10 Questions with ... Ken Merson

NAME:Ken Merson - The Merson Person CURRENTLY:Voicetracking Entercom Communications PHONE:(410) 790-3675 : F (410) 861.6908 EMAIL:ken@mpvt123.com WEB:www.mpvt123.com

Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...

1973 - 1974: AC WLMD (now WILC) Laurel, MD - weekends, PM drive.

1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?

I'm working at living life in equilibrium - a rather daunting experience for a self-admitted Type "A" workaholic. Am I getting better at balancing work, family, friends and "just me" time? Yes! Do I have room for improvement? I am the proverbial "work-in-progress" you've heard so much about.

2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?

I track a daily show for WOLX/Madison. Having a home studio allows me tremendous workday schedule flexibility and time to maintain my new voicetracking website (www.mpvt123.com), and to network with at least one industry support friend every day via by phone or e-mail.

3) Do you plan on sticking with the radio industry?

Absolutely! Despite our industry's ongoing challenges, I still believe in the creative "art" of radio broadcast entertainment and all it can still be. My duel passions for being an on-air entertainer coupled with my long-standing love affair for a myriad of music genres remain rock-solid. There is no doubt in my being that this is what I'm supposed to be doing professionally.

4) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?

This is it as far as not having to actually report to a day-to-day, on-site location. The plus-side of my "on-the-beach" status is that I do get to work from home, which cuts down on my traveling expenses.

5) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?

All Access is the A+ hands-down champ when it comes to job-opening awareness. Additionally, All Access' Joel Denver was the first to reach out and spread the word that "Merson Person Voice Tracks" - my radio voicetracking enterprise (www.mpvt123.com) - was open for business. The All Access staff is both expertly knowledgeable and empathetic regarding radio's always changing state of the art. I can't thank your team enough.

6) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?

My ideal "next" gig would need to fulfill my need to entertain on-air as well as utilize my 20 years of Selector Music Scheduling expertise. But I'd be equally content and adept at doing the same thing from my home office and studio.

7) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?

When my regular employment ended, I placed a self-imposed listening moratorium on all commercial stations in the Baltimore-Washington area for 90 days with one exception --Washington's all-News giant WTOP. These days I listen to the online streams of WOLX and as well as Sirius Satellite Radio via Dish Network at home. I'm a big fan of Sirius 7's Satellite Survey Countdown with Dave Hoeffel, the Strobe's fun 70s/80s dance hits and Siriusly Sinatra. In the car it's CDs.

8) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

It still amazes me that I was able to succeed in my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland on a day-after-day basis for 35+ years. I'm still doing it albeit for new friends in Madison, thanks to modern technology.

9) What have you learned about yourself, others, or life in general in your downtime?

Once the "rats" jump ship, it's your "real" friends who remain by your side. No big surprise here.

10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?

Follow your dreams. But remember to keep up with the ever-changing state of the art. Ask questions, soak up every little thing you can and have a career fall-back plan ready ... just in case.

Leno or Letterman?

Letterman is a broadcast entertainer who understands radio, television and stand-up. Leno may get the ratings, but there's a reason Letterman gets the awards.