10 Questions with ... Stan Main

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I refuse to answer how long on the grounds that it may tend to incriminate me. I’ve worked in El Paso, Juarez, San Diego, Tijuana, Modesto, Salt Lake City, Fargo, Rochester, NY (twice), and Austin,TX.

1. How would you describe your first radio job?

10a-noon Monday-Friday on KINT, The Super T in El Paso. I passed my 3rd class with broadcast endorsement excited to get a job on KINT-Progressive Rock for El Paso and drove home from Dallas to find out the format had flipped to Top 40 that weekend. It was one of the worst days of my life, but one that later would pay off.

2. What led you to a career in radio?

Dan Ingram. Listened to him every day after school in WABC in New York and wanted to be him.

3. Are you wearing more “hats” than you have in the past?

No. I have always have worn a lot of hats--overseeing research, marketing, music, imaging, promotions if not directly, indirectly my whole career. I married radio and have always wanted to stay busy.

4. Your morning host, Tony Infantino, is a legend in the market. How does he and the morning show set the table for the rest of the station’s broadcast day?

The addition of Tony in 1993 made WRMM the leading AC in the market after trailing for years. We’ve never looked back. Tony continues to perform well surrounded by an exceptionally strong co-host, Kristie Credit and Nikki Rudd (local TV morning show host). They bare their souls on the radio every day. We are very fortunate to have a show as relatable to the target as they are. An unofficial estimate is 34 different morning shows on the station we got him from since his departure.

5. How does social media augment what comes out of the speakers?

It takes as much or more than it gives. Texting and IMing reduce the human emotion that airs from listeners calling and gives too much easy access to keyboard heroes with little constructive feedback. That said, it can be very fun and empowering for some P1s.

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

Rochester is a naturally interesting community that always generates content both good and bad. I would argue that local is nice, but relatable is more important. More often than not, relatable is going to naturally be local, especially if you actually live in the town you are broadcasting to/from. Don’t get me started.

7. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

I’ve always been a numbers programmer. One way or another, I’m going to get enough feedback from listeners to understand what songs in my market are sufficiently exposed for my stations to play and rest those that get overexposed. A challenge big companies that will use national playlists from market to market will have is the ability for little guys like me to find the songs that are in the sweet spot for my individual market.

8. What advice would you give people new to the business?

Talent is going to be more valuable as more and more venues for audio entertainment develop. Sadly, many of the “broadcast” jobs for talent will be squeezed by the banking interests and race to the bottom to win chieftains in the broadcast field, at least in the short term. But there will always be a need for voices introducing new music and ideas to the masses. There will always be personalities that inform “listeners” about new exciting songs and information and continue one of radio’s prime missions to let listeners know why they should care, something for which we’ve always been the most appropriate medium. So, be open to new venues to work your magic. And most importantly, do your homework and be magical. Song titles, artist names, the time and temperature are not magical.

9. Who was your favorite jock when you were a kid?

The best was Dan Ingram. My adult favorite, who I happily managed for many years was and remains Brother WEASE currently working WAIO in here Rochester, the best story-teller I’ve ever heard on the radio and a life full of the best stories.

10. Who would you say that your mentors have been?

Bob Proud (who used to go by the name Bob Payton) currently in Dallas, Greg Ausham, currently in Atlanta, and of course, BME--Bruce Miller Earle one of the most interesting human beings I’ve ever met. More recently, Randy Lane who taught me how to work with and respect talent at a whole new level. And my current savior Mike Ninnie, GM of Stephen’s Media Group/Rochester, who has encouraged me to believe in myself as much as any person I’ve known.

If someone were visiting Rochester for the first time, what are some of the things that you would make sure that they see before leaving town?

We are very proud of the grocery chain Wegmans which started here, it dominates and I shop there weekly. We are known for a food specialty called the Garbage Plate which is mandatory for anyone to try when they visit, unless they are vegan or worried about heart attacks. The George Eastman (founder of Kodak) House and story is worth a visit. Twenty percent of the world's fresh water goes over a cliff 90 minutes from here and is a sight to see as well. If it was spring/summer/early fall, I would show them my farm and load them up with tomatoes, melons, strawberries and sunflowers. If it was winter, I’d take them to the Mill Creek Golf course next to the farm and have them toboggan down the hill. New York is a great state. The cold weather keeps the bugs, reptiles and riffraff to a minimum.