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10 Questions with ... Doug Hamand
January 28, 2008
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NAME:Doug HamandTITLE:Regional VP of Programming, Florida Panhandle/OM of Tampa Bay WMTX, WFLZ, WBTP, WFUSMARKET:Tampa, FLCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:Emmetsburg Iowa, 1962RAISED:Denver
Please outline your radio career so far:
KRLN/Canon City CO - 1979
KCCY/Pueblo, CO - 1981
KKFM/Colorado Springs, CO - 1983
KVMT/Vail, CO - 1984
WKZL/Greensboro, NC - 1985
KQKS/Denver, CO - 1986
WKWS/Charleston, WV - (PD) - 1992
WBUL/Lexington, KY - (Cluster OM) - 1994-1996
WDXB, WMJJ, WQEN, WENN, WERC/Birmingham. AL - (Cluster OM) - 2001
Clear Channel - Regional VP of Programming - State of Alabama - 2002
WFLZ, WBTP, WMTX, WFUS/Tampa, FL - (OM) - 2006
Regional VP of Programming, Florida Pan Handle, Alabama, Mississippi - Present1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
Johnny O'Neal (John Merriam) of KHJ/Los Angeles, who was getting his first PD stripes in his home-town of Canon City, CO gave me my first start. Chuck Finney in Colorado Springs showed me for every wrong thing I did on the air, there was something "good"....Dave VanStone taught me a ton in Denver. Marc Chase taught me how to fish in the programming pond. Still does, there's always new bait!
2) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
Clutter! There's too much competition for our listeners time these days. And somehow a lot of stations continue to BOMBARD their audiences with too many messages. I'm not just talking about spots (we all have to play them) it's the other crap between the songs that nobody cares about. What really counts? Have you asked yourself that lately?
3) How often do you do remotes and which work best for the station?
I applaud the stations that don't do them anymore! It's a part of the clutter problem, nobody comes to these and the client could actually increase their frequency with about 10 more spots vs. the cost of the remote.
4) How do you stay in touch with the latest music trends?
I watch everyone else's research!! I am REALLY late!! It's nice to know by the time I get to them, they're hits!
5) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as six months ago, better, or about the same? Elaborate.
Man, this goes in cycles. There seems to be about 4-6 months where it's really good and you can't find the room to get it all on (hang onto a few, they'll work later too). Then there's about 4 months of "Where the hell are all of the hits"? It happens in all formats except in Classic Hits and Classic Rock (BADA BING!!)
6) Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?
TOP 40, Country, AC, Classic Rock/Hits, and Urban.
7) What's the best concert you've been to ever and why?
Billy Joel with Elton John!! That wasn't a concert that was an event!!
8) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?
Getting away from the station to just LISTEN!! There's always something that comes up and blocks that. This is the most important part of any PD's job and it's getting harder and harder to do. It shouldn't, but it honestly is.
9) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
WSIX Nashville! When I lived in that area and went there for meetings it was magical to come over that last hill in South Tennessee to finally pick up the station. Gerry House is amazing!
10) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
Be a sponge! Learn as much as you can and get yourself surrounded by great people. Make some mistakes and learn from them. But if you're not making them, you're not trying.
Bonus Questions
1) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air? (dead air ... forget a mic was still on ... etc.)
Not being prepared and rushed saying "Simon and Garfuckle"! (Forgot the "N" or at least that what my PD thought he heard).
2) Most of us have known or even worked for a "colorful" owner, GM, or air talent. Care to share a story?
MJ Kelli, morning man on WFLZ Tampa. This guy has a work ethic like I've never seen before! He is consistently ahead of his competition (ratings) his show is extremely topical, relatable and fun. He has about five other cast members, but he lives his life so well on the show that his wife's recognition is just about as high as his. His ability of self-promotion is unbelievable; he knows how to get his show out in front of everyone! His years of success in Tampa are one we should all admire. I also get to work with two other incredibly talented people, Nancy Alexander and Skip Mahaffey. I am truly blessed to be in this building!
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