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Matt Siegel
January 11, 2021
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Matt Siegel arrived in the morning drive chair at (now) iHeartMedia heritage Top 40 WXKS (Kiss 108) 40 years ago this week. And the millions of people who have listened to Matty In The Morning over the course of those many years are glad that he’s never left!
Arriving from crosstown Free Form AOR WBCN in 1980, Matty’s career has included numerous television projects, numerous accolades (including 2 Marconi Awards) and induction into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
The show’s current cast includes his best friend Billy Costa, and Lisa Donovan.Congrats on 40 years of mornings at Kiss 108! In your wildest dreams, could you ever have imagined a run like this?
I told my girlfriend at the time that I would be working at Kiss for six months, how did that turn out?
Your early days were helmed by the late, great Sunny Joe White. What was it like during that part of your career?
I came up as a Free Form Rock jock. I didn’t know anything about Top 40 radio. I learned a lot from Sunny. But you have to remember that that was the ‘80s, serious party times. That’s when getting up for a morning radio show was a real challenge.
The equally late, great Steve Rivers followed. What did you learn from him that you still use today?
Where Sunny was very flamboyant, Steve was more buttoned down. We had a lot of conversations about radio programming. He taught me it’s good to be funny, but it wouldn’t kill me to plug the station promotions now and again.
Is there any way to describe 40 years of waking up to do mornings?
The key is to have your staff do the show prep. Also, you really learn to love naps.
You’ve done countless interviews. Can you pick a couple of standouts? Has there ever been someone who made you feel nervous and or intimidated?
I’ll never forget interviewing Hillary Clinton on Election Day 2016. I went home and said to my wife ‘I’m so cool, I just spoke with the next president of the United States.’ By 11 o’clock that night, we realized I’m not that cool. I loved talking with Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, and Tom Hanks. Marisa Tomei was king of a bitch.
You still play 4-5 songs in any given hour. Is it important that you make sure that you’re still plugged in musically?
Well the truth is, I’m not really very plugged in at all. The fact that I am a fish out of water musically has been fodder for a lot of my comedy.
What makes both Billy Costa and Lisa Donovan an essential part of The Matty In The Morning experience?
Oh my God, I couldn’t begin to do the show without them. They are terrific talents.
What has it been like for you and the team navigating the pandemic?
This year was tough, but it was a tough year for everybody. I was very happy to hear from listeners who said that our silly little show brought them some relief.
Any lessons learned over the past year that you’d care to share?
Call your kids, call your folks, hug your wife—every day.
Describe what it was like when you walked on stage at the benefit concert for the Marathon victims in 2013.
It was very thrilling. The city had been through a horrible experience and it was my job to talk about the strength and courage of our great city. When everyone stood up for me at the end, I almost cried.
You’ve won numerous awards for broadcasting excellence over the years, including two Marconi’s. What do those things mean to you?
Good ratings mean you’re appreciated by your listeners, the awards mean you’re appreciated by your colleagues. Both are very flattering.
What was it like when you got the call about being inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame?
Well much like the other awards, I felt great. My only regret is that my dad didn’t live to see it.
It’s very likely that there are grandchildren of your early 80s listeners listening to you four decades later. How do you pull off being a multi-generational entertainer?
I’ve had people tell me that they’ve had to turn off the show with their kids in the car. Oh come on, they’ve all heard it before.
That this has all happened for you in the great city of Boston has to make all of it extra special. Talk about your great love affair with the city.
Well, the most important thing is the fact that I’m not from Boston and because our listeners are so kind to me, I feel as if I’ve lived here all my life. I may have grown up in New York, but I hate the Yankees.
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