10 Questions with ... Derek James

NAME:Derek James TITLE:Morning Show Host STATIONS:WKQC K104.7 MARKET:Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC COMPANY:CBS Radio BORN:1979 - Marshfield, WI RAISED:Across North Central Wisconsin: Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, and Waupaca.

Please outline your radio career so far:

While in high school:
WDUX WDUX-A/Waupaca, WI - Morning News/Weekends
WIFC/Wausau, WI - News for "Kallaway on the Rise"/Weekends
WSPT/Stevens Point, WI - Morning News/on-air talent

During college:
WQLH (98.5 Mix FM)/Green Bay, WI - Weekends

After College:
WEZR (107.5 The Planet)/Green Bay, WI - Mornings/Programming Assistant - 1999
WIXX/Green Bay, WI - Weekends - 1999
(Thanks Dan Stone for putting me on air at the Big One!)
WYCO (Y-108)/Wausau, WI - PD/MD/Afternoons - 1999-2000
WLNK (107.9 The Link)/Charlotte, NC - APD/MD/afternoons/E.P.& Sidekick - 2000-2005
WKQC (K104.7)/Charlotte, NC - 2006 - Present

I'm a Meteorologist and Reporter for FOX Charlotte (WCCB-TV). I actually started working for FOX-TV part-time in early 2005 thanks to Matt & Ramona's FOX News EDGE gig while I was still across town at "The Link." I quickly worked my way into weekend and then morning weather while earning my Meteorology Certificate through Mississippi State. I knew LINK PD Neal Sharpe wasn't going anywhere, so I accepted an offer to go full-time as the Weekend Meteorologist/Reporter at FOX in December of 2006.

2) How did you get your present job?

After leaving the Link in 2006 to become a full-time Meteorologist for FOX Charlotte, I started getting the radio itch again in 2007. I've always had a lot of respect for John Reynolds whom I had met several times during my five years across town (we watched a Packer game or two with record reps). So I sent him an E-mail inquiring about any openings at Kiss or K-104.7. I did weekends for a few months and convinced everyone at the station I could do mornings and still keep my night-time job.

3) Describe a typical day in your position?

Well, I tend to do as much prep as possible the night before so I can get up a little before 5am. I'm up and out the door in a matter of minutes and at WKQC by 5:30am. I continue some last minute prep, and then I hit the air at 6am. I'm off at 10am, and then home for a little time with my wife and son and a quick nap. I'm back up around 1pm to get ready and get to the TV station by 2:30pm. Depending on the night, I leave FOX anywhere from 9:30 pm to 11:30pm.

4) Do you miss programming?

Some days I really do. I miss trying to put together those "perfect hours" of music in Selector, discussing new music, and getting those new promos or liners on the air. I especially loved my first programming job at WYCO. I wasn't even 21 years-old yet and I was programming a 100,000 watt Hot AC radio station! That station was my addiction. I practically lived there. I did some great things and I made a good number of mistakes too, but that's where I started to become a programmer.

5) What area of your "game" do you want to improve?

AC mornings is different than anything I've done before. After being on a long form Talk show for five years, saying something funny, entertaining, or compelling during a longer break is much easier for me than doing it in 45 seconds. I'm trying to find ways to be a fun, compelling personality in much shorter breaks, which requires good preparation and a lot of focus.

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

Providing good local content. Thanks to I-Pods, internet, and satellite radio, there are more and more music niches for a radio listener can choose from. We need content that can't be found on these other mediums, and we need to market it.

7) Who is the most amazing talent you've worked with?

There are two that come to mind:

Dave Kallaway, morning host at WIFC in Wausau. He brought it every single day and still does. Dave knows his audience and consistently delivers what they want.

Also, "Artie in the Afternoon" at WQLH in the late 90's is one of the funniest jocks I ever heard! He was well prepared and always gave you a reason to stick around. When I worked at WQLH I wanted to be Artie.

8) What format does not exist that should? Would it work?

I haven't come up with a name for it, but I've been playing with my own version of an Eclectic Pop/Alternative that I believe would kill with the 25-44 demo.

9) Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?

I've always wished I was better at production and imaging. I always had fun doing it, but it ate up too much of my time.

10) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?

I'm not exactly the most seasoned pro ever to appear on "10 Questions" but, here goes: Be willing to do anything and everything. Learn to be a back-up for various tasks at your station, and there will always be opportunities for you. Be passionate! Surround yourself with the people you admire and want to learn from.

1) What do you do in your spare time?

I've heard of time, but I'm not familiar with spare time. I've got two jobs, a wife, a one month old, and a yard that drinks weed killer like David Hasselhoff before a hamburger.

2) What "reality show" could you see yourself appearing on and why?

The "Amazing Race," I've always wanted to travel the world.

3) You just won the lotto and you have your boss on the line. What's the first thing that you would say?

Do you know any good signals that are for sale??