10 Questions with ... Vanessa James

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Known for her infectious personality and insatiable energy, media maven Vanessa James uses her multifaceted career to create community and inspire others. Vanessa is a graduate of The Florida State University with a degree in Mass Media Studies and Spanish. For over twelve years, she kept The Sunshine State on the pulse of all things music, entertainment and culture in multiple markets with her popular radio shows. From WBWT-FM in Tallahassee where she was the youngest female program director and midday host on the IHeart Radio roster to South Florida where she guided Miami’s popular urban station WMIB-FM 103.5 The Beat as the stations APD/Music and Marketing Director, Vanessa continues to use her voice to captivate and galvanize her audience.

Radio and Entertainment are the backbone of Vanessa’s career in media. She continues to utilize those versatile skillsets to fuel her world of entrepreneurship which she launched in 2008 with the founding of Vanessa James Media, LLC. Born out of necessity to further expand her freelance and voiceover work, VJMedia was born. Her impactful vocal presence in multiple markets prompted New York’s Atlas Agency to sign her for representation in 2011 and James now serves as the voice of over forty radio and television stations nationally as well as several notable brands.

VJ has lent her voice talents to world renowned brands including: Netflix, Infiniti Motors, Starbucks, JetBlue, Zumba and Palace Resorts, Microsoft, RCA Records, Monster Products, Apple, ESPN Films and most recently The CW Network as the Promo voice of the hit series "All American Homecoming".

1. How would you describe your first radio gig?

Nerve wracking, exciting and thrilling. I started in overnights and worked my way up to middays at WBWT-F/Tallahassee. As I look back, this was the perfect entry point into radio for me. Small markets give you the opportunity to learn from your peers, stretch yourself and most importantly make mistakes. I actually had a stutter triggered by nervousness for many years and being on the air helped me break the habit.

2. What led you to a career in radio?

I got into radio on a whim. While studying at FSU for Sportscasting, the local Clear Channel station ran an ad seeking front desk help and I applied. I secretly interviewed on my lunch break and was offered the job that afternoon. From receptionist, I worked my way up to Promotions Director then Program Director of the Urban station in the market, WBWT-FM. Being the first female PD of that brand and one of the few women program directors in the company at the time was an honor. I felt it was a huge responsibility to learn, grow and elevate other women through the ranks when I could. John Hunt, Steve King and Doc Wynter gave me my start in programming, on-air and behind the scenes and I flourished from there.

3. You got your start in radio at WBWT/Tallahassee. What did you take away from that experience and early part of your career?

I was a 23-year old PD at the time - young, wide-eyed and hungry to learn and win. Looking back, it was a very special time in radio and the music industry as a whole. Before social media and the digital age, programmers would meet their reps in market, get to know artists more intimately not just by their hits, create camaraderie among fellow colleagues and share ideas so we all grew together. Things were less streamlined so you could take bigger risks. That’s also how some of the biggest artists were heard and how some of the biggest records of that era and beyond were broken.

4. Your next move was a jump to the majors, and four years at The Beat (WMIB)/Miami. What did you love about working in that environment?

Miami is home - I love the market and the people. Being from Trinidad originally, Miami feels like the Caribbean’s next-door neighbor figuratively and culturally. You can feel it in the air, the vibe, the music and the people. The market is vibrant and has a special sauce that can’t be replicated anywhere else in the country. During my time at WMIB, I was able to bring an authentic voice to the airwaves and create community embracing Miami’s multicultural diaspora that listeners could identify with and believe in. I’m proud of my time there and the community impact that was generated as well.

5. What made you want to start your own voiceover company?

While on-air I was being tapped for freelance VO opps for local clients and stations around the country including WKTU New York and 939 MIA WMIA). I quickly realized that with my tenacity and talent, I could create a foundation for myself that could transcend radio. A station flip in 2010 propelled me to try my hand at entrepreneurship. Although I had the opportunity to transfer to the west coast for a similar opportunity as WMIB, I opted to bet on myself beyond and start my own company Vanessa James Media. Fortunately with mentors like Doug Turkel, Jill Strada, Geo Bivins, Sam Selolwane, Rob Miller and more, I leaned into the relationships that were cultivated during my time in radio and began to market myself as a VO talent and media brand. A decade later, I now voice 40+ radio stations and brands nationally.

6. In addition to your voiceover work, what other services does Vanessa James Media offer?

Vanessa James Media, LLC is a full service media company that provides a variety of media services including: voiceover to on-camera and event hosting, VOG, content creation and editorial work. You can learn more about my company by visiting www.vanessajamesmedia.com.

7. Who have some of your clients been along the way?

Above and beyond the radio powerhouses that I have the pleasure of voicing like Hot 969 Boston, San Francisco’s 106.1 KMEL, WKTU/New York and more, I’ve proudly stepped into Voiceover beyond radio imaging as of late. I recently served as the narrator of Ada Twist Scientist produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, the promo voice of the CW Network’s hit show All American Homecoming and the global voice for auto giant Infiniti and WAZE for Women’s History Month.

8. We were thrilled to have you as part of the All Access Audio Summit in April. The panel that you were on with other voiceover stars was an absolute highlight. What was that experience like for you and what were some of the takeaways?

The All Access Audio Summit was a blast. I loved sharing nuggets of wisdom with fellow VO actors and radio imagers and of course being on the panel with the amazing lady bosses Kelly Kelly Kelly and Issa Lopez. More importantly, it’s always a good time when you can share insight and best practices on how to stand out in our industry. My key takeaway: be persistent, learn from your auditions and be yourself. Like any other industry, there are no shortcuts in VO – hard work, quality gear, practice and flexibility does pay off but you have to stay the course.

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

As a Miami girl, Power 96 ruled the airwaves for me growing up. The famous “power hours” were iconic listening for us. Bo Griffin, Lucy Lopez, DJ Laz were staples in my daily radio regimen and I often admired how Bo and Lucy in particular, connected so honestly with their audiences. I always tried to mirror that one on one girlfriend approach when I was on the air. Now, I lend my voice to Miami’s 939 MIA with Kimmy B and DJ Laz, so it feels like working with family all over again.

10. What advice would you share with radio personalities looking to branch out and grow their brands and businesses beyond their job?

We are in a new age of radio and entertainment where YOU (the radio personality) are the brand on and off the air. I always tell budding radio personalities and VO artists to think about what areas of the business they you want to explore and go for it. From engineering, to copywriting, podcasts, programming and yes, being on-air, our business has opened up new avenues of work that you can tap into and grow. Now with hybrid work, multi-market opportunities, social and brand collaborations, etc. media personalities can flex their versatile talents and let them all shine through. Like any business and especially in ours, relationships are at the heart of what we do. Continue to build relationships, listen, be malleable and most importantly be impeccable with your word and you’re already halfway there.

If you were to go back to work at a specific radio station, which format would you want to work at?

I’d have to say WPOW in Miami. Power 96 shaped culture and trends in South Florida and they are an iconic radio brand to this day. I would have loved to have been apart of that movement, especially in the 90’s and 2000’s when the hits sounded bigger and we were glued to the radio.

Some of the biggest radio stations that shaped culture throughout my career were definitely Hot 97, Power 96, 99 Jamz and WBLS.