10 Questions with ... Don London & Natalia Soniak

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Don London (Don.London@entercom.com)

• WHNN /Saginaw, air talent
• WAKY/Louisville, air talent
• WQMF/Louisville, air talent
• WJGS /Houghton Lake, MI, PD
• WIZM/La Crosse, WI, PD
• WZPL/Indianapolis, PD
• WNVZ-WPTE-WVKL-WWDE, VP/Operations

Natalia Soniak (Natalia.Ilchyshyn@entercom.com)

Started as an intern at Entercom/Norfolk when I was 20 and have been here ever since! Did overnights/weekends and worked my way into the PD position.

1) Don, you're now into year 26 of working in the same building. As VP/Operations, outside of your air shift on 2WD, is any day ever remotely the same?

That's pretty funny! I've said this about our business for a long time and it's never been more accurate. "It's never boring and no two days are ever the same." The work load, the juggling act, and the flow of tasks to accomplish are all coming at us faster than ever. There will be no changes until the next change. We're all moving fast and furious in an ever-changing landscape every minute of every day. The good news is, it's still fun and exciting. It's a pleasure to say, "We get paid for this" and "This is the business that we have chosen." We could have selected any one of a thousand career paths and we can say "it worked" regarding our chosen paths.

2) Natalia, you're programming two heritage radio stations in a very competitive market, not to mention holding down middays on Z104, as well as tracking nights on 2WD. How do you make sure that you're micro-managing your time?

I'm laser-focused, we have the right people in the right positions, and I still carry around a notebook with a checklist so I do my best to get it all done. I look ahead to see what might be coming and what will need my attention next. It helps to be fluid and pivot when necessary. Most importantly, it all starts with what's coming out of the speakers, so I listen as much as possible during every waking hour.

3) Natalia, what bit of wisdom can you share with us that you learned from Don?

The concept that comes to mind first is that "Anyone can hold the ship's wheel when the seas are calm." We have to remain composed and focused when there's a real problem, a bad month in the ratings, or a true crisis. Don always sees the "silver lining" in almost every situation. Don is a real role model to almost everyone in this building and proactive rather than reactive.

4) Don, what bit of wisdom can you share with us that you learned from Natalia?

Natalia is very organized, composed and a great communicator. Her verbal skills have most certainly rubbed off on me. My mind has always been rapid-fire. Today, I say a lot more of what's on my mind at work as a result of her verbal skills influencing me in a very positive fashion. It's fantastic to work alongside of a smart, "normal," person that represents three of our target demographic "listeners." She's key to my success.

5) Don, what would you say has been a constant that has held true as long as you've been in the radio business?

Great radio stations simply deliver the "essence of great radio" and superserve their audiences. These are the stations that continue to get results in Diary and PPM markets.

6) Natalia, programming is always a special sauce combination of art and science. How do you balance between the two in an age where everything is literally at everyone's fingertips?

We have a great team at Entercom/Norfolk with excellent input from our programming "brain trust." Don and I make our respective decisions when it's all said and done, but we're listening to everyone we can. We have an unbelievable amount of data available to us, which we love, but we're still listening to what our audience is telling us in person, still listening to new part-time employees, and real people that listen to us in real life settings. We know what our stations sound like and what fits our market.

7) Natalia, how did you know that radio was the career path that you wanted to follow?

I grew up listening to Washington, D.C. radio. Heritage stations like WPGC, WRQX, WASH and WKYS really shaped my ear for great radio. I listened to the radio at every opportunity --morning and night to people like Jack Diamond, Donnie Simpson, Russ Parr and Delilah. I studied music as a child thanks to my Mom, who is a professional musician. My passion for music started very early in my life.

8) Don, how did you know that radio was the career path that you wanted to follow?

I grew up outside of New York City on Long Island. My parents listened to a wide variety of music at home and in the car. The radio was always on in the car and often on at home. I was exposed to WABC, WXLO and WNEW every day, and KFRC and KFOG when we'd go out west to visit my grandparents in Northern California.

9) Don, who would you say that your mentors have been along the way?

I was lucky to have worked with Mike McVay at WAKY, Tom Owens at WQMF and Dave Brewer at WHNN when I was in college. Some of the greats! Bennett Zier has been a very positive influence in my career. It's amazing to think we've worked with Bennett for almost nine years! Jack Taddeo was one of our GMs and he was terrific, too.

10) Natalia, who would you say that your mentors have been along the way?

Certainly, Don London has been a huge influence. He's known me since I was an intern at age 20 and hired me. He recognized my talent before I knew I had any. Brian Kelly at Entercom/Milwaukee has been helpful along the way and of course, Bennett Zier. He's been the GM here during over half my tenure at Entercom/Norfolk. He gave me the opportunity to grow, learn and rise up in our organization.

Who has been your all-time favorite in-studio guest? And who would be the ultimate guest that you'd like to see sitting at the other mic in the studio?

Natalia: Taylor Swift was by far my favorite artist to interview, meet and see in person. She's doing everything right and is an unbelievable talent and person. It would be a pleasure to talk with Adele. She's another amazing talent and a dynamic individual.

Don: Man, I've had some pretty unbelievable experiences in radio. Talking with and interviewing Don Henley at a soundstage in Westwood, Jon Secada in Miami, Michael Bolton in a recording studio in Los Angeles, Gloria Estefan at the Kennedy Center Honors and many others were all part of my lifelong memories and stories. It would be an honor to interview some of the pioneers and legends of pop and rock music like Stevie Nicks, James Taylor, Mick Jagger or Elton John. They've turned out countless hits for decades and were some of the first to do so. That's pretty impressive.