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10 Questions with ... Spike
April 1, 2008
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NAME:SpikeTITLE:APD/MiddaysSTATIONS:WYSPMARKET:PhiladelphiaCOMPANY:CBS RadioBORN:PhiladelphiaRAISED:Philadelphia
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
First unpaid gig was Z89 (WJPZ), the Syracuse University college station. I did everything. I started out reporting on women's field hockey and ended up doing everything else. First paid gig was doing promotions here at WYSP.
My earliest on-air influence was Golden Boy at Power 99 in Philly. He and Couzin Ed, who used to work at WYSP, were the two guys who I kind of patterned myself after. Honestly, as a programmer my influences were the people who I worked for. Harry Wareing in college, then Tim, Neal and Nancy here at WYSP. I've never been much of a radio nerd kinda guy, so I just knew the programmers I worked for.
2) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
Hah! I'd have been shit out of luck. I have no idea. It'd probably have to involve music. Radio saved me. At some point, I'd love to be involved in the development of bands and a part of the solution to the great "how do we make money in the new world of music" problem, but I'd have never been here if it were not for radio.
In all honesty, probably a male model or a circus clown.
Radio people are a rare breed. And when I say rare, I mean unable to do anything else.
3) How is the relationship between programmer and record label changing? For better or worse?
Oh, goodness. It's a mess. A total mess.
We're both so busy trying to save our own respective industries, we've stopped caring so much how the other one is doing. I'm not saying that's the wrong thing, but it's the truth.
As far as Rock and Alternative radio, our bread is no longer buttered by new music. It's part of the recipe, for sure, but our target demographics for one reason or another are a lot less interested in new music than they used to be. There are a million reasons probably, though I think the overload of product has probably overwhelmed them. The 25-year-old dudes have jobs and families, and not so much time to hunt around on MySpace for new bands. It was a lot easier for them when MTV would just find the new cool thing and play it. When it takes time, they kind of have defaulted to what's comfortable to them.
Because of that phenomenon, we've just decided to play less new music. Of course, that doesn't make record labels terribly happy. Nor should it, I guess, but it's reality.
So we've stopped caring about them as much, and they've stopped caring about us as much. I still feel like there's a general mutual respect, and we try to help each other when possible, but those opportunities are less prevalent than they used to be. Because of this, radio's relationship with band management has become far more important than it used to be.
4) Describe your weekly music meeting ... a) what is the process when you listen to new music? b) Approximately how important by percentage is gut, research, sales, video play, and chart position when determining the status of a record?
Hahaha, dude ... it's Active Rock!
"Seether or Three Days Grace?"
We all listen to the records on our own time. Sitting around and listening to records and staring at each other is awkward and I don't think very helpful. If we need a refresher, we'll throw the music in there and listen again, but certainly I'd hope Jeff, John and myself are familiar with the songs before we go into the meeting. Every time I walk in Sottolano's office he's singing that stupid Saving Abel song, so I know he's familiar with that one.
We at radio are regularly accused of no longer using gut to put records on the air. Here's a newsflash: Until the record is on the air and working, it's all gut. Sure, sales stories are helpful, research in other markets is helpful, chart position, blah blah blah, but at the end of the day, "does this work for us" is a question that is only answered by how well you know your listeners and your radio station.
That being said, we use all of the info that's available -- local sales, Big Champagne data, a key group of stations and charts to figure out where the priorities might lie.
5) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?
The Manno Brothers (Ryan and Kevin) at Q101.1 in Chicago. There is more talent, drive and personality in those two guys than on most air staffs combined. They know and love the music, they're really funny, and they're likable guys. They're the kind of guys you build an air staff around. Though right now they're perfect at night, I think the future holds bigger things for them.
I have other favorites, but I'm not going to cheat and mention more than one, tempting as it may be.
6) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
Don't have one. I don't listen to much radio outside of the market. I'm assuming this means "favorite radio station to listen to," and I guess I don't have one. I'm far too critical of the radio to actually enjoy it. Z100 is pretty fun to listen to, I guess.
7) What's the best concert you've been to so far this year and why?
I'm going to go with "this year" being the past 12 months, and not January 1st up until now. I've only seen like five "this year." So in the last 12 months, the best show I've seen was Silverchair at the House Of Blues in Chicago. They've got incredible command of the crowd, sound great, and have a great presence. Every band should be as good as they are.
8) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
In Chicago, we did a Last Letter Game Marathon for the two years I was there. It's Electra's noon feature (which I've stolen for WYSP), and we had it go for 30 hours straight. It benefits Reading Is Fundamental in Chicago. We doubled the amount of money raised the second year. It was pretty cool to see a charity/radiothon kind of thing that's actually compelling programming and not just begging for money.
Also, I was at a station in North Dakota for about 14 months that came THIS CLOSE to curing cancer. Not really.
9) What's the closest you ever came to getting arrested for an on-air stunt? Or did you actually get arrested?
Haha, getting arrested, not my thing. I got arrested for shoplifting when I was 14, but that was for a T-shirt, not a radio stunt.
10) How often do you do remotes and which work best for the station?
The remotes that work best for the radio station are the ones that put our personalities in front of the most people.
I don't think any remote creates compelling programming, so the benefit of getting in front of tons of people has to outweigh the loss in what we have on the air. Takes a lot of people.
We probably do them more than I'd love in my dream world.
Bonus Questions
How do you stay in touch with the latest music trends?
My little sister is 10. She's WAY into My Chemical Romance. She's recently switched from Hannah Montana. I pretty much just listen to her. She seems to be on the money. I told her that this My Chem album is over, but she insists differently. She does think they sold out, though.
I don't know. I listen to everything, go to lots of shows, and get up really early.
What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?
Again, I'll go with last 12 months.
Hanson - Great Divide
Silverchair - Straight Lines
Avenged Sevenfold - Critical AcclaimYou're stuck on a deserted island and you get to pick one artist to be stuck with you. Who would it be and don't limit it to our format?
Jewel from the "Who Will Save Your Soul" era. She's way annoying now, but back then she'd be cool. Yes, I have a time machine. If I'm in some bizarre world where I get to pick what artist is with me on a deserted island, that bizarro world also includes a time machine.
What do you do in your spare time?
HA! Spare time. I do three things: I work, I run, I go see shows. Spare time. Good one.
How much of your day is spent working with your station website?
Not enough. I think the Internet is going to be BIG.
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