10 Questions with ... JP Allen

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WTAO (ROCK 105)/Carbondale, IL Weekends - (2006-2007)
• WKQX (Chicago's Alternative WKQX101)/Chicago, IL (2009- 2012)
• WRDW (Wired 96.5)/Philadelphia, PA - (2012-2014)
• WSTR (Star 94.1)/Atlanta, GA - Morning Show Dir. - (2015- Current)

1) What Got You Interested In Radio?

Animal Stories told by the legendary Larry Lujack and Lil' Snot Nosed Tommy On WLS-Chicago. The story telling and roller coaster of a ride they took you on was one of a kind. My dad and I would sit in the parking lot of where I went to high school and laugh and laugh. I was routinely late to my first period class, but my broadcasting teacher never got mad because I was "paying attention to the medium of radio."

Before that though, I would be THAT kid around 6th grade that would call my radio station Q101 Chicago's Alternative and request songs. I would try to hit record on my tape player in hopes they would play my voice requesting it. It happened a few times and I would brag to my class mates that it happened.

2) What makes the Atlanta market unique? How does this compare to other markets you have worked at?

Traffic here in ATL is a dumpster fire. People are stuck in their cars for long periods of time. The opportunity to brighten their day and make them laugh is always something that our show takes great pride in.

3) What is it about The Jeff & Jenn show that you feel really makes it cut through?

Jeff is funny and super creative. He pushes us to be our best and wants our ideas and input.

Jenn feeds off Jeff's humor/sarcasm and she makes me laugh every day as well. Jenn has an incredible outlook on life, is the "love cheerleader" on our show, and is super involved in spreading positivity and community outreach here in the Atlanta Area.

Executive Producer Kelly Cheese is the expert of what happens in ATL after midnight. She knows all things about single life and new relationships. She is always opinionated and always humorous.

Producer, Website Blogger, and fashionista Jeannine is fantastic at audio production. She is responsible for producing "Cat Songs" and she is a 2017 young version of Phoebe from friends. Quirky and super smart!

4) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

Why do people care about your show and your radio station? What are you doing to be unique, entertaining? What are you doing in your community?

There's lots of competition out there and to survive you need a team of passionate, hard-working, talented people who get along. Thankfully that's what I have in ATL.

5) How are you using social media to market your show?

Generating fun silly videos and pictures of ourselves. Giving alerts on concerts and special back stage experiences listeners go crazy for.

Inviting people to special parties we are throwing where we can all hang out and have fun.

6) What type of features do you run on your show?

"Where Is This Relationship Going?"
Listeners call us up and want to see where there relationship is going? We ask the tough questions and the result is always awkward.

"Cat Songs"
Yep. You read that right. Listeners call us and tell us about their cat. We write a "Weird Al" style song using Star 941 artists and sing them with cat lyrics.

"#ParentingForReal"
You ever see perfect angelic pictures of children that are on social media? What happens when you take the perfect filter off of things and get real? For example: Jenn's daughter spit half of a piece of granola bar out of her mouth. It almost landed on an expensive mattress in the store but Jenn caught it in her hand. And then ate it. #ParentingForReal

"Toddler or Trashed?"
She danced on a table, threw McDonald's French Fries at me, and fell off the table screaming, "I'm Peter Pan I can fly." Toddler or trashed?

"All The Feels"
It's easy to find negative stories ... so we focus on highlighting the stories that will make you feel good. Some local, some national.

7) How do you prep yourself for your radio shift?

SPOILER ALERT: Mornings are early. I just quit coffee. I was drinking way too much of it to the point of where my body started twitching. So I took a page out of David Letterman's play book. I do a quick wind sprint down the hall way every morning.

8) How are you using new technologies in your personal life to listen to music, and what observations have you made about how today's listeners use technology?

Mostly everything outside of radio is consumed via phone or tablet. We're an instant society so if you do something on the radio where people might not hear everything ... they can pull it up on their device and catch up on things.

9) What is the most rewarding promotion you've ever been a part of?

I'm crossing my fingers and hoping this weekend that we give away $100,000 dollars. That's life changing money and that would be incredible to be a part of.

10) What advice would you give people new to the business?

Work works. Ask lots of questions. Learn! Have a great attitude and be passionate about what you are doing. Over time you will get an opportunity so be ready for it.

What do you do in your spare time?

Karaoke, volleyball, fun runs, hang out with my amazing fiancé Heidi and our dog Fitz.

Who do you consider your radio mentors?

Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle.

I was driving to my job as a waiter and heard Tingle do one of his many hilarious voices on the radio that made me cry I was laughing so hard. Little did I know at the time that I would get "an opportunity of a lifetime" job with these guys helping write and come up with content.

Sherman taught me so many helpful editing secrets and board work. Also he picked me up every morning when I was broke to help me combat my problem of making $10 dollars an hour and the price of Chicago parking.

They are both my friends now and groomsmen in my upcoming wedding. I'm super thankful for these guys and the lessons they taught me.

What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

I won $5,600 dollars on Wheel Of Fortune... it was one of the greatest moments of my life!