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10 Questions with ... Dale Jones
November 21, 2006
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NAME:Dale JonesTITLE:PD/Morning hostSTATIONS:WZBG/Litchfield, CTMARKET:Hartford, CTCOMPANY:Local Boys and Girls BroadcastingBORN:June 1961, Sharon CTRAISED:Sharon, CT; and Cocoa Beach, FL
Please outline your radio career so far:
Please outline your radio career so far: (station/date, station/date, etc.) WSBS-A, Great Barrington MA-1981-1985, WSNG-A 610, Torrington CT, 1985-1986, WKZE-A & FM, Sharon CT, 1986-1994. WZBG-FM Litchfield CT 1994-present.
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I got the big launch at WSBS- as a daytime AM board-op for the Red sox games! It was 1981-the year of the big strike, so I produced Pawtucket Red Sox games on the weekend. Then my big break (literally) was when the afternoon guy broke his leg. I got the job, and kept it. I was landscaping prior to that momentous beginning, listening to Don Imus on 66 N-BC NY and thought "This gut is having way too much fun!" Those were the days of Geraldo Santana Banana, Moby Worm et al...
2) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
Being relevant to the next generation of audio consumer!
3) As an air-talent how has industry consolidation helped or hurt you? What effect has industry consolidation had on the way you program your station?
We've had scores of Corporate station jocks beg us for jobs. They envy our private ownership, freedom and relative autonomy. Our owners have three requirements; 1) make us look good in the community, 2) don't cost us any money (but we don't need you to MAKE us money) and, 3) when we very occasionally ask you to jump, you say-HOW HIGH! They ask about once a year.
4) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as six months ago, better, or about the same? Elaborate.
There are always good artists that deserve airplay- step out of the Lemming line and listen for them.
5) Have you explored launching an HD Radio channel?
We're exploring it, but it's not a marketing or competitive move we need to make right now.
6) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?
Do more promotions online, and content streaming.
7) How is the relationship between programmer and record label changing? For better or worse?
Better again-Labels need us more than just a few years ago.
8) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
Terrestrial radio simply needs to be relevant to it's audience. If it is, it can compete. The bigger challenge is the next generation-kids who grew up with I-Pods blogs, MTV and podcasts online. Radio needs to affiliate with these concepts.
9) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
It's a wonderful business to be in if you are not into big money and material things. If you want a long career ladder, study marketing in college along with communications!
10) How do you position the station musically and why did you choose this direction?
AC base-with oldie and country mix-It reflects our demo perfectly.
Bonus Questions
1) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air? (dead air ... forget a mic was still on ... etc.)
Dropped a minor four-letter bomb while mic was on, then got called by the GM for a chewing-out, in which he repeated my gaffe on the air because the phone link was hot!
2) Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?
We did a live cast for "Tom's Choice Meats." It had too many hysterical slightly scary sight gags to mention. Every not-so-good promotion has been compared to "Tom's Choice Meats."
3) How did you get your on-air name?
I'm so boring. No nickname. The traffic reporter calls me "Jonesy"??
4) Do you have any good stalker stories? Misty requests? "Fatal Attractions?"
Yeah, but this one is a guy.. weirds me out....
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