10 Questions with ... Al Cannon

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WJPA/WASHINGTON, PA 1981-1985 - ON AIR
• WKEG/ WASHINGTON, PA 1985-1987 - PD/ON AIR
• WOMP-FM/ BELLAIRE OHIO 1987-1995 - PD/ON AIR
• WNRQ/PITTSBURGH 1995-1996 - ON AIR
• WANB/WAYNESBURG PA 1997-1999 - .NEWS DIRECTOR
• WRRK-BOB-FM,/PITTSBURGH - 2010-PRESENT - ON AIR

1. What Got You Interested In Radio?

Listening to KDKA/Pittsburgh as a kid.

2. Who do you consider your radio mentors?

Bob Forster, John Robertson, Brian Ram.

3. What makes the Pittsburgh market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?

People in Pittsburgh are all about traditions and they never forget the past.

4. How do you prep yourself for your radio shift?

We use social media, to see what is current and what is happening in Pittsburgh. It's all about the local stuff!

5. How are you using social media to market your radio station and your show?

Our audience is all about the Facebook, so we are too!

6. How do you market your radio station? How are you reaching the target demos?

BOB plays anything and we stick to it. Our demo loves us, and we hear it every time we are doing an event.

7. What was the most successful low budget promotion idea your station ever did?

When I worked at WOMP-FM in Wheeling, WV, the station burnt down in 1991 and I was on the air when it happened. When we went back on the air, we gave away bricks from the old building, you would of thought it was a million dollars, listeners went crazy to win one, and it cost us nothing.

8. Do you have any good stalker stories? Misty requests? "Fatal Attractions?" Or a good story from those wee hours of the morning?

I was living on a billboard while working at WOMP-FM to promote the local hockey team the Wheeling Thunderbirds, I went on the air and said I would be willing to live on a billboard until the team started winning, thinking this would not be long because at the time they were really bad. Then they started winning every game and I ended up living there for almost a whole month. One night a bunch of people stopped by, which they did all the time to see if I was actually there. These people had booze and lots of food. Needless to say, my time on the billboard was a great time after all!

9. What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?

One recent event was our Media Bowling Event, which we won!!!

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

Don't listen to all the negatives, they mostly come from people who are not in the industry any more, yes it has changed, but you have to adapt.

What do you do in your spare time?

I'm totally into binge watching on Netflix, and following series like Ray Donovan, "Game Of Thrones", "American Horror Story", and my favorite new comic series, "Baskets!"

Who is your best friend in the business?

Dale Allen at WJPA/Pittsburgh. .

What is the one truth that has held constant in your career?

I've always been able to do what I love!