10 Questions with ... Woody Nelson

NAME:Woody Nelson TITLE:OM/PD/air talent STATIONS:Cabo Wabo Radio MARKET:Cabo San Lucas, Mexico/Various TBD COMPANY:Half Nelson LTD BORN:Hollywood, CA RAISED:Toluca Lake, California (home of The Smoke House -- martinis and garlic bread!)

1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

On-air traffic reporter and overnight air talent at KROQ FM (I was Dr. Blood in those days and carried that name over to KIIS-FM ) when it was still in Pasadena, California, in the dumpiest, scariest digs in southern California.

My early influences were all those Boss Jocks sans the "Puker Delivery" -- Big Ron O'Brien, Freddy Snakeskin, Rick Dees, others who choose to be cited as "Anonymous" and, of course, let us not forget the two jocks who molded me most never had a real air shift: Venus Flytrap and The Great "Dr. Johnny Fever"!

2) 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?

They make you sit up and take notice, that's for sure. I think as long as I play nice and stay out of the grey areas, we can all get along. We have a "no profanity pledge of allegiance' and make the staff stand and recite it each morning in front of the flag. We have the highest possible standards and a no-tolerance policy on all questionable content. If there is profanity, I eliminate it, or save it for safe harbor that the FCC provides everybody, not just us.

3) How have music file-sharing services affected the way you program to your audience?

The file-sharing services are a true Godsend. You may being saying, "What the heck is he talking about," but I like them. I have found more great, groundbreaking over-the-top killer music through these sources than ever before. I don't rely on charts, trends or what I am told is "great Music." Hell, most of today's music charts are so far behind me, it is comical. I see people now just starting to play what I was playing a year ago.

Come on, people, wake up! Don't follow the charts; follow your gut. I know it is hard to do when so many of the suits say, "Here is the research and it says..." HA! Shall I send you a list of songs I broke? Or how about this one..."That will never fly on a Hot AC station and once I spun it, it became the top-requested song for weeks on end -- and it was a rock tune!

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

The industry will still be here and I see myself on a beach worrying if the fish I ordered for lunch will be fresh enough. In other words, I hope to go into semi-retirement. Seriously, though, the industry had better wake up a bit. I am involved in a project that I can only say will be the next generation of radio. Radio will never be the same once this animal is let out of its cage. A word of advice to anyone wanting to be #1 your market: If I call you, or someone from my office calls you or e-mails you, take the call and just say, "Yes!"

Seriously, I'm lucky enough to be involved in the most exciting project of my career. I believe it's a groundbreaking concept and has huge global potential. However, due to contractual obligations I can't talk about it yet. We'll be making an announcement about it in the next six weeks. It's astonishing.

5) 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?

Research is what we do, but we don't do it to death. Gut is what made radio fun. Research is just another way to give someone a job. Our music meetings are like a certain kind of odd foreplay. One hour of bitching, followed by two hours of begging, and finished off with hours of confusion and guilt.

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

The Vincent Black Shadow in Atlanta, Georgia because they are an awesome band heavily influenced by my favorite band of all time, Oingo Boingo. Speaking of which, this is an open invitation to Danny Elfman, Danny, please put Boingo back together for a one-shot deal and play for my birthday on October 27th!

7) What's the closest you ever came to getting arrested for an on-air stunt? Or did you actually get arrested?

OK, so it isn't like the Turkey Drop on WKRP, but here goes: Last year at Farmington, New Mexico, we did a gas stunt. 94.9 cents a gallon for 90 minutes at KWYK-FM. Car wrecks, traffic lines three miles in each direction ... you get the idea. That really made a statement; we owned the market to the point a competing station actually had us mentioned on their website when they were giving away $25 gas cards. It was funny beyond funny; it was like a gas price board on the site... 2.99, not bad...2.89 a little better...94.9 not good at all...I laughed my ass off. Nice going , DEE DEE DEE!

8) What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?

Operator - "Soul Crusher"
My Chemical Romance - "Teenagers"
Foo Fighters - "The Pretender"

9) Over the years, we've had the "British Invasion," disco, new wave, rap ans hip-hop, boy bands and many other genres and sub-genres of music take off. What do you think is the next emerging music trend?

Euro-trash rock is coming back. It will be huge again. Sweden is really pumping out some great stuff. Also closer to home, The Switches from England are awesome and so is Re:Ignition from the Bay Area. Awesome music is coming; I am very excited.

10) In today's world of multi-tasking and wearing many hats, how do you find time to show prep and what sources do you use?

I was multi-tasking before it was called that. It's all in a day's work with me, baby! I use Bitman for my prep and they are awesome-- and no, I don't ever want to change...

What is your favorite TV show?

Three way tie here: " Aqua Teen Hunger Force," "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Favorite artist you have met?

Loaded questions, I see ... It's a tie between David Bowie, Dave Grohl, Sammy Hagar, Danny Elfman and Chris Cornell

Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without....

Sushi.

How much music do you listen to each week?

About 126 hours a week

What is a typical day like in your position?

Wake at 6a ... office at 8, lunch at 2, home at 10 ... need I say more? Oh, I leave the office at 8p for some "Me" time for now...

Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?

Mas-hups !!!

How many songs do you have active in your library?

Over 2.9 million in my personal collection, but as for the playlist for this animal I am working on, I can't tell you, but let's just say you might need a calculator to do the math. It has never been seen in radio ever before...

How often do you go out on sales calls and what is your role?

Every day. I close every deal, too!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Retired.

What do you read in the bathroom?

Anything I can get my hands on -- including shampoo bottles.