10 Questions – The Best Quotes Of 2020

This week, we look back at 2020 with the best answers to some of our best questions.

Chad Baker
PD
WDNL/Danville January 13, 2020

What is your favorite part of the job?

Really, it's been the flexibility. Certainly, there are time sensitive components I have to be in house for, such as my shifts, meetings, client recordings, etc. There are days I come in right before my shift, days I am able to leave early, and really this is where the industry is going. I can go out and immerse myself with activities in the community such as acquiring photos for our social media page or even working from home. It has helped this past year while I fought back from my cancer diagnosis and I was still able to perform my job without missing too much time.

Jay Michaels
PD
KQKQ/Omaha February 3, 2020

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

I am a social media advocate. It is an extension of all our brands daily. The team also grasps it, which is so important. If only the PD believed in it, we would not get the results. But, we have a team that gets it, cares and wants to use social media to our advantage.

Stan Main
OM
WRMM/Rochester February 10, 2020

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.

Lauren “Schmitty” Schmidt
AMD/Midays
WOOD/Grand Rapids February 24, 2020

How would you describe your first radio gig?

I didn’t even want to sleep between events because I felt like I was missing out. It’s no joke, you learn so much. You work so much. And looking back I’m thrilled my first taste of radio was a mix of promotions and programming. Priceless knowledge because so much of it was hands on and priceless stories that I like to think about when I want to remember that I used to be somewhat cool.

Mark Mitchell
VP Programming
KZXY/Victor Valley March 9, 2020

Where will the next generation of broadcasters come from?

I’m encouraged to see that there are some youngsters that are working in some bigger markets part-time that are excited to have an opportunity for a full-time gig in a smaller market. It’s up to us to build that bench. I think that some of the next generation are already working for us. We just need to find the time to mentor them and train them properly. If only there were 29 hours in a day…

Bernie Mack
Mornings/Westwood
One Hot AC April 20, 2020

What’s one thing that you’ve quickly learned during this crisis?

It’s the first time in a long time that we, as a culture, are experiencing the same thing together in real time. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, early on, this felt like a slow moving 9/11 in the way that it developed over a couple of weeks. Just a sort of shared shock. Now that the shock of it has worn off, and it’s become a little more way of life, and in that you can do some slice-of-life content.

I have learned that people are OK with your going on the air unsure. In the first days of this, I was vulnerable and worried with the audience. I think that’s the best spot I could be in with them. I wasn’t panicked, but I was very unsure. When you can open the mic and just say what you’re thinking because you are reacting, which is a scary thing to do. But it’s good radio.

Steve Petrone
PD/VP Operations
WHUD/Hudson Valley June 15, 2020

You folks were literally on the ground floor of the pandemic in the New York-area and one of the first places to shut down. There’s nothing in the programmer’s playbook for that scenario. Tell us how that played out for you in the beginning.

As the shutdown hit, advertising had dropped dramatically so that not only did we have to deal with changes in how we would operate, but with a reduced staff. Almost immediately, Corporate said that part-time staff could not be used. Others in promotions and other departments were furloughed and a few people terminated. Obviously the focus became providing vital information to our listeners and at the same time, companionship and a place they could turn to for comfort. We were determined to keep WHUD, “live and local.” Without part-time staff to cover some weekend shifts, the full-time staff took on 6 days of shifts. We closed the building to sales (outsiders were not allowed in very early in the process) and other non-programming personnel, but have been able to keep studio operations going. We kept the studio open to only one person at a time. For our morning, show, Mike Bennett (Mike & Kacey in the Morning) has been working from home, while Kacey is in the studio. All other elements, traffic, news, weather are done remotely.

B.J. Harris
Morning Show Host
KALC/Denver August 10,2020

Co-host Jamie White plugged in next to you in 2012. Chemistry either happens or it doesn’t. What’s the secret to the longevity and success that keeps listeners coming back every morning?

Jamie and I have amazing chemistry. Jamie White is one of the most talented personalities I’ve ever worked with or even managed. The MJ (Todd Schnitt) and BJ Morning show (933FLZ) was very special too. MJ is super talented as well. So I guess you could say that I’ve been very fortunate to have been paired with these amazing people. My secret has been not trying to control the players in the room. The talent you hire--give them a chance to show their skills. Don’t be intimidated. Everyone is working for one cause: SUCCESS! Have fun in that studio.

Jon Daniels
PD
WKJY-WHLI/Nassau-Suffolk September 8, 2020

How has navigating the pandemic made you a better programmer?

It reinforces the reality that our listeners are going through the same things we are - everyone in the community is in this together.

Pat Gallagher
Content Director
WMGN/Madison October 12, 2020
You get to be on the radio in your hometown—for many years actually. What has that part of it been like for you?

As you might expect, I have a real passion for my hometown! I never have to fake enthusiasm for the Packers or the Badgers…or really anything going on around town. I really know what a special place this is. It’s a little chilly in the winter, but it’s worth it to be here!