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10 Questions with ... Neal Sharpe
November 14, 2006
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NAME:Neal SharpeTITLE:PD for WLNK and The Link Radio NetworkSTATIONS:WLNKMARKET:Charlotte, NCCOMPANY:Lincoln Financial MediaBORN:1961 Buffalo, NYRAISED:Shoveling snow in Alden, NY (a suburb of Buffalo)
Please outline your radio career so far:
WBNY, Buffalo, NY (Mornings & Sportscaster) 1980-1983
WGRQ, Buffalo, NY (Programming Intern) 1982-1983
WESB, Bradford, PA (Nights/Middays/Sports & Newscaster) 1983-1985
WLVL, Lockport, NY (Afternoon Drive/Sports Director) 1985-1986
WKSE, Buffalo, NY (Fulltime on-air Personality/News Dir./Sports Dir.) 1986-1988
WKYN, St. Mary's, PA (Middays/APD/MD/Promotions Dir) 1988-1989
WJET, Erie, PA (Asst. PD/MD/Promotions Dir. 1989-1992) OM/PD 1992-1996)
WFGO, Erie, PA (OM/PD 1994-1996)
WNCI, Columbus, OH (Asst. PD/MD) 1996-1999 (Program Dir.) 1999-2000
WLNK, Charlotte, NC (Program Director) 2000-Present1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
On-Air at WBNY (Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY). My first REAL full-time radio job was on-air nights at WESB in Bradford, PA. Early influences included radio station's WKBW, WGR , WBEN & WGRQ in Buffalo. The personalities at KB, including Danny Neaverth, Jim Quinn, Sandy Beach & Joey Reynolds, plus sports play-by-play from WBEN's Van Miller (Buffalo Bills & Braves) and WGR's Ted Darling (Buffalo Sabres). In college, one of my proffessors Tom (Donahue) McCray encouraged me to pursue a career in radio, and helped me get started. Paul Heine, John Hagar and Bill Weston, my bosses at 97 Rock, were also very supportive and helpful. Early on, those folks and many others helped provide a solid foundation for my career in radio.
2) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
I probably would have pursued a career in sports marketing.
3) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
Waking up to hear the "snow day" school closings, and thinking how powerful Danny Neaverth (WKBW morning star) was to be able to tell the thousands of kids in Western New York that they had the day off. I wanted to be able to do that one day. (Later on I was able to that at WKSE.)
4) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
The Link is very unique, it's a station built on high-profile personalities and it's often described as having not one, but four morning shows. We feature "fun" lifestyle-talk with some adult top-40 music throughout the entire day and into the night. It all started with Bob & Sheri in the morning (syndicated from WLNK to over 50 stations nationwide). They have been doing mornings on 107.9 FM over 14 years. Our afternoon show Matt & Ramona joined us over 5 years ago and are also syndicated. This spring Candy & Potter joined us for middays from WFLY in Albany, NY and at night we now air the brand new Cooper Lawrence show originating from the Dial Global studios in New York City. We also have Comedian/TV Star Pam Stone doing a high profile talk show on Saturdays.
The Link is similar to the other stations I've worked at because of the quality of people on staff. As was the case in Erie and Columbus, I am working for a great station that is part of a great company with terrific leadership. As for the market, Charlotte is highly competitive with well-positioned stations in just about every format. It's similar in size to Columbus, Ohio where I worked at WNCI. But there are more competitive signals in Charlotte than there were at the time that I programmed in Columbus.
5) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?
I would like to see radio's piece of the advertising pie grow to reflect the type of impact we have on society. When well targeted, radio is the most powerful and immediate medium for advertising success-just ask our advertisers at WLNK and WBT here in Charlotte.
6) How do you stay in touch with the latest music trends?
My MD Todd Haller does a great job along with my APD Anthony Michaels in bringing strong material to my attention along with other members of our on-air team. Plus we have some terrific record reps and VP's of promotion who I have strong relationships with. They help keep us informed. Plus my daughter Lindsay has great ears for a 10 year old!
7) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
I really like WDVE in Pittsburgh, WGRF in Buffalo, WNCI in Columbus and WFLZ in Tampa. All of those stations are plugged into their communities, they're well programmed, and they're always entertaining.
8) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
One of the best promotion's I ever experienced was our "Beads for the Bayou" promotion here at WLNK, which raised over $300,000 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Charlotte community embraced the promotion and we even received national exposure with our involvement with the Carolina Panthers NFL team who hosted the New Orleans Saints in the 2005 season opener.
9) What do you like best about working in this format?
Our Lifestyle-talk format is unique and very entertaining. It's always evolving and very challenging. It's also very rewarding because our listeners are very passionate about our personalities and the station.
10) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
Never stop learning and challenge yourself daily. Network and communicate with the people you admire and respect. Most of all-HAVE FUN!
Bonus Questions
1) What has been the station's biggest accomplishment?
Serving our community with entertaining radio that has generated incredible revenue success.
2) What's been your biggest disappointment in Radio today?
Deregulation
3) Most of us have known or even worked for a "colorful" owner/GM/air talent. Care to share a story? (The names can be changed to protect the innocent).
I was lucky enough to work with and for a true radio pioneer while I was in Erie, Pennsylvania. Station Owner Myron Jones put legendary Top 40 WJET on the air in the late 1950's. He was a radio engineer who literally built the station from the ground up. In an era that found most stations airing nationally syndicated programming, he decided to be live and local. His Top-40 playlist (generated weekly by his wife Kaye for many years) introduced Erie to the biggest hits for over 40 years. Myron was a true entrepreneur who loves our business and gave me an incredible opportunity. He continues to be an inspiration to the countless number of quality radio and television broadcasters who worked with him and for him over the years.
4) Who is your best friend in the business?
Jay Moran who works for Metro Traffic in Buffalo is a lifelong friend. We grew up together, went to college together, and even worked our first fulltime radio gigs together in Bradford, PA.
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