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10 Questions with ... 'Neander' Paul Marshall
September 26, 2006
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NAME:'Neander' Paul MarshallTITLES:Afternoons / Music Director / Super GeniusSTATIONS:KQRC-FMMARKET:Kansas City, MOCOMPANY:EntercomBORN:BostonRAISED:Irish
Please outline your radio career so far:
Started in 1986 at WDJM-FM at Framingham State College in Massachusetts. From there (in order); Morning Show Producer - WZLX-Boston, Producer - WHDH-AM-Boston, Weekends/Swing - WHEB-Portsmouth, NH, Weekends/Swing - WAAF-Boston, Nights/AMD/Afternoons/MD/Interim PD - WMFS-Memphis, Afternoons/MD - WCKW-New Orleans, Mornings - WEGE-Columbus, OH, Afternoons/MD KRXQ-Sacramento, Afternoons - WAAF-Boston, Weekends/Swing - WBCN-Boston, Afternoons/MD - KQRC-Kansas City.
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
First paying gig? "Assistant Producer - Annalisa Morning Show", WZLX-Boston. I grew up listening to the best radio in America at the time. Charles Laquidara, Billy West, Mark Parenteau, Bob & Zip, Arnie Ginsberg, Eddie Andleman, John Garabedian, Sunny Joe White, Matt Seigel, JJ Jackson. It's tough not to love this business when that's the palate of inspiration.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
Either winning Beatlemania tickets from Dale Dorman on WRKO when I was 9, or when I did a "Walk-A Thon" for WCOZ, and seeing Cindy Bailen treated like a goddess.
3) If you were just starting out in radio, knowing now, what you didn't then, would you still do it?
If radio were now, what it was then, absolutely. It's got to be tough to attract new people because almost everyone has such a cynical attitude about the industry now. If you hate your job...quit. Stop taking everyone down with you.
4) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
I was a musician. Had no real direction. I'd probably have tried something in sports. I'm quite the martial arts master ?. My ninja skills are well-documented.
5) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
I've worked for Entercom for about 6 years (save for a brief period). Look at the stations in the company. I've been with KRXQ, WAAF, and KQRC, some of the great stations in the industry. Each one was unique in its own way. KQRC is a dominant rock station during a time when so many are either changing, or going away. I think we do well because corporate stays out of the way, and lets (Program Director) Bob Edwards do his thing with as little interference as possible. Entercom has always been great about that. They hire people and let them do their job. Bob knows the market, and constantly monitoring what we do to make sure we're on point. The results have spoken of that effort this year in Dallas. It's been like that here since they signed it on. Not many stations have been as consistent for so long. It benefits from the efforts of all who've worked here past, and present. All in all...it does not suck to work here.
6) How have music file sharing services, affected the way you program to your audience?
Not at all. The audience doesn't listen to radio for the music. They listen to feel connected to the music. They can get the songs anywhere. They cannot get what comes between the songs anywhere else. That's the trick. Those who get it, win consistently.
7) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
I think we do a better job. I love satellite radio. I hope it works. So far it remains a failure. Until they think differently than we do, it's just there. They've lied to their audience, and their shareholders. They inflate subscriber numbers. They have multiple technical issues that need to be resolved. They still drop out like cell phones. It's not perfect. We still rule the airwaves right now. Anyone who tells you differently is straight out lying, or ignorant.
8) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?
I think interactivity is key. Real-time communication with the audience. Every studio I've worked in since the technology became available has had Instant Messaging. We should make the web page the gateway into the studio for those who cannot call. Again, it's about connecting with the customer (the audience). We must make them feel like their voice is heard. We have been engaging in monologue too long. Communication is dialogue-based. Let's give the audience the avenues to reach us. And let's listen to them.
9) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
We hear the mantra "content is king" a lot. We have stop feeding it and start believing it. That means everything from air talent to spot production. Our stations should sound good all the time. Nothing is a throw-away.
10) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
I heard a station up in the hills of Pennsylvania when I was moving here that was called "The Surge." No idea where it is, what the calls are, or who owns it. I just know they don't seem to give a shit about what's going on across the country. They did their thing. They were doing the standard labor day "4 play" weekend thing, and I heard a 4-play of Dokken, and then Zombie, and then Soundgarden...it WASN'T the same tired "top testing" songs. It was refreshing.
Bonus Questions
1) Favorite artist you have met?
Zakk Wylde is a brother. Love him.
2) In your opinion, what is the greatest song ever that never made it as a hit?
I thought "Starseed" by Our Lady Peace should've been "Smells Like Teen Spirit" huge.
3) What was the first song or full-length release you purchased?
Wild Cherry. I am the funk!
4) You'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. Duh!
5) What's been your biggest disappointment in Radio today?
The fact that Fred Durst got rich off of music pioneered by Mike Muir. That's tragic.
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