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10 Questions with ... Maverick
June 11, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started my radio career in the 80's while attending Torrance High and I was the youngest DJ in Los Angeles. I started at K-West 106 (now Power 106), and 93.5 KFOX (now KDAY). From there, I worked in Phoenix at (Power 92), (Y95), KZZP and KRQ/Tucson, KROY and KWOD/Sacramento. I did mornings in Denver at CBS/Denver, KDON and KCDU (CD-93) in Monterey. I spent time in Stockton, Las Vegas, Reno, and many other markets. While programming in Ventura, CA, Cumulus hired me to move here to KEHK/Eugene, OR to program their Hot AC, STAR 102.3 in 2010.
1) What Got You Interested In Radio?
I grew up in Los Angeles listening to the great radio stations and disc jockeys in the world! It's all I've ever wanted to do since I was six-years old.
2) Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?
I am all about true Mainstream Top-40 radio. But I do love listening to all music formats.
3) How are you using social media to market your radio station?
I've learned a lot over the past few years about how people use and read social media. Lately on Twitter, it's been unreadable clutter with "#" and "@" and links. We're finding out now that people are having problems reading the tweets and are beginning to un-follow those who over use them.
Over on Facebook, it's much the same with posts often getting lost with people reposting 50 tweets on their Facebook page. So we try to keep things simple and easy to read. We'll tweet upcoming STAR tunes in the next "10 in a Row," promote contests and events, remotes, photos videos, and behind the scenes fun from the studios of the STAR 102.3 "Glass Treehouse" in real time. On Facebook, we try to make it easy for listeners to find out what big things are happening with STAR 102.3 without the info being buried. When there's not much happening, we'll try to post fun videos, and information relating to STAR 102.3 and our listeners.
4) How do you think iHeartRadio, or Pandora is changing our industry?
I'm not a fan of Pandora. I was always fast forwarding through songs I just didn't want to hear (often tunes that have nothing to do with a channel I created). Eventually, I hit a limit and I just turned it off. But I love iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, and Radio.com apps!
Personally, I love being able to listen to any radio station in the country on my iPhone. Many new car info-dashboards are linked to iHeartRadio which is going to change the way we listen to "local" radio and perhaps the way we program "local" radio.
IF this IS the future of radio, there are SO MANY questions we need to ask? How effective will shows like Ryan Seacrest be your radio station in the afternoon, if listeners have the easy option to hear him on every other radio station with the same content heard on iHeartRadio? With a two-minute delay, how do you work contesting? Do you strictly do local content (weather, traffic, etc...) or broad based content like a syndicated show or stations like Radio Disney or Air1? It'll be interesting. One thing is for sure. Radio will always be here.
5) Apple, Amazon, Spotify, and many others have recently introduced music in "The Cloud." What effect will these new music services have on the radio and music industries?
I kinda like the cloud idea with access to the music I own being available to me at any time. But I don't want to have to pay for a subscription or listen to ads just to listen to a song. Just like radio will always be here, buying music to own will always be around.
6) How do you stay in tune with your audience?
I try to shut up and listen to them.
7) Tell us what music we would find on your MP3 player right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?
Holy cats! Anything from Standards to Punk, with a bunch of different playlists that serve me better than Pandora ever could.
8) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I have dyslexia and a speech impediment.
9) What's the Worst piece of advice anyone's ever given you?
"You should try to get the morning gig at KIIS FM and host American Idol!"
10) Favorite artist you have met?
There's so many. The guys from Smash Mouth have always been very kind to me. Colbie Caillat is a sweetheart and used to visit my show and hang when I was at KFYV (Live 105.5) in Ventura. And singer Matthew West would come on my show in Denver and be like Steve Martin on Letterman. He always came to entertain and was always open to do crazy stuff, and always had great stories.
Bonus Questions
What is the one truth that has held constant in your career?
If I keep going after the same jobs as Ryan Seacrest, then I'm never going to get the gig.
What are your hobbies?
I'm a photographer and writer. In fact I'm writing a novel (romantic/comedy where the main character is a PD and afternoon DJ on an Adult Top 40 in Sacramento), and I'm also writing about my career in radio. Oh the stories I can tell about the people I've met and worked with. ;)
What do you do in your spare time?
HAHAHA! Spare time. That's funny right there! Actually, when I can get a day or two off, I try to fly home to LA as often as I can and hang out at Disneyland.
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