10 Questions with ... Paul Oslund

NAME:Paul Oslund LAST WITH:Undiscovered Radio Network PHONE:(304) 617-9947 EMAIL:ozzradio@hotmail.com

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

I was at WKQZ/Saginaw, MI (MD and nights, then afternoons) between November 1993 and January 1997. I was at KAZR/Des Moines, IA (APD, weekends, local "Mancow" producer) between January 1997 and March 2001. I was at WAMX/Huntington, WV (PD and middays) between March 2001 and December 2005. A couple friends and I started something called Undiscovered Radio Network in 2006. We attempted to syndicate a weekly two-hour show that would spotlight independent Rock music, which we didn't think Rock radio was addressing as much as it could've. We got ourselves on four stations after debuting in September 2006, but I left URN this past March.

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

Mostly by watching the Detroit Tigers and hanging out with family. I'm enjoying being back in Michigan after living out of state for over 10 years. I'm starting to work on writing a book that I hope to get published someday. It's a baseball history-related non-fiction book. It's an idea that I've had kicking around in my head for awhile, and I decided this was as good a time as any to see if I can start making it happen. I've been able to take a couple baby steps in the right direction.

2) Some people get discouraged or enlightened with the business when they actually step out of it for a while. Tell us your observations from the outside.

I left my last station mostly because I wanted to seek bigger and better opportunities, but I was also burned out and just needed to get away from the grind for awhile. I didn't really admit that I was burned out at the time, because I felt that was like admitting defeat, as dumb as that sounds. Whatever contributed to me feeling burned out, I don't think I'd let those things be as big a deal the next time around. Why stress out about it?

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

Depends on if it plans on sticking with me.

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

Radio jobs? AllAccess.com. Other jobs? Sites like CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com or the various websites of companies you think you'd like to work for.

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

If it's an on-air or programming job, I wouldn't mind working for any Rock station that does a good job of supporting cool independent Rock, especially at the local and regional levels. I wouldn't mind getting into Classic Rock or Sports Talk. Outside of radio, I wouldn't mind becoming a PA announcer or doing some kind of behind-the-scenes work for a pro sports team (major leagues or minor leagues), whether it's in marketing/promotions or even on the grounds crew. I'd like to get into voice work of some kind, whether it's narrating documentaries or books on tape.

6) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, emails, rejection letters, etc.)

I've sent out plenty of e-mails that didn't get replies, which is odd to me, because it seems easier to reply to an e-mail than it is to return a phone call. If I'm not going to get a gig, I'd rather at least find out in an e-mail than to just be left hanging.

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

I'm usually listening to one of the two Detroit Sports Talk stations if I don't have a CD in. The car would be the only place I listen to a radio. Am I listening to the radio for music? Not really. Most of the newer stuff that's getting exposure on the airwaves bores me. There just isn't a lot of substance, personality or soul there anymore. When I'm flipping around the dial, most of the songs I land on are older songs (whether it's Rock or Country) from artists who made music that matters.

8) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

Having one? Ha ha! Seriously, in a business where stability seems to be the exception rather than the norm, I'm proud that I never got fired. Whenever I left a station, I left on good terms. I'm glad I got to have a hand in developing and launching Undiscovered Radio Network, even though circumstances didn't quite work out for me like I hoped they would. We had a really cool idea and a pretty solid product. It might have been the coolest thing I'd been involved with in my career. Taking chances is a pretty worthwhile thing to do. We felt like we were the ultimate underdog, and having even four stations take a chance on us was a satisfying achievement.

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

Your job does NOT define who you are as a person!

10) If you were offered a similar position to what you were doing for considerably less money, would you seriously consider taking the job just to stay in the biz?

I guess I did that by getting involved with URN. I didn't make nearly as much as I made at my last station, but the enjoyment I got from helping to start a new venture was priceless. However, I'd prefer that my next job pays at least as much I made at the last station. Personal satisfaction doesn't quite pay the bills.

BONUS QUESTION: Great movies you've recently seen ...

"Stranger Than Fiction" with Will Ferrell, which gets bonus points for having Tony Hale from TV's "Arrested Development" in the cast. I like how it plays around with the perception of reality. Maybe there really is a good explanation for the voices that we hear in our head. And after watching this movie, I will now declare that Maggie Gyllenhaal is one of the hottest women in the planet, which is something I probably should've realized after watching "Secretary" a few years back. I think I dig her so much now because she (especially the character she played in this) reminds me of an ex that I'm still friends with.