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10 Questions with ... Jim Ryan
July 31, 2023
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WBVI & WFOB/Fostoria OH, WWHB/Long Island, WNNJ/Newton NJ, WJRZ/Monmouth-Ocean, Y100/Philadelphia, WXXM/Philadelphia, WMGK/Philadelphia, WALK/Long Island, WKJY/Long Island, Sirius XM
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
Exciting! I was 17 and interning for a station in Melbourne, Florida. My Mom worked at a bank and was friends with the morning guy at WMMB which at the time was a MOR format. Back then interning was really nothing official, file records, get coffee, learn how to operate the board. That turned into a part-time gig when the overnight guy one Friday night called in sick at the last minute. I was instructed to do a time check and weather break once per hour and DON'T be late backtiming into the national news feed.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
Back as far as I can remember, it's ALL I ever want to do! Listening to Dan Ingram growing up on Long Island, then Chip Taylor at CK101 in Cocoa Beach/Orlando when we moved south. These guys were always having fun and playing music, I knew it was what I wanted to do!
3. You had a great terrestrial radio run. What are a couple of highlights of that part of your career?
Doing mornings for 3 years at WNNJ, prior to that I was either afternoons or nights. Doing afternoons on the Jersey Shore where I met my wife. Getting the call from Garett Michaels at Y100/Philadelphia that he wanted to hire me for my first major market gig! In between gigs in Philly, being asked by Greg Stassel and Mike Mullaney to do some afternoon fill in on WBMX/Boston when the legendary John Lander was there doing mornings.
4. You've been at Sirius (since 2008 SiriusXM) since the very early days. What was the initial transition like for you?
When I started nobody could yet hear what we were building. I even remember being in our NYC building lobby to watch the launch of one of the satellites. Then in 2008 we went through the merger, which I think is usually a challenging time no matter what business you are in. At the same time, it was exciting with new team players from the XM side, and new ideas.
5. You oversee what has to be one of the company's biggest channels – 80's On 8. What's it been like to work with most of the legendary initial MTV VJ's?
An absolute joy except for that Alan Hunter guy! No, in truth it has been a lot of fun to collaborate with these truly talented legends. Mark Goodman, Nina Blackwood, Alan Hunter and Martha Quinn. They all played such a major role in defining the music of the 80s decade with MTV which changed how we consumed music.
6. Just over 2 years ago, you worked closely with Disney to put on the Disney Hits channel. Disney has such vast resources and timeless music – how was that experience?
The entire experience has been exciting and challenging, but I've really enjoyed it. My family and I have been big Disney fans, so having a part in creating some of the Disney magic in terms of audio entertainment has been fantastic. I work closely with a group of Disney execs including Scot Finck and Laura Gonzalez who have helped us achieve pretty much every feature we have dreamed up. I also could not have pulled this off and continue to create content without the efforts of my team members here at Sirius XM, Juline DeLucci and Sara Birse.
7. The Pop Rocks channel is also on your scorecard. You recently filled in doing mornings for a week. Did you love being back on the air and is it something that you miss?
Yes - love being on the air. Pop Rocks is so fun, it's all the music I played while at Y100 and Max in Philly. I'm still on the air every week at the Pulse doing weekend shows.
8. The Pulse is a game changer for the Hot AC format, breaking songs and bands and championing new music discovery. If you could mention a couple of songs/bands that you're always proud to have been out in front on?
There are quite a few Snow Patrol "Chasing Cars," The Script "Breakeven," Ben Rector "Brand New," Rachel Platten "Fight Song," Lewis Capaldi "Someone You Loved"…all of these the Pulse was there in the early days if not first. At SiriusXM, Programmers are constantly challenged to keep music discovery for our listeners at the forefront of what we do. Now, the channel is the capable hands of Rida Naser as programmer and I'm excited to watch her grow and make her mark on the channel and help her in any way I can.
9. The 'Train Tracks' program with Train's Pat Monahan was/is another stroke of brilliance. How did that all come together?
The name was my idea. It started after Ken Lane who at the time was doing special projects for Sirius XM suggested maybe we approach Pat Monahan from Train about hosting a feature on The Pulse. Since music discovery is a big part of what we do at Sirius XM, that was the direction of the feature I wanted to explore and build. Pat was really into it, and has been a fabulous partner.
10. What's your all-time favorite backstage memory?
Original VJ Mark Goodman and I flew to Toronto in 2007 to hang with Genesis for the day while they were rehearsing for their North American "Turn It On Again" tour. Mark and I were in the arena with the band's crew for basically a show run through, lights and all. Then we spent a few hours gathering content from Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks. I have a signed drum head from all three hanging in my office.
11. If you could take a spin in the custom 'All Access Back To The Future Delorean,' which legendary station from the past would you like to work at for a week?
Z100/New York or even further back to 77 WABC/New York or KHJ/Los Angeles.
12. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?
Mentioned a couple earlier. Dan Ingram at WABC was the man. But Z100 with Scott Shannon, Jack Da Wack, Magic Matt Alan, Kid Kelly who I was fortunate enough to work closely with at Sirius XM. I was also a huge fan of WLIR on Long Island during the Dare To Be Different days, Larry The Duck, Donna Donna, Malibu Sue
13. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
So many, but to mention a few. Randi Taylor who was one of my early PD's at HB107 Long Island. Scott Shannon who was the consultant when I was at Y100 Philadelphia. Jack Da Wack and Kid Kelly who would listen to airchecks and give me guidance. Then working with Kid at SiriusXM as a programmer. Now, I get to collaborate daily with another great Programmer and partner Alex Tear!
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