10 Questions with ... Mike McCoy

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KCUE, KRIB,KIFG,CK101/Cocoa Beach, KLUC/Las Vegas, K96/Salt Lake City, WNCI/ Columbus, B94/Pittsburgh, PD/Z96/Youngstown, PD KNMQ/Albuquerque, PD KJ103/ Oklahoma City, OM/PD SMG/Rochester

1. How would you describe your first radio gig?

Kind of a mix between WKRP in Cincinnati and The Twilight Zone. It was an itty-bitty sized market of Red Wing, Minnesota. It was the perfect place to make your fair share of mistakes, then onto the next gig. That’s how we did it, through a succession of U-Haul hook-ups, traveling from small market to medium market, to major market.

2. What led you to a career in radio?

My father was Program Director and on-air at the heritage Top 40 in Phoenix (KRUX) and he’s now going on his 50th year as the voice of the Phoenix Suns. He’s the longest running play by play announcer in the NBA. I got to see him inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame awhile back and that’s something you don’t forget. I literally grew up in the radio business.

3. You had an incredible run in Oklahoma City. Can you spotlight a couple or so highlights from that part of your career?

Sustaining double-digit ratings when most CHR’s were hanging on for their lives was a feeling beyond comprehension. I had great people to work with and it paid off. I spent 28 years in OKC and had the opportunity to experience many feelings and events – none more powerful than the Murrah Building Bombing. The losses suffered by so many was heart-wrenching – the pain was real and permeated every aspect of life in Oklahoma City. We put together an 8-hour benefit concert to help the victims and their families from that horrific event. It was an amazing night of entertainment and the power of doing good. I will never forget how willing to help the labels were to help to get those acts together to support our efforts. We had everyone from Collective Soul and Sophie B. Hawkins to The Rembrandts and Tony Bennett all streaming live on the internet which was a first for 1995.

4. You’re closing in on your 2-year anniversary in Rochester. What excites you about getting into the office every day?

We provide an important product that provides both companionship and entertainment and that product’s name is “sound.” No radio station anywhere provides that sound in a perfect form and those of us involved in that pursuit continue to chase it. It’s both elusive and attainable and my desire to attain it keeps me fired up.

5. How did navigating the pandemic make you a better programmer?

At the peak of the pandemic, the feeling of isolation was felt by all of us at one time or another. We shifted our entire programming to focus on just one listener at a time. Ideally, it’s how radio should act all the time, but we really brought our stations down to connecting one-to-one as really only radio can to connect. It changed the way I approach programming, changing my mindset from wanting to score those all-important 25-54’s, to connecting with that one person within that cell whom we could identify as an influencer among friends,

6. WARM’s day starts with market legend Tony Infantino. How does his morning show jump start the station’s broadcast line up?

Tony loves radio and sets the stage for a great relationship with the station, the community, and all its working parts. He has some valuable contributors as fellow cast members, including Kristie Credit and Nikki Rudd who also anchors the 11pm news on WHEC-TV. Tony, Kristie & Nikki are Rochester!

7. In 2022 no two AC stations sound remotely the same. How do you know when a “current’ is ready for the station?

Ah, the secret sauce that makes the sound! In all candor, it’s a mix between research, market familiarity with the song, and whether or not that song will be as strong a song as the song any competitive station could be simultaneously playing.

8. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

The rent is too damn high!

9. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?

KRUX, KOMA, KOPA, KHJ, KIIS, KFRC, WLS, KAAY, KSTP, KDWB, WAPE, Z100

I like so many but a few are: Dr Don Rose, Charlie Tuna, Bobby Ocean and Kidd Kraddick

10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

I’ve worked with some terrific people along the way…Jerry Clifton, Guy Zapoleon, and Jim Sumpter who are all geniuses. But my father has influenced my career the most because I grew up in radio stations as a kid, and caught the bug very early. He let me hang out at stations while he worked, took me to concerts including Elvis, remotes at the Phoenix Open and Phoenix International Raceway. Meeting jocks and a few artists along the way too I just knew it was something I had to be a part of.

For those who would be unfamiliar with Rochester, what are some “must see” highlights for first time visitors to town?

Depending on what you’re into…there’s more festivals than anyplace I’ve ever lived like the Lilac Festival, Fringe Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival and on and on all summer. We’ve got a lot of museums…George Eastman Museum, the Susan B. Anthony House and Museum, The Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester Museum & Science Center, we’ve even got a couple big waterfalls right in downtown and hey there’s the famous Seabreeze Amusement Park too. But seriously, if you come to Rochester try the famous Nick Tahou’s GARBAGE PLATE (since 1918).