10 Questions with ... Russ Mottla

1) You've had a long and successful run in radio as both an on-air talent and programmer. What initially got you interested in radio at the beginning?

Probably the Sony reel-to-reel recorder I got for Christmas when I was 8-ish. That started many years of me being an obsessive basement DJ. Then it was listening to Boston's greats -- WRKO, WBCN and WCOZ -- as I matriculated through the college of rock and roll knowledge.

2) What radio stations and personalities did you listen to when you were growing up?

Dale Doorman on WRKO, Joe B, Harvey Warfield and Jeff Berlin on WAAF and of course, Charles Lacquadera, Ken Shelton and Mark Parenteau on WBCN. As a programmer, my benchmark has always been to try and make stations that are as creative, engaging and fun to listen to as the great radio I grew-up with.

3) You've worked for some great Rock radio stations like WAAF and WIYY to name a few. What are some of the highlights from your days in Rock radio?

The highlights for me have always been the great talent I got to work alongside every day. I've always been a fan first! There was a culture of research, learning, and success at WAAF; I've never forgotten what Rich Reis and Dick Ferguson did with that property and amazing people. And I can't ignore the sheer lightning-in-a-bottle-type situation we had for so many years with Chuck DuCoty and the staff of WIYY, as we broke so many artists and achieved such great ratings while making a generational change to existing Rock radio paradigms. We were the bridge from AOR to Active Rock and I'm very proud of what we accomplished there.

4) How long have you been the new PD at KFMW (Rock 108) and what makes this station so unique?

My furniture isn't even here yet! So I guess the answer is ... not long! I'm still in student mode, learning everything I can from the building. I will say, I've been a fan of the station for so long online, it's a dream come true getting this job. The staff is so talented, the brand so strong and its position so unique that I can't wait to see what we can accomplish starting from such a strong position. They have created a Rock station that is a great blend of so many music styles and it isn't really duplicated elsewhere and gives us a lot of flexibility. Doesn't hurt having one of the great all-time programmers in Jack Taddio as GM, either!

5) Can you give us a rundown of the current Rock 108 staff in mornings, middays, afternoons and nights?

The most welcoming staff ever! I already feel like we've been working together for years! James Patrick does a great more-music morning show. He's a market vet of over 10 years, is engaging, humorous and everybody's radio pal -- it's a really great show that mirrors the legendary Rock morning shows before they went all-talk. I'll be on middays. Ned the afternoon host is a rock star. He defines what a rocker is in 2018 - or as he calls himself, "Nerdy Rocker Ned," We also have a fantastic swing/weekends DJ, Payton and she also owns all those lifestyle and music intangibles that makes one a great jock! Nights we have the best syndicated show for Rock radio. Lou Bruits' Hard Drive: great show, great host, great numbers.

6) Years ago, Rock 108 was considered a new Rock music tastemaker but has backed off a bit in the past couple years on the amount of new music it plays ... what is the ratio now between current and library music and why?

Rock 108's history is much like that of other Active Rock stations. We are playing 20-25 currents, which is fairly standard practice these days. I have always believed rotating currents enough to be heard is way more important than the sheer number because if they don't get heard, what's it doing for our audience or the artist? We will continue to break music from America's Heartland to your charts - it's in this station's DNA!

7) What is your process for listening to new music and approximately how important by percentage is gut, research, sales, video play and chart position when determining the status of a record?

I've always made music meetings an open-door process. I listen to everyone and solicit opinions and recommendations. I've found staff oftentimes are on trends way before the charts! We do enough research to give us a roadmap and obviously look to all available resources like streaming numbers, YouTube plays, etc.

8) Having worked at major Rock stations in the past, what's your take on current Active Rock music and the Rock format as a whole?

I love new Rock, always have -- it is the reason I got into this business after all. The ebb and flow, to and from all the different strains is what makes it so interesting. As always, I think we could use more acceptable, mainstream music and have to be on the lookout for anything we can to cross from other formats but that's difficult right now. Rock radio needs to jump on the appropriate music before the reputation is owned by Pop or Alternative. That being said, I have no idea! Every market is different and every situation unique; the best we can do as programmers is what's right for our markets.

9) How much does Rock 108 use social media like Facebook and Twitter to help enhance the KFMW experience with its listeners?

Every day we post and blog. With marketing money in radio at a premium, this is a great way to not only reach listeners, but if done well, build cume! I love the social media playground!

10) Finally, you consider yourself a native of Patriots Nation. Please explain!

Yes, to paraphrase Mike English. our afternoon jock when I was at Cumulus/New London, I really believe a lock of Tom Brady's hair can open any door in Boston! #GOAT