10 Questions with ... Tom Furci

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I began as an intern in fall 1977 at WALL in Middletown; then WOR in NY; a brief stop at HBO in NYC; WVIP in Mt Kisco, and WHUD. In total, 42 years!

1. You've now been at WHUD for 25 + years (!!), congrats and as we know, longevity like that doesn't happen by accident. How do you explain your long term success?

Thank you for the compliment, buddy. I've been very lucky - WHUD is a heritage station in the Hudson Valley. The audience is very loyal, and they welcomed me to the midday show quickly. Having been in the Hudson Valley since 1981, I did have name recognition in the area, so that helped. I think the listeners appreciate that I am the same off the air as I am on the air.

2. You and program director Steve Petrone have been in the trenches together for quite some time now. Describe the dynamic that makes it all happen.

Steve's been at WHUD for 44 years, so he is Yoda to my Luke Skywalker. We get along because we agree on most everything. He respects my opinion about music and station related issues, though ultimately, it's his decision.

3. What led you to a career in radio?

It was my love of music, which began when I was little and my oldest brother, Don, was a big music fan. His music became my music.

4. Maybe more so than any other format, AC radio has changed dramatically. What are your thoughts on the current state of the format?

I LOVE how the format has evolved over the years. We were such a conservative format, afraid to stretch the musical boundaries. Now, we're playing a lot of songs we never would have previously touched. On the negative side, our "chart" is very stagnant. The music never changes! I think the methodology on how the chart is created needs to be addressed.

5. You folks are coming off of (yet another) very successful ratings period (#1 Spring 2019) and just in to the Fall Book. How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?

We have a very competitive group of stations surrounding us who try very hard to keep up with us. They keep us on our toes, which makes for better radio for everyone. Of course, being north of the number one market is a challenge as well.

6. "Local local local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?

WHUD has always been very community oriented. In April and October, we have a ton of charity walks that we are involved with. We also get plenty of requests for the air staff to appear at events that need an MC. Plus, as one of the few stations that is (mostly) live, we are able to share important information that is vital to the area, from weather related information to traffic issues to breaking news.

7. How has the massiveness that is social media impacted the way that you folks interact with your listeners?

We use social media to interact with the audience. Our audience also uses our website to find out about events in the area...and many of our listeners work in Manhattan, and stream the station while they're at work so they know what's going on close to home.

8. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

My mentors are many, but the earliest was probably Jim Frey, the production/copy writer at my first station, WALL in Middletown, NY. Martin Stone, the station owner at WVIP in Mt Kisco, NY was another. And Steve Petrone continues to mentor me. The biggest influences were my brother, Don, for his love of music; Dick Clark for American Bandstand; and Gene Klavan, who encouraged me to get back on the air while I was working behind the scenes at WOR Radio.

9. What is your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part of the job is doing the all request lunch break during the week. I love interacting with the audience and playing their songs for them.

10. If you could add one full-time position to your budget right now, what would it be?

If it was up to me, I'd hire a full time copy writer. Our current staff does the best they can, but they're stretched to the limits. We have 7 radio stations in this group of stations, so the volume is enormous. And, sometimes the creative part takes a back seat to "getting it on the air."

Who is your all-time favorite radio personality and why?

Dan Ingram. I grew up listening to him I the afternoons on WABC while I was supposed to be doing my homework. He was brilliant!