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10 Questions with ... Jayn
December 6, 2021
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
KRZQ, KEDJ, KNRK, KLLC (and now KITS too!)
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
In a word…accidental. The beginning of my radio career was a happy accident after my collegiate internship in DC.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
My college journalism professor recommended I do a political internship in DC, which ended up being at a radio news service. That led me to applying to radio jobs once I got back to my home market. One programmer hired me as a board operator and I eventually worked my way up to on air there. It was only after I resigned for another gig, years later, that he shared with me that only two people had applied for the board op job, both women - but I *wasn’t* the woman he’d intended to call. He said that when I came in to train, I was so excited to be there, he didn’t have the heart to tell me he’d called the wrong person.
So, I’m literally here right now because he picked up the wrong resume - and the phone - at the same time
3. You’ve been at Alice for over 17 years now. How has the role of Music Director evolved over the years?
Deep breaths at that number! I am so grateful. I think that the essence of the evolving role is more than just watching current trends; it’s identifying which of those trends are actually true to your brand over the years. Beyond being swayed scrolling YouTube and TikTok...finding which songs don’t just blow up, but blow up AND personify your audience. (As a current example, cue Benson Boone “Ghost Town” cough SMASH cough)
4. You’ve been part of breaking some amazing artists. If you could pick one or two (or three) and spotlight those a bit for us.
My favorite “first” artist moment ever has to be with Ed Sheeran. We had been playing “The A Team” for a while, before Ed came to the market to do a lounge for us (!!!)… at that lounge, I asked Ed how it had felt to hear his song on the radio in America. He said he never had….so I said “ok I’ll play it for you tomorrow.” The recording of him calling in the next day to “request” it is pretty special to listen to, even now.
5. What do you still love about being on the air every afternoon?
You know that feeling of going to get a drink with that one best friend of yours who you love everything about? Who you want to call every five minutes to discuss every new story or to just talk about how much you love a certain song or meme? That’s how I feel every day from 3 – 7pm…hanging out and talking with my best friend. Sidenote; I only ever talk on the air to “you” - not “you guys.” It’s always just you and me.
6. Which artist interview(s) have you been most proud of over the years?
Talking with Ed Sheeran about the first time he heard his music on the radio in America… talking with Christina Perri about us playing her on the radio for the first time after “So You Think You Can Dance”…bonding with Miley Cyrus about our mutual love for Joan Jett and The Replacements too...talking with John Mayer about Alice’s unique support of his secret-weapon smashes.
7. Who would be a “dream guest” to come in to the studio and plug in across from you?
Bono has that Universal Standing Invitation… and in terms of people I’ve never talked with, the ultimate fantasies that come to mind are greats like Paul McCartney, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks.
8. You’ve come up with some bigger than life promotions/shows. Are there a couple that stand out?
So, to be clear, I haven’t come up with them, but I’ve been along for the ride. Most of my favorites are Alice in Winterlands: Ed Sheeran and Christina Perri together (when they did “Be My Forever” for the first time ever live)…when John Mayer walked in backstage (after having had to postpone his show the year before because of appendicitis) and showed us his scar to prove “it was real”…and then that year that Harry Connick Jr. immediately owned the entire venue starting with just one note and a grin – all of them such phenomenal moments.
9. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid growing up? Jock(s)?
Two words: Casey Kasem. Skating in my driveway with my boombox and a notebook next to me so I could stop and write down the names of new songs I loved.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
That conversation always begins with Blaze at KRZQ, who is a mentor and a friend for life. He gave me my official start, and I will owe and love him forever.
The rest of the entire conversation is 100% Michael Martin. He is the singularly best programmer and boss there is, anywhere and ever. I learn from him every day, about radio and management, and how to handle life’s madness (and also when to just pour a shot and move on.) As I’ve said for the last 12 years, one of the very best parts of my job is having a front-row-seat to watching him do his.
Bonus Questions
If you were handed an unlimited budget, which 3-5 acts would you pull together for a station show?
For the station: Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Adele, Coldplay, U2
(If it was my birthday the night before, we’d pre-party in FantasyLand with Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, The 1975, Concrete Blonde and Depeche Mode)
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