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10 Questions with ... Jeff Regan
October 16, 2007
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NAME:Jeff ReganTITLE:Format ManagerMARKET:North AmericaCOMPANY:Sirius Satellite RadioBORN:8/16/75RAISED:Ridgefield Park, NJ (exit #67)
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
1996-2002/WHTZ New York, NY - Marketing, On-Air
2000-2001/WKCI New Haven, CT - On-Air
2002-Present/Sirius Satellite Radio - Format Manager, On-Air1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
First job was driving the prize van and doing sticker spotting call-ins for Z100/NYC. Early influences were Tom Poleman and his team; they gave me the opportunity to sit in music meetings, learn Selector and do air shifts. That was really the fuel for me to want to become a radio programmer.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?
I was lucky to have a very solid college radio program (Seton Hall University's WSOU FM) I spent a ton of time in the studio on the air and trying to figure out how I could somehow make a career of this radio thing. I would get my hands on copies of R&R, Monitor and pour over AllAccess.com for info about the most influential Rock stations and programmers in the country.
3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
The most unique and liberating thing about programming music at Sirius is the ability to work directly with a remarkable team of radio professionals from every format imaginable. I learn each day from SVP/Music Programming Steve Blatter and VP/Music Programming Gregg Steele. They've created an environment in which we can super-serve our listeners and support artists of every level and stature. I realize that I have been given the opportunity to work with and learn from a veritable list of "who's who" in the world of radio programming. At our weekly rock music meetings, I get to sit with fellow current-based Rock programmers Gary Schoenwetter, Will Pendarvis, Rich McLaughlin, and Jose Mangin to discuss new music, new ways to support bands on multiple stations and how we can work together to make remarkable radio.
4) How is the relationship between programmer and record label changing? For better or worse?
I think that relationships (at least here in Satellite town) are growing stronger every day. I am psyched (most of) the industry are realizing the ability and the massively rapidly growing potential satellite radio gives their artists, especially the new/immerging or niche acts.
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?
A) I really love lining up new tracks or albums and giving each four to eight listens each and then walk away for a bit. I will find myself "wanting" to go back to some; those are the ones that usually get the add, the others will get listened to some more over the next few weeks.
B) 90% is gut, perhaps more. Here at Sirius, we have the ability to go early or deeper on artists and tracks, so by the time the story "has developed" in other traditional avenues, we have already delivered the music to our audience and can gauge their responses.
6) What format does not exist that should? Would it work?
I really feel a format similar to our Faction format (aggressive rock, punk and hip-hop) would work in a number of markets. I had the opportunity to be a part of the creation and development of the station and am still a big fan. The format centers itself on the action sports lifestyle and includes pro skaters Tony Hawk and Bam Margera as weekly radio hosts. The target demo (male 12-24) is a generation of listeners that have always known and accepted hip-hop and do not find it odd to hear mixed genres of music played together in video games, MTV...etc.
Entertainment President Scott Greenstein and our programming team have done an amazing job focusing in on and defining the format, developing it as brand and entrenching it in a number of targeted and mass -ppeal lifestyle forums (X-Games, Warped tour, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland video game, Bam's "Unholy Union" (MTV show)...etc.
7) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as six months ago, better, or about the same?
I feel strong releases from core bands such as Korn, Velvet Revolver, Chevelle and Linkin Park have laid a really solid foundation for the Active format in 2007. That, in conjunction with the continued development and exposure of bands like Hellyeah, Atreyu and Evan's Blue have put the format in a state of continued improvement.
8) What's the best concert you've been to so far this year and why?
Foo Fighters last month at The Filmore/Irving Plaza NYC. Against Me at Roseland Ballroom, NYC. Muse at Madison Square Garden.
9) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Keep ego in check, unchecked ego is poison, it's not about you, its about the music. Listen to your listeners, without them your nothing. All that matters is what's on the air.
10) How do you market your radio station?
Here at Sirius, we have unbelievable opportunities to cross-promote our stations and are encouraged to do so as much as possible. I take every opportunity to promote my stations via Howard Stern's radio stations as well as our Talk/Sports and entertainment stations like NFL, NASCAR, Comedy and Maxim stations. Likewise, I strive to provide similar opportunities for other stations.
There is an awesome team effort here; we are not in competition with each other; our main goal is to enhance the listening experience and to keep our subscribers' satisfaction level as high as possible with the entire Sirius experience. Its like staying at a 5-star resort, we want to make sure that every aspect of your stay with us is completely enjoyable and your every want, need or interest is being taken care of.
Bonus Questions
How much leeway do you give your jocks to talk between records?
I always challenge the hosts to try new ideas and not to be afraid of giving their (brief) personal feelings and to express experiences, I do remind them that no one is tuning in to hear ranting, raving or preaching. Anyone can give tour dates and album release dates; I really enjoy hearing them make each shift their own and find new and creative ways to connect with their North American audience.
How often do you aircheck and what is your approach?
I sit with each host a few times a month. My approach is pretty consistent, we talk about their thoughts, ideas, feelings and concerns regarding their show then we discuss current station philosophy and how to maintain or implement it. Finally, we listen to a few breaks and tie in everything we have discussed.
What type of features do you run on the station?
On a weekly basis we run "Octane Elements." Elements is a music-intensive interview-based show in which we remove the extraneous chatter and focus on the "meat and potatoes" -- the focus is the artist and their answers. We keep the segment length relatively short and build them out with sound bites, specific imaging and songs.
How often do you listen to your station when you are away from the station?
Very frequently. I try to listen as the audience listens -- in the car, in traffic, while playing video games, on the computer, cleaning the apartment, etc. It gives you a great perspective and it really serves as a great way to discover new ways to connect the listeners.
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