10 Questions with ... Kevin Cronin

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WMSX-A (1410)/Brockton, MA - 1995-1998
• WBET-A (1460) & WCAV (97.7)/Brockton, MA - 1995-1999
• WPLM (Easy 99.1)/Plymouth, MA (first time) - 1999-2005
• WCIB/Hyannis, MA - 2001-2005
• WWEG & WARK-A Hagerstown MD - 2005-2010
• WPLM (Easy 99.1)/Plymouth, MA - 2010 to Present

1) What Got You Interested In Radio?

As a young kid, I was always carrying around a tape recorder recording myself, and interviewing family members. I guess I was hooked then. I became a part of a radio club at my high school and got in the business young, and I majored in mass communications in college. Radio is all I've ever done professionally and I can't imagine doing anything else.

2) What do you like best about working in this format?

I enjoy watching local and national AC charts and research when it comes to current music. Us AC stations are usually the last to jump on currents, but I do enjoy the aspect of playing current music again. I came from Classic Hits, where that is not a part of programming that format.

3) What should radio be doing now to secure a role in the future of the ever-changing media landscape?

Radio should really take advantage of "on-demand" features and "content delivery." The advantage of this is that morning shows can recycle content. And stations as a whole can make previous content available to the listener on the listeners' terms.

4) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?

The most unique aspect of "Today's Easy 99.1" is the fact that we are one of the few locally owned and operated stations in the Boston/Providence area. I've worked for larger companies and local ownerships and there are benefits to both. But I enjoy having the onsite support of local ownership.

5) Describe your weekly music meeting ... a) what is the process when you listen to new music? b) approximately how important by percentage is gut, research, sales, video play, and chart position when determining the status of a record?

It's amazing the tools we are exposed to as programmers compared to a decade ago. BDS and Mediabase are great aides in music selection. I have always been a pretty straight forward research programmer with a small amount of gut. Being a suburban AC, I'm not too quick to jump on currents. But those two services are a big help.

6) How often do you do remotes and which work best for the station?

We do remotes primarily on the weekends. I think if executed properly, they can be beneficial to the client by way of bringing in traffic, and for the station as far as cume is concerned.

7) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?

I'd love to see more local ownership. I think it would present some more opportunities for younger broadcasters to get their feet wet and get into the business. I had those weekend and overnight opportunities to develop when I started out. I'd like to see them return.

8) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

The most important issue right now, is the question of how do we stay relevant. We're competing with iPod's, Pandora, and other forms of Internet radio. We need to keep a strong relationship to our audience and connect to them on a local level through on-air content, rather than just be a juke box with card readers.

9) How did you get your on-air name?

My on-air name was very simple for me, Kevin is my middle name. (And no, I'm not in the band REO Speedwagon) although I have met the other Kevin Cronin.

10) Who was your most memorable artist you've ever interviewed?

I'd have to say it would be the man who shares my name Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon. His first comment to me was, "Please don't tell me your parents conceived you while listening to one of our records." It was a fun conversation and it was a thrill to meet him backstage and chat after a show he played in Virginia.

1) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

I have always had an obsession for candlepin bowling. I love doing it, and I never missed it on TV when I was a kid. People outside of New England have no clue what this game is, and it's even harder to explain it to them. But I love it and I missed it living in the DC area.

2) Tell us what music we would find on your I-Pod right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?

I have a very wide variety of music on my IPod, from Pop, to Country, to Rock, to Classics.

3) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air? (dead air ... forget a mic was still on ... etc.)

I have actually mispronounced my own name once. It happened about ten years ago when I was doing the afternoon news at the old WCAV in Brockton MA. Supposedly, my former PD there STILL has it on a cart somewhere.

4) What has been the best performing record on the station so far this year?

It's amazing how Lady Antebellum's "I Need You Now" has taken off around the country. It's been huge here for us and still showing up real strong.

5) Please describe the best promotion you've ever been part of?

When I was in Maryland we put together a promotion for local little league teams. We asked little league team coaches and parents to submit their child's or their own little league team to be the "Team of the Week" through our web site.

Each week, a team was picked, and they would win a whole bunch of stuff like free dinner for the team, T Shirts with the stations logo and their team name, and ball game tickets. Also, each week I sent our morning guy out to deliver all the things the team won at a game. It was an excellent connection to the community, a great feel good opportunity, and cume builder for the station. We had our best spring book in the history of the station when we did that promotion.