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10 Questions with ... Morgan Prue
November 5, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- CJOT (Boom 99.7)/Ottawa, Ontario - (2012 to Present)
- WLTW (106.7 Lite-FM)/New York (2000 To 2012)
- WPLJ/New York, NY (1999 To 2000)
- WLTW (106.7 Lite-FM)/New York (1997 To 1999)
- WBLS/New York, NY (1995 To 1997)
- WYNF (95 YNF)/Tampa, FL (1988 To 1993)
1) What got you interested in radio?
I got into radio because of "WKRP in Cincinnati" I swear! I always wanted to be Bailey, and I would certainly like to do the "Johnny Fever/Venus" episode with my morning show and "The Dangers of Drinking." Thanksgiving has passed up here, so there's no danger of me wanting to drop turkeys.
2) How does Canadian radio differ from doing radio in the U.S.?
The biggest thing is it's still regulated so you cannot own more than two fm signals in a market of the same language.
3) Are you finding the Canadian Content laws to be a challenge?
OMG yes! That has been the biggest challenge. I have to play 40% CANCON (Canadian songs). In addition to 50% non-hit versus hit music. It all a whole other element as to how you program a day.
4) What is your favorite hockey team?
I'm going to get shot! But it's the Tampa Bay Lightning since their first year I went to every home game. Second is definitely the Sens! My husband is a Blackhawks fan, but at this point I just want to see some NHL action!
5) How do you stay in tune with your audience?
Through Facebook and answering the request lines. We're live and local all day (including the weekends) and we're always hitting the streets with promotions like "It's On Boom" where we hit a local Tim Horton's and buy people their morning coffee.
6) Tell us about your market
The station is Classic Hits, "Your Music From The 70's 80's and 90's." I like to monitor New York City as I lived there for so long, and I'm very into listening to Ottawa radio. There's some great stuff going on here! I'd love to monitor more, but there's only a certain amount of hours in the day.
7) What do you like best about working in the Classic Hits format?
I really enjoy the variety of music I get to program! From Disco to Rock to Pop to the Classics, I have the best of all worlds.
8) What was your most memorable artist you've ever interviewed?
Rob Halford for sure! When I was at WLTW, he came in for a Q104 interview and for some reason the times got screwed up and Eric Wellman asked me to do the interview. I'm a super fan of Judas Priest and it was an honour, all I did was ask the questions and Jim Kerr used it later, but no prep was required on my end, let me say that.
9) How do you market your radio station?
Right now we're doing "Tell Your Friends About Boom" to create awareness since we're pretty much a brand new station. Register yourself and three friends on our website, then we call out your name at certain times, and you call back within half and hour and you win a gift certificate to a local retailer and get registered to win an all-inclusive trip for you and three friends to Cuba! Yep! It's fine for Canadians to travel there.
10) What advice would you give people new to the business?
Work hard! Pay attention to the details, do and learning everything you can. Don't do radio because you think you'll make a lot of money. Do it because you love it.
Bonus Questions
What do you do in your spare time?
Other than my awesome husband my main hobby is taekwondo. I'm a fifth degree black belt and started training at the same time I started in radio. I cannot get enough practice time in, ever!
What's the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you?
Don't rush into making changes just for the sake of making them. Everyone is waiting for the new person to make a mistake. So take your time. The worst advice?
Actually none! I don't listen if I think it's bad.
Who is your favourite artist you have met?
There are too many, but I certainly love Michael Buble', Josh Groban, Lionel Richie, Cyndi Lauper, and Rob Halford. Of course my favourite is Canadian Bryan Adams... I remember when I invited myself to dinner with him and Jim Ryan!
Besides your own, what format would you like to program and why?
I really have a lot of new music, so AC, Hot AC. I first worked in Rock and I am kind of a Metal chick (oh and it might be a surprise to some people that I'm "thanked" on the first Marilyn Manson release).
What is the one truth that has held constant in your career?
That I love what I do with all my heart! "Working in radio is a privilege and not a right" (I can't remember who said that but it's always stuck with me). Also believe in yourself and stay true to what you know is right.
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