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10 Questions with ... Anthony “Roach” Proffitt
April 26, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. That hole in the market for an ACTIVE ROCK station was apparent and the ownership here knew that this was the time to bring ACTIVE ROCK back. With such a big hole of rock missing from 1996 to 2022 we now have it with Rock 103.3. I am so happy that they believed in me and that PD John Rozz was able to work with the ownership to make this happen again.
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1. What was your first job in radio and early influences?
Wow…now I really feel old. It was back in the early ‘90s at a station called WNFI –I100 in Daytona Beach, Florida. I started as an intern for their morning show and got the bug and knew that is what I wanted to do. I really got interested in radio back in 1985 when I won 100 bucks (which was A LOT for a young kid) from Mason Dixon on Q105 (WRBQ) in Tampa. I knew the last Christmas song he played and it was “Grandma got ran over by a reindeer”! Bam…just like that I won, and it was a great phoner for him as my mom was yelling at me in the background for running into the house with my soccer cleats on and getting mud everywhere. He then heard my Mom yelling and put her on the phone….she was not thrilled…but again…a great phoner! I recorded it and went everywhere with me on a cassette with Mason!
2. What led you to a career in radio?
I always loved radio, for me I grew up on it! I loved the wacky and phone stuff the DJ’s would do and the music was always something I loved! For me being able to do both would be a dream. When I got to Athens at the almighty UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA (Gooooo DAWGS…SIC EM) I had a shot to do College Radio. I asked what the pay was, and they said nothing. I told them I already had experience as I interned and did a weekend shift in Daytona. They said, well you can’t get on the air at college radio until you complete six months of school. That was BS. So I went to the local CHR radio station called “The Bulldog 103.7” WPUP and the PD …Allen Tibbets said he’d hire me to run the AM station board on Sundays to get started and he would pay me and then I could maybe move up…I was sold and knew I could do this.
3. Before this new gig, you rocked at WXNX (93X) starting in 2013 and eventually became the PD. How was that experience for you?
It was awesome. I learned so much then and continue to do so today. In this business if you aren’t constantly learning, becoming better and seeking out those who can give you advice and help you grow then you might as well be done. With 93X I was lucky to have worked with some really talented air staff, programmers and sales people who helped me to grow and continue too. Being the former PD at WXNX I think enabled me to obtain the job that I currently have and I look forward to growing and learning more through the years. You never know when that day will come to hang up the cans…but until then…I’m going to do my best to have fun, enjoy life and pinch myself that I get to do what I do…and get paid!
4. Congrats on rocking again in the Fort Myers area with WHEL-HD2 (Rock 103.3). How did this new Rock station come together and what areas of the market does the signal cover?
We’ve always known that this market rocks. At one point there was TWO active rocks in the market. Then there was NONE. The ownership here has always been a big fan of rock, but it’s also a business. That hole in the market for an ACTIVE ROCK station was apparent and the ownership here knew that this was the time to bring ACTIVE ROCK back. With such a big hole of rock missing from 1996 to 2022 we now have it with Rock 103.3. I am so happy that they believed in me and that PD John Rozz was able to work with the ownership to make this happen again. The signal is a challenge, but it covers the metro area here in SW Florida and that’s all we needed. It’s like using the old cliché…if you build it they will come. Well…. we have built it and they are coming.
5. With WRXK being a Rock fixture in Fort Myers for years, how is Rock 103.3 positioned to impact the market?
We really don’t compete with them. What we do and what they do is TOTALLY different. We are giving listeners rock from 1996 to right now. SW Florida now has rock that they have been missing for almost two years in this market. From the word on the street and going out to meet folks…they are really appreciative.
6. What is the station’s on-air lineup look like from Mornings to Nights?
We start the morning with the national syndicated show “Free Beer & Hot Wings” with a small mix of rock. Then I jump on the mic from 10-2 PM and keep SW Florida rocking through their workday with tons of music. We wrap up the day with “Dave & Mahoney” from 2-6 PM with their antics plus music in the mix. Then from 6 PM till 6 AM it’s ALL rock!
7. Now let’s talk about the music on Rock 103.3. Your logo says “Our Rock is Always Hard.” How would you describe the station’s music?
HARD! Pretty much sums it up. Tool, Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, Rage Against The Machine, Shinedown, STP, Breaking Benjamin plus lots of new rock artist. Some of those include Jelly Roll, Wage War, Bad Omens, and even local bands such as Vallion from Cape Coral, Florida. If it’s HARD, we are probably playing it. If not….please don’t send it my way.
8. With the perspective of being away from Rock radio since 93X flipped formats, what's your take on current Active Rock music and the format overall?
I think this format is still alive and well. Go to a show and see how many people are there ready to rock. Some say that this format…Active Rock, is in trouble. I think it is IF we don’t start to make some of these faceless bands have a face, especially the new ones, then it’s all just mush. I think it is important for the labels/management to really get their bands to radio stations that are supporting them. From doing interviews, to videos, to social media posts and customized promotions that are specified for a station. All these are still part of the “Pie Chart” that makes up what these bands and labels should still be doing with these new artist. These bands have to work and the labels and management teams need to assure that. I recently had a label give me the vibe that you aren’t reporting yet so you don’t count. Trust me, that’s stuff that not just hurts us, but hurts your band. We want to grow with those artist and support those who want to grow with us. Just remember all these so called “established” bands still need to work and grow their fan base. At one point they too were a baby band. Don’t get too big for your britches as momma says. Be humble, be kind and work well with others. It will take you a long way in a business that can spit you up and out quickly. Here today but hopefully not forgotten tomorrow.
9. Give us Rock songs or bands to watch for in the next year and why?
I think this new Shinedown album “Planet Zero” is going to be big for Shinedown. These guys are the epitome of work hard and it pays off. I heard some of the new stuff early on and I think it’s really going to be big for the format and the band. Bands like Falling In Reverse, Asking Alexandria and more are finally getting the recognition they have worked hard for and deserve. Jelly Roll is another one that has really captured my ears lately. His story and work ethic is impressive. Finally the rock music scene in Florida is coming back and getting recognized. Bands like Wage War (Ocala, Florida) Fame on Fire (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) and Vallion (Cape Coral, Florida- unsigned but need to be) are on coming to light.
10. Finally, I know you’re a HUGE fan of the current national champion Georgia Bulldogs football team, and the World Champion Atlanta Braves in baseball. How did you celebrate these two events?
Well this is easy. I cried and got hammered. Seriously though I waited almost 41 years for my Georgia Bulldogs to win it all. As a UGA graduate (Florida Native) it has been hard for many years. Being so close but never being able to put it together to win the big one was so tough for so many years. However that is what being a fan is all about. You have to have Hope. Well F HOPE. She can suck it. We got WINNING WENDY now! LOL As far as the Braves…that was one hell of a run. I saw them win in the early 90’s and never thought I’d have to wait another 26 years for the next one. These guys weren’t supposed to win the NL East and to win the World Series, truly showed what a team effort was. No real star on that team, but they all had starring moments. That was the definition of a team win. They all knew their roles and played them perfectly in the playoffs. I got the two new tattoo’s as well …Georgia Natty…and the Braves World Series. I am sure the Grim reaper is coming for me soon!
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