s amazing longtime producer of over 30 years, told me that Bob had a conversation with him about me when discussing the future host of “CT40.” I’ll keep the details between me, Ken and Bob. I knew in my heart that I was the only person who knew how to do it right and continue Bob’s vision and take the countdown into the future.

I consider myself sort of like protecting his house. My priority is to not only continue the success of this Country music institution, but to make it my own and be that new voice for the new generation of Country like Bob was for me.

Why was I the right guy for the job? I’ve created, executive produced and hosted several of my own successful, syndicated countdown shows in the past and have always been a student of the art of the countdown. The experience and knowledge I’ve acquired throughout my journey has sharpened and prepared me for the biggest and most impactful countdown of them all, the “Country Top 40!”

5. Last summer you hinted at plans for launching a three-day “Camp Kingsley” in Bob’s honor. Can you explain what you have in mind for that, and where the launch plans stand at this point?

You bet. I wanted to honor Bob and his life in a way that would, hopefully, make him smile. I’ve been given an amazing gift, and I want everyone to continue to learn about the man that really built it.

I created Camp Kingsley to be the ultimate, Country music bucket list experience. I believe Camp Kingsley will provide a spark to ignite a lifetime passion of Country music for our campers. For three days, we will turn inspiration into action. Who knows, Camp Kingsley could give us the next Garth or Carrie, the next Ashley Gorley or Hillary Lindsey, or, even a future Country broadcaster/media influencer. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans of Country music and listeners of the “Country Top 40.”

Get ready! The future is now. Camp Kingsley is a three-day glimpse of Nashville, and what could be, where dreams become reality. Obviously, Covid messed up our plans for a summer launch, but our amazing team at Skyview is already setting things in motion for next year. 

6. What is your perspective on radio today? What direction do you think that it’s headed?

We now have the ability to put radio anywhere! I believe in radio. I wouldn’t still be in the radio game if I didn’t feel that there was a huge future for me for many years to come. Radio will be around for as long as we want it to be around.

I think it’s obviously time to put more of a focus on our personalities. Will we be listening to radio on a frequency? Who knows? We will let the brilliant tech engineers figure that out. I think that we should probably quit preaching innovation and act on innovation.

Radio itself has a huge advantage right now. The infrastructure has already been created where listeners can have their radio with them no matter where they are. They can take us with them everywhere. People have their phones with them 24/7. Radio has the ability to be with them 24/7, whether they’re at home, at work or in the car.

Remember the old AT&T phrase, “Reach out and touch someone?” With a tap of the finger, you can have any kind of radio you want. I think it’s going to be very important for brands to continue to push app listening, and I think they will. It’s going to be important for us to engage with our audience through our apps, through contesting and connection. For the first time in history, radio has the ability to have more access to its audience than ever before. We are right at their fingertips, literally.

I also feel that we are not too far away from having your favorite media personalities appear (via app technology) as a hologram from your phone. Can you imagine seeing your favorite personality appear from your phone, talking about one of your favorite artists? Let’s create it! It’s time to think big!

I am also hoping that brands are trying to figure out how they can stake their claim for their brands in the metaverse. Radio has the ability to live long into the future with an endless frontier of infrastructure and possibilities. The only permanent thing is change. Will we hop on the rocket of change or let it pass us by? 

7. What is your favorite part about your current role? What does your workday look like?

My favorite part of my current role is the huge responsibility of being the gatekeeper. I feel like I am standing guard at the gate of the institution that Bob and Nan Kingsley built. Remember that scene from “Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade” where the knight is guarding the Holy Grail? That’s what it feels like. It is very special and very sacred to me.

As far as my day goes, I love the fact I don’t have to wake up at 3:33 a.m. anymore. “CT40” is all I do. After I take my kids to school (which I’m so glad I get to do again), my days are actually pretty booked up with show production, writing, client spots, syndication/sales meetings, content meetings, social media strategy, artist interviews and my “Talkin HITS” social series. Every day of the week, throughout the day, I am chatting with artists. I will interview folks all day long to get the audio nugget that no one else will have.

I have a studio in my house, and just days ago, after I finished up the countdown, I walked outside of the studio door to find my almost 2-year-old son, Bowie, rubbing his poopy diaper on my door. That’s what every day looks like for me. Just another day in paradise!

8. Who have been your mentors throughout your career? Who has influenced it the most?

Well, I have my on air mentors and my professional mentor/coaches. Growing up as a kid in North Texas, it was all about Kraddick and Kingsley, period! It was Kidd Kraddick during the week and Bob Kingsley on the weekend on 99.5 The Wolf. That’s just the way it was for a North Texas kid. Kraddick and Kingsley were mentoring me as a kid and they didn’t even know it.

As a teenager, I used to call Kidd Kraddick during his night show at the Eagle in Dallas. I got to tell him years later when I got to work with him. Crazy, right? What a world! Radio just isn’t the same without a Kingsley and a Kraddick on the airwaves. They were the gold standard of storytellers. 

I’ve definitely learned something from each of the program directors and consultants that I’ve worked with over the years. My professional mentors are some of the most brilliant minds in the business and have invested personal time in my coaching and my growth. For example, I can still hear the words of Mike McCoy in my head today, “Less is more, Fitz. When in doubt leave it out. Edit and edit again!” I’ll never forget the brilliant mind of Dan Kieley. He was almost as crazy as I was, and I absolutely loved him for it. Dan and John Cook gave me a shot to host a morning show in a major market at the age of 23 years old in Dallas. I owe them so much for that. Also, Paul Anderson. Paul was my agent for many years and he gave me invaluable coaching and wisdom about life and business.

Finally, there is Scott Mahalick, my creative partner in life and GM of “CT40.” Scott gave me the opportunity of a lifetime in 2006 to move to Seattle and launch “Fitz in the Morning” on the Wolf, where we were syndicated and #1 for over a decade. We’ve been creatively connected ever since. I thank him for being a mentor and for being a friend. It is amazing what happens when you have a few people who believe in you. 

9. If “today’s Fitz” could give the “beginning-of-his-career Fitz” any piece of advice, what would it be? And do you have any advice that you would give someone just now starting out in the business that you wish you knew going into it?

I would say, “Hey Fitz, think big, ’cause your thinking; anyway! And who’s better than you? Nobody.” LOL! Then I would say to my younger self to be more coachable. Everyone you meet truly has an interesting perspective if you give them a chance. Let them give it to ya. You might learn something really cool that could change everything. One more thing: keep your circle small. 

If I had any advice to give to someone starting out in our industry, I would say, “perform and post, perform and post!” Share your magic and art! Share your talents and your skills with the world, and all forms of social media, because true entertainers will be able to translate to anywhere and anything. Send any of your social media material, like reels, interviews, pranks, videos displaying your personality and TikToks to brand managers everywhere. They will know talent when they see it. Don’t forget, take massive, consistent, and relentless action and make it happen! 

10. Do you have any funny stories/memories that stick out to you that have happened during your radio career?

OMG! Where do I start? Girl, do you have three hours? LOL! OK, this just popped in my head. I remember one day in 2007 or 2008 when I was on the air and I had one pair of Rascal Flatts tickets to give away. Scott Mahalick gave me complete creative freedom, so I told everyone to go to a Walmart parking lot in a small suburb near Seattle and “dress their cats for Flatts!” Well, next thing you know, close to 2,500 people showed up in a Walmart parking lot with their cats in costumes! We picked a winner on site and gave away a pair of Rascal Flatts tickets for the show at the Tacoma Dome. It was magical.

Remind me to tell you about the crane debacle at 93Q Country in Houston from back in the day, the April Fools kitty cat joke in Seattle and the Easter egg stampede! I’m gonna have to wait and tell you in person! 

We’ve heard you and your family are planning to move back to Texas. What’s the time frame for that move, and where will you record your show?

You bet. We are on the trail right now. Check out my next Facebook live. We are literally on a cattle drive. Kidding! My wife and I are currently looking at properties in North Texas. Nan Kingsley and I have had some conversations about me originating “CT40” from Bob Kingsley’s original studios in Weatherford, Texas. Wouldn’t that be something? 

You’ve got a huge family, including twin babies! What’s it like balancing your radio life with your family life? Is it hard to switch from radio mode to dad mode?

It’s absolutely crazy. Like I said, I have some studios in the house, and it’s quite common for me to walk outside of the studio door and find Goldfish crackers, sippy cups, random hairbrushes and poopy diapers. My wife thinks I hide out in the studios to have some more free time. LOL!