10 Questions with ... Art Vuolo Jr

1) What Got You Interested In Radio?

I used to listen to Bernie Herman on "Night Beat" from 10-midnight on WIRE-A 1430 Indianapolis. I used to help out on remote broadcasts with Jim Shelton on "Platter Party" over WIBC 1070 Indy 1960-1962. I just celebrated 50 years in radio in July 2010.

2) How would you describe your first radio gig?

Sunday night Oldies show on WOIA (102.9)/Ann Arbor, MI where Landecker began. My show was called the "Sunday Night Music Mart."

3) Who were your early influences?

Jim Shelton, Joey Reynolds, John "Records" Landecker, Bob Brossia (WTOD in Toledo).

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

Best known by my handle "Radio's Best Friend" which I was dubbed by Scott Shannon in the early 80's and was first printed in Street Talk by John Leader at Radio & Records May 5, 1987.

5) What is your proudest accomplishment and why?

Starting my business; The RADIOGUIDE People in 1972 and the publication and circulation of over 100 million station guides across the country! It gave me a chance to work with great stations like Z-100, KIIS, WLS and CKLW! Development of the RADIOGUIDE and my vast audio/video archive are what I'm most proud of.

6) Your thoughts on Syndication and Voice-Tracking?

Sometimes technology can be a curse. Voice-Tracking is a curse. It's convenient and cost-effective. But look at how many great jocks have been replaced by a computer. It's sad.

7) What's the best liner you've ever heard?

It was by Hy Lit at WIBG in back in 1965. "Wibbage in Philadelphia...Ear-conditioned for the coolest sound in town!" He said it during a summer heat-wave.

8) How does satellite radio or Internet radio compare to what we're doing on the commercial side?

I love Sirius XM because it gives me a source for music simply no longer available on terrestrial radio. Things like pre-Beatles and late 50's oldies, Beautiful Music, Standards, Classical Music and Comedy. I'm also thankful for streaming so we can hear great radio from outside our local area.

9) What long-term role do you see HD radio playing in the future?

I don't. Wrong timing. HD is like a modern day Edsel. I'm afraid it will go the way of AM stereo which I did like, but Randy Michaels called it "static in two speakers." There are no funds to properly program the HD channels.

10) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?

My friend, Greg Oganowski, who developed the Optimod with Bob Orban, said it best. It's all going to the hand-held devices and the cell-phone seems to be the new radio with the ability of letting you tune into anything in the world anywhere and at anytime. Personally I'll be too old to care...but I will always love radio. I also want to make sure that my extensive audio and video libraries find a good home after I'm gone...and they will show future generations just how entertaining the business once was!

1) What are your hobbies?

The same as what I do on a regular basis: audio and video archiving and making my collection available to radio enthusiasts around the world via my web site.

www.vuolovideo.com/radioguide.html

2) Please describe the best promotion you've ever heard of?

The best, and most remembered, promotion EVER was Steve Dahl's "Disco Demolition" at Comisky Park in 1979. It was orchestrated by Dave Logan while at The Loop in Chicago.

3) What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

Favorites were: WIBC, WTOD, WIBG, WKBW, WXYZ, WKNR and WLS

4) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?

WLW (700)/Cincinnati (a great Talk station) and WKXW "NJ 101.5" Talk mostly re: Pop culture rather than politics. Both stations are HEAVY on LOCAL personalities!

5) What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you on the air?

On April 30, 1989, lifting the needle off a record on WHMI Howell, MI after hitting the post perfectly! It's on video, so lots of people have seen it.