10 Questions with ... Troy Hanson

NAME:Troy Hanson TITLE:PD/Middays STATIONS:WBUZ MARKET:Nashville COMPANY:Cromwell Radio Group BORN:St. Paul, MN RAISED:St. Paul, MN

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KQRS Minneapolis, KQDS Duluth, WKQZ Saginaw, WLZR Milwaukee, KATS Yakima, KAZR Des Moines, WRIF Detroit, WZTA/WBGG Miami

1) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

I took my first steps towards the culinary world last year when I enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School. It was an amazing experience and I hope to continue that at some point down the road. I love to cook! There is something serene about spending a Saturday or Sunday morning in the kitchen for a few hours just chopping, stirring, baking, sautéing and such. I just flip on the radio and go.

2) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?

I checked the cume difference and we compete just fine, thank you. I'm a stupid huge Opie & Anthony fan. November 15th 2005 - that was the day they debuted on DirecTV. I spent 30 days with the show getting to know the characters and voices (this is when I was out of radio managing rock bands) and was hooked. I went out and bought an XM at that point. They became my morning show of choice at the time. You either get it or you don't ... and I like that. I feel like I've missed something if I miss a day so I catch the repeats when I can. RAMONE! Right about now, the actor Greg Hughes has hung up on me.

3) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?

I see an industry that continues to deal and work with rapidly changing technologies that will continue to demand we work smarter to capture eyes, ears and attention spans. (Nice vanilla answer, jackassQ) We have a teen challenge on our hands in terms of usage and that will require us to integrate with other hardware to keep us top-of-mind for the future of entertainment and information consumption. Me? Who knows man? Would I love to be back home in Minneapolis someday? Sure. Am I thrilled to be in Nashville? Absolutely. I love it here. The company is great. The town is awesome and the station is really coming together. The music scene here is sick -- non-stop pickin' everywhere. Good stuff. It's the last safe bastion of the music business.

4) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?

Kane on Ethel XM47, pound for pound the best music-driven personality in the biz. I should add that it is a crime that Remy Maxwell is not on terrestrial rock radio.

5) If you could add any one full-time position to your budget with no questions asked, what would it be?

I still believe the imaging department is the key to a great Rock radio station. What oozes out of the speakers, however you are listening -- car, PC, home stereo, podcast, at work -- the compelling production pieces that compliment the edgy music, humor and attitude in between the records. He or she takes the promotions department's promotion and brings it to life through the promos and sweepers we hear every day. To have a person whose full day is to focus on the personality/stationality of the station. No spot production or air shift, just a day of going into the studio, getting silly and putting it on the air for ear candy. Keeping it fresh.

6) What's the best concert you've been to so far this year and why?

The Raconteurs a Mercy Lounge in Nashville. Jack White is amazing! In the last seven years, he has truly emerged as a unique artist of the decade with huge talent. He really has a great handle on his career, the choices he makes, and how he puts himself out there.

7) Tell us what music we would find on your car or home CD player (or turntable) right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?

Four in rotation right now are Radiohead, "OK Computer"; Raconteurs, " Consolers of the Lonely"; The Bravery, "The Sun & The Moon" and The White Stripes, "Get Behind Me Satan."

8) How often do you aircheck your own shows? Is it mandatory that you run tape everyday? Also, can you honestly critique yourself?

I don't and I need to. I aircheck my staff, but I haven't airchecked myself and I need to! I need to send an aircheck to Hastings so he can tell me what for.

9) What's been your biggest disappointment in radio today?

Losing Zeta sucked ... straight up. Got a bit disillusioned and left radio to do artist management for a few years before returning. I don't regret going to Miami; it was a unique experience. It's a different animal down there. Had I not gone, I would have never met Paul Castronovo, who is a dear friend. He's got a great morning show (available in syndication now, right Paul? ... word).

10) What do you like best about working in this format?

The attitude. Rock radio is an attitude.

What is your favorite TV show?

I still enjoy watching the weekly strategy on "Survivor" when it's on. Watching the people interact, trying to predict the next move that will best position certain players on each tribe.

How do you position the station to prospective clients?

We are an 18-49 Male-driven Rock radio station with personality that is lifestyle-focused. We look for ways to integrate them to the platforms we have to offer through campaigns on the air, the web, text messaging, e-mail blasts and more. We have an active audience base that we want to tap them into.