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10 Questions with ... Cooper Fox
January 2, 2007
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NAME:Cooper FoxTITLE:PD/Morning HostSTATIONS:WVMJ (Magic 104), WMWV-FM, WBNC-AMMARKET:Concord/Lakes RegionCOMPANY:Mount Washington Radio Group, Conway NHBORN:Houlton MERAISED:Houlton ME
Please outline your radio career so far:
WREM-A (1995-1996)
WHOU (1998-2000)
WWBX/WVOM/WKSQ/WBFB/WABI Bangor Maine (2001-2002)
Alice 103-3/93-7 Burlington VT (2002)
Magic 104/Mt Washington Radio Group (2002-Present)1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I was a high school sophomore when I heard a spot on a local radio station seeking "interns". WREM (710-A) was a day-timer licensed to the small farming community of Monticello Maine. It was running a Classic Rock format that primarily came from an aging collection of TM Century reels. After only a couple months, the internship turned into a part time job. The rest, as they say, is history.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
It was either this, or working with computers. I realized that, while the initial pay with computers was much better, the repetition of the work was mind numbing.
3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
The Concord/Lakes Region is massive, with only a couple of the stations powerful enough to cover the entire survey area (we do like those class A's here in NH). The economy in nearly the entire market, specifically Mount Washington Valley, is tourist driven. We've got skiing in the winter, fall foliage, outlet shopping, and dozens of tourist attractions in the summer. In fact, on summer holiday weekends, this area becomes one of the largest cities in New Hampshire. As a result, I strive to run a station that sounds as though it could be found in a much larger market, but also maintain the local flavor.
4) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?
The industry in five years? With the buyout of Clear Channel, I suspect the time of the large conglomerates is coming to an end. I suspect, and hope, that their smaller market assets will be purchased by local companies. I believe that we will all continue to multi-task and be heavily voice-tracked. A lot of my former coworkers/classmates complain about tracking. I've always felt that voice-tracking can be a great benefit to a company, no matter the market size. It really depends on the station's format. Stations with less caller interaction (AAA's, Classical, Soft AC) can get away with being tracked more than a format that is known for lots of caller interaction (CHR, Hot AC, Hot Country). This works best if the times a jock's voice-tracks run lines up with when he/she is doing production or administrative duties. If a situation should arise, a person could re-cut a voice-track. As for where I see myself in five years, the sky is the limit.
5) In today's world of multi-tasking and wearing many hats, how do you find time to show prep and what sources do you use?
The second that Megan, the other half of the morning show on Magic 104, and I finish the show, we lock ourselves in the studio and lay out the ground work for the next day. Throughout the morning, we'll already have been setting aside potential stuff for bits. The next morning we recap what we have and decide what is going to be dumped for more time sensitive material. We use Launch Radio Networks prep, as well as Audio Clipboard, and the AP wire
6) How are you using new music technologies to work with the music you program on your station, in production, and in your personal life?
Our Audio Clip Art and Continuous Climax imaging libraries are now available on the web. That makes imaging from home fifty times easier. Also, since I got my flash memory stick (geek key, as my wife calls it), I never have to burn spots to CD to transfer between studios.
7) What do you think is the next emerging music trend?
I'm hearing a lot (waaaayyyy too much, if you ask me) of the "Emo" Rock. That "whiney psuedo-Folk Alternative Rock garbage" (The Fray, Snow Patrol, etc). The listeners, however, love it. I'm also seeing Dance/house tracks becoming more Mainstream, DHT, for example. And, the fact that people were going crazy for the Crazy Frog version of "Axel F."
8) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
I know it has been said a million times, but localism will be the key in maintaining our piece of the pie. The XM jocks know nothing about having to deal with the traffic jams created by Fryeburg Fair, or the freak rain storm we had last week. When it comes to internet radio, (and MP3 players) people get burned out after a while. Apparently, instant gratification gets tiring.
9) Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?
About a year ago, the Powerball jackpot hit an incredibly large amount. I believe it was somewhere around $400 million. At 11am on that Tuesday, (Powerball is Wednesday and Saturday), we started promoting the location and time that we would be giving away free Powerball tix. 100 tickets for each of our FM's(Magic 104 and WMWV). The next morning, we stood at the gazebo in the outlet mall where our studios are located and handed them out. They were completely gone in less than 10 minutes. An amazing response for what was basically a last minute promotion. I have to give a shout out to our GSM Greg Frizzell for that one!
10) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
We work with a group called Vaughn Community Service each November to do a holiday food drive. On November 14th, 2006, we held our "5th Annual Food Drive" and collected 500 bags of food, as well as 162 frozen turkeys. However, the biggest fund-raiser we have ever done was our "Katrina Relief Express." Working with the Conway Scenic Railroad, we raised $30,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina in less than six hours time.
Bonus Questions
1) What's the closest you ever came to getting arrested for an on-air stunt? Or did you actually get arrested?
When I was doing nights at Top 40 WWBX (B97) in Bangor Maine, I spent a morning duct taped to a light pole on Main Street. The cops stopped by, laughed, and then carried on with the real crime fighting. I think I still have video of that somewhere....
2) Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?
Rhythmic Top 40, or Hot Talk.
3) What is your favorite TV show?
Boston Legal, or the new Battlestar Galactica. (Yes, I'm a geek!!!)
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