10 Questions with ... Jay Stevens

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

SVP/Programming for Radio One, 2007-2018, VP/Programming for CBS/Infinity and PD for WPGC, 1991-2007. Also programmed in Lansing, Rochester, New Orleans and Phoenix.

1) It's been five months since you departed Radio One after 11+ years. Is this the longest period of time that you've been away from radio?

Yes, without a doubt. I have been fortunate to always have had a job in this business. When I would grow my career and move, I would quit on a Friday and start on a Monday. So other than taking a vacation, I have never had a break.

2) How has the "break" changed the way that you see yourself and your role in the industry?

First and foremost, it has given me time to decompress and restore my physical and mental energy and creativity. This leads to sharper thinking and increased creativity. Secondly, I am now a listener and consumer. I have a better perspective on the radio, audio and digital worlds.

3) In the same vein, what's your take on the business from this perspective?

In this crowded media environment, there is still a place for radio. I have said this many times and firmly believe it -- radio is free, it is ubiquitous, there are diverse formats, it is local, it has live personalities, it is topical and it is urgent. It is a wonderful business. We need to do a better job of bragging about this and marketing all of these positive attributes. For 35+ consumers, radio does a pretty good job, but we are losing the junior Millennials and Generation Z. So there needs to be more innovation ... put a group of the smartest young creative, innovative minds in a room a la Google/Apple and use this mindshare to come up with some fresh, new exciting ideas to make radio more compelling. This collaboration could take us to a new, cutting-edge level. We have so many positives that the music services would love to have.

4) When you left Radio One, you commented here in All Access about wanting to listen to radio like a "listener." What have some of your takeaways been in that regard?

On the positive side, there are some very good personalities and there are some very good radio stations. But there are some things weighing us down. Tremendously long commercial stopsets, DJs with no direction, imaging/branding and commercials that aren't creative, engaging or compelling. And in some cases the lack of localism. Stations must OWN their markets!

5) Is there a next generation of up and coming air personalities being groomed somewhere?

I hope so. I hear of some of the HD channels that have some creative, fresh formats and they may be using these as incubators so to speak. When I was at Radio One, we almost made it mandatory for the PDs to find up-and-coming talent and get them in the building. They can be found on social media, they can be in the clubs or at the barber shop. The big problem is that young people aren't jumping into radio as we did, so we have to work harder to recruit them and get them excited about radio and all that they can do in this business. Go to Instagram or Snapchat and look at all of these kids who want to be stars. Not all of them will work or translate into the radio business, but we have a lot to choose from.

6) You were at CBS for 16 years and had a seat at the table with some legendary broadcasters. Please give us a highlight or two.

Working with Mel Karmazin was my biggest highlight. He was a visionary and a motivator and loved and respected programming. A funny thing is that he never wanted to do research. He would say, "Why spend the money on research, just ask me." He was much tougher on sales, but he felt if you had great programming, revenue would follow. Dan Mason is awesome as well. To this day he is still a mentor of mine. When I first started at WPGC his office was next mine so I would pop in often and brainstorm with him. And sometimes he would come into my office with a suggestion and he would qualify it by saying, "It's your call, I'm just a fan in the stands."

7) Have you been able to travel or do some things that you otherwise wouldn't have been able to because of work commitments?

For sure. I have been traveling the past six weekends in a row. I have played a lot of golf, met up with friends for breakfast and lunch and just took a two week road trip driving through the south which gave me a lot of quality radio listening.

8) At this point-what do you miss the most about the day-to-day?

This break has made me realize that I miss the action. I love the creative side and miss developing an idea and watching it grow into compelling on air content or some kind of promotion or event. And I miss my team. Radio One has a great group of PDs and they helped to fuel me.

9) Pick one artist from "back in the day' that you wish was still around making music.

It is hard to pick one artist. I wonder what music would be like if Biggie and Tupac were still around. And I feel it was incredibly sad and a great loss when Chester Bennington took his own life.

10) Who are a couple of newer artists who you turn up louder when their songs hit your radio?

Juice WRLD, Ella Mai, and of course Cardi B, even though she isn't new. I also am amazed and at how Drake continues to put out hit after hi,t and the excitement surrounding Post Malone. And even though I have heard it 5,000 times I still love "Youngblood" from 5 Seconds Of Summer. The video is really creative and hot!

There's got to be at least one Albie Dee story that the statute of limitations has expired on ... Please leave us with something cool about the Don Of DC.

Riding roller skates up and down the halls ... and of course his slogan, "It's me, It's me, It's Albie Dee, rocking the mic so viciously"!