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10 Questions with ... Joshua B
October 10, 2006
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NAME:Joshua BTITLE:Afternoon Drive/ImagingSTATIONS:WMRV (STAR 105.7)MARKET:Binghamton, NYCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:Northern New Jersey, 1980RAISED:Northern New Jersey
Please outline your radio career so far:
I took a job on the street team of Star 93.7 after I finished college because it beat working at Starbucks. After spending some time interning for Ralphie, Karen, and Fast Freddy in the morning, I was hired to do work on the nationally syndicated Open House Party-which was incredible. There, I did everything from audio production and traffic, to technical support, to ordering the pizza. After a while, I moved to New York City and produced mid-days for Diane Prior. Now I do afternoon drive at Star 105.7!
1) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
I'd be a playwright. Or a web designer (hey, check out my myspace [cheap plug]: http://www.myspace.com/newmediajosh . Or I'd be unemployed. Most likely I'd be unemployed.
2) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
The week I moved here (Binghamton, NY), there was horrible flooding. I got to know the community while it was in crisis. People really came together to help each other. I've only worked behind the scenes in larger markets, and now I'm getting smaller-market on-air experience.
You can talk about local community events and people really care. And in general, your listeners have a lot more in common with each other. You can say that something is "in the field behind the Wal-Mart" and people know exactly where you're talking about.
3) How do you stay in touch with the latest music trends?
Listen to the songs people have in their MySpace profiles.
4) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?
My situation hasn't changed, but I love getting my fingers into as many areas as possible. It's how we learn, no? I suppose it's just a reality of the industry that we have to do more and more; but I never get bored!
5) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?
Give them as much personality as our personalities. They're too generic. And offer more multimedia content. And make them as dynamic as possible. Listeners are comparing some radio station web sites to mtv.com and saying, "this is it??" And update. Update update update! Otherwise, they'll visit once and never come again.
And find a programmer to add all the functionality of MySpace to your site.
6) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?
I wish there were more opportunities for people to get their start and more opportunities for newbies to get on-air.
7) 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?
TIVO is incredible! I don't understand how people know anything without it. I TIVO Entertainment Tonight, Letterman, The Emmy's, The Oscars, and Star Trek. But that last one is because I'm a dork.
Also: Google News automatically E-mails me about every artist that we play. I have it all set up on keywords, and I listen to DJs that are better than me. And I steal stuff. A LITTLE. Ha!
8) Favorite artist you have met?
Daniel Bedingfield. It was a long time ago, and I was stuck in a back office with a bunch of phone-ops because another artist there had the room cleared. He came in to use the Internet. He asked why we were all locked in the back room, and started chatting with us. By the end of the conversation he had beat-boxed everybody's favorite song.
9) How often do you air-check your own shows?
Several times a week. And then I send it to the smartest people I know. Then I listen to their advice and apply whatever sticks a few weeks later.
10) What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?
John Mayer, because "Waiting on the World to Change" means a lot to me. Christina Aguilera, because she's just that good. And Lucas Prata, because it's his mission to move dance music back into the Mainstream.
Bonus Questions
What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
People sometimes knock the industry in general and where it's going. But I'm new. And I like to stay positive. So I stick my fingers in my ears and shout "La, La, La, La, I can't hear you." I figure I have plenty of time to be bitter when I'm older and have been fired a lot.
Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?
Elvis Duran, Z100, NYC. I know I like somebody when I'm not thinking about them in the context of the industry. And when I listen to Elvis, I'm just a listener.
What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
103.5 KTU in NYC. As a listener, I love dance music. And I grew up with it. And KTU feels very unique. And the people involved have tremendous pride; they believe in the music.
What's the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you? The worst?
Best: Be Real. - Diane Prior, KTU
Best: Be Humble. - Showboat, KTU
Best: Learn to Manage Your Boss. - John Garabedian (when he was my boss)
Worst: Get out of radio. -
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