10 Questions with ... Jon Reilly

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started my career in Western Massachusetts at the age of 15 working at a small AM station, WREB in Holyoke, MA, then was able to get a weekend show at top 40 WHMP-FM in Northampton, then was on-air at WAAF in Worcester-Boston, and then got a chance to work on the station I grew up listening to, 96'TIC-FM in Hartford. My programming career took me to great heritage stations throughout the country like Z104 in Madison, WI, K92 in Roanoke, VA and Star 104 in Erie, PA. Most recently, for the past 10 years, I was Operations Manager and programmed Jamz 96.3 (Rhythmic CHR), 100.9 The CAT (Country) and B95.5 (AC) in Albany, NY.

1. How would you describe your first radio gig?

I started my radio career as a board op on a local AM station that ran ethic programming on the weekends, and I would board op for a 75-year-old Italian man who spoke no English. He would point to the cut on the record for me to cue up and play for him.

2. What led you to a career in radio?

So, my mother had cancer when she was in her 30s, and was in remission and volunteered for the American Cancer Society, and then she would be on a local AM talk show for cancer survivors and she become friendly with the Program Director of the station. He asked her if she knew anyone who was looking for a job, and without even asking me she volunteered me for the job, and the rest is history. She took full credit for my career, as she should have.

3. You're no stranger to Wisconsin. What was it like for you to recently get back to the Badger State?

I love Wisconsin, I had a great time when I lived here when I worked in Madison at WZEE and WMAD, and when I had the chance to come back it was a great opportunity to get back to the area and work for a great company with Midwest Communications.

4. You're on the air daily doing middays. What is it that you still love about being on the radio?

I do middays on heritage Top 40 95.5 WIFC, and I still love being on the air and connecting with local listeners, creating and executing fun promotions and delivering compelling content to our audience.

5. Who would be a dream guest to have come to the studio and plug in across from you?

Right now, Taylor Swift would be a great in-studio dream guest.

6. How do we become more attractive to the potential Gen Z and Generation Alpha audiences?

Deliver content that is relevant to the Gen Z and Generation Alpha audience. According to research, they want content that explores different sides of their personalities. As traditional radio, we need to come up with a way to appeal to new generations. We are so over-programmed and need to do a better job of providing audio entertainment that sticks and connects with the younger audiences.

7. Like most everyone, you have oversight of more than one station these days. How do you keep all the plates in the air?

I have been overseeing multiple stations for most of my programming career. It is a balancing act to make sure all the stations are equally represented, and exciting to be involved in multiple brands.

8. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?

I grew up in Western Massachusetts where I was lucky enough to be able to hear stations from Boston, MA and Hartford, CT…so I grew up listening to 96'TIC-FM in Hartford and was influenced by great jocks like Gary Craig, Mike West, Joe Mama (Logan) and, in Boston, Kiss 108's Dale Dorman and JJ Wright and WZOU's Dan Justin, Human Newman and Karen Blake.

9. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

Rick Rambaldo, former owner of WRTS in Erie, PA. He knew how to put on a show and at the same time create great radio. I also learned a lot from Dan Vallie early in my career, and then listening to the great stations that Steve Rivers programmed (WZOU and Kiss 108 in Boston).

10. With the venue of choice at your disposal and an unlimited budget, which six acts would you pull together to throw a massive listener concert?

CHR
Taylor Swift
Lizzo
Harry Styles
Beyonce
Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X

COUNTRY
Morgan Wallen
Luke Combs
Kelsea Ballerini
Kane Brown
Luke Bryan
Blake Shelton