10 Questions with ... Ed Combs

NAME:Ed Combs LAST WITH:MacDonald Broadcasting WKCQ 98fm Today's Best Country PHONE:(313) 617-6983 EMAIL:edwings9798@yahoo.com

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

I started in radio in 2002 in Sports Talk radio as an intern while I was at Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, then was hired in about a month for audio editing and interview assistant. After graduating in Feb, 2003, I was off to Bad Axe, Michigan, where I worked Country and Classic Hits, from nights to afternoon drive in four months. I left there to head to Flint at B-95 for a year until budget cuts sent me to their sister stations WILZ/WYLZ Classic Rock weekends, and I added Saturday mornings on Oldies WHNN down the hall after a month. I left radio for six months (big mistake) before heading to WKCQ in Saginaw, MI. I was there for more than two years with great ratings ... in fact, I brought the highest numbers ever seen for the night show with a 10-plus share, and consistently #1 ratings before being let go due to budget cuts in Feb 2009.

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

My positive attitude is my passion and love for radio. I work on my craft at home, and listen to other personalities for right and wrong ways to do things

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 stepped away for months once, and decided that the only life for me was radio. I have been discouraged with the way the industry has gone, but my love and passion for radio is to strong. Like my dad used to say, "Find something you're good at, and something you love to do; if God is smiling on you they are both the same thing. I get paid (when I'm working) to do something I love.

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

Yes; the only thing that could take me away from the music part of it is the sports part of it, or working with NHL Radio.

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

See Question 2.

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

All Access.

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

Somewhere in the south in Country music or Classic Rock, with the possibility of MD stripes some time in the future.

7) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)

For the most part they have been pretty cool about everything and understanding. Most of the time, PDs don't even bother contacting you. That's the only bad part.

8) Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?

Lower than I ever thought, and getting lower.

9) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

Bringing the highest numbers to my last station ever seen for my time slot (10+ share).

10) Great movies I've recently seen ...

Taken.