10 Questions with ... James Kurdziel

NAME:James Kurdziel TITLES:PD STATIONS:WEDG-FM (103.3 The Edge) MARKET:Buffalo/Niagara Falls, NY COMPANY:Citadel Broadcasting Company BORN:Buffalo RAISED:Buffalo (I REALLY like it here.)

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started as an intern at WEDG in 2000. Worked my way up from there.
Named Assistant to Shredd & Ragan in 2000.
Named Producer of the Shredd & Ragan Show in 2002.
Added Music Director duties in 2005.
Named Program Director in 2006.

1) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?

I hate jobs. I hate dress codes. I hate doing what people want. I like to be alone and do my own thing whenever I want. Radio is pretty much the only thing that allows for that sort of aloof behavior. There is no possible way I could ever do a regular job. I realized that in high school and had radio pegged as a career since then.

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

I would probably be a teacher. Thing is, I know I would be a horrible one. Teachers are always bad. If you think you had that one great teacher in your life, you probably didn't. They don't really know anything, but they think they do and pass off their opinion as if it were fact. Kind of like program directors.

3)What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?

Buffalo is Buffalo. There is actually a lot here, believe it or not, and the market is finally starting to show signs of growth again. But the nice thing about being from here is that I'm just like every one of my listeners. "Wide right" still bothers me a lot. Brett Hulls skate WAS in that stupid crease. With Buffalo folks, those things never go away. At the same time, we kind of like the chip on our shoulder. It gives us an edge and the things we do as a radio station have to mirror the culture of the people. So we make fun of Canada a lot.

4)How have the recent FCC regulations impacted the way you program your music and the station's dialogue on the air? What are your feelings about these recent changes?

I have a very unpopular opinion. The rules defined or not, are what they are. We can't cry about it. We've got to deal with it. I find that the folks who feel that they're being slighted are the ones that have a bit less talent. It's not a knock on anyone. But the most talented shows are the ones who find a way to do great radio in any climate. It's pretty easy to rely on weak material to get us by. O&A are doing great radio within these guidelines. I have Shredd & Ragan here. They are incredible. Both of these shows had to abandon a lot of material that they used to do. But they've moved on to new things. They are creative and talented. They have risen above the old way of doing radio.

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

Well, terrestrial radio HAS Internet radio now, so it was more of an integration. However, it is a very important one. Satellite is obviously going through its thing right now. Maybe they're in trouble, but in the end they won't be going away entirely. We wish they would, but it'll be there. I just think it's a different thing. It's not direct competition. Other radio stations are. Radio folks just need to keep our eyes on our growth and what we're doing to keep ourselves healthy. You can't grow just by knocking someone else out of the game. It doesn't work that way.

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

Of all the old media (radio, TV, newspapers, magazines), radio is really the only one that can latch onto and incorporate new technology to better the product. Local TV is dead. We just haven't told them yet. But I'm saying it now. It's over for them. Too many things threaten mags and papers. But we can align with these technologies and make radio even better. Our websites can supplement our broadcast. Plus we can sell it. We should believe in ourselves a bit more.

7) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

The biggest issue facing radio is radio. We have to start believing in what we do again. For some reason, we hate ourselves. And not in the fun way. We shy away from what we do and let people kick us around. The iPod isn't beating us. It's joining us. Other distractions are just that. So is radio. It's an even playing field out there and we can compete. We just need to realize that we're capable.

8) 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?

My music meetings are fun. I invite some staff. But mostly I bring my friends and my brother in. We kind of just hang out and listen to music. My brother has a big say in what happens here. He will probably have call times soon. My friends use radio like normal people. They have jobs and lives. It's really a fantastic gauge.

9) How do you market your radio station?

Virally. I don't think Billboards and remotes help radio anymore. Have listeners create your marketing, and they will spread the word for you. Being a topic of discussion is the most powerful tool any medium can have.

10) As you look back over your career ... any regrets? Missed opportunities?

I've been very lucky. I run the station I grew up with. I'm on the air with two incredible talents. It's really everything I've wanted to do. I suppose my only regret is not wanting to program sooner.

Name the artist/act (living or dead) you'd love to meet and why?

Lennon. John, not Vladimir.

Have you listened to Sirius or XM yet? How does it compare to what we're doing on the commercial side?

Radio should be free. It's worth that much.

You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have five CDs with you. What are they?

The Clash, "London Calling," Miles Davis, "Bitches Brew," Rancid, "Life Won't Wait," Television, "Marquee Moon," Buffalo Tom "Big Red Letter Day."

Besides your own, what format would you like to program and why?

Smooth Jazz. Because of my previous answer.

What's the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you? The worst?

Best advice was "keep showing up." Worst advice was "Hey, you should add that."

How do you handle a confrontation between two people on your airstaff?

I encourage them to fight to the death. That, or thumb wars usually end all disputes.