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10 Questions with ... Maynard
November 21, 2006
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NAME:MaynardTITLES:APD/MD/AfternoonsSTATION:WCPR-FMMARKET:Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MississippiCOMPANY:TriadBORN:IllinoisRAISED:All Over
Please outline your radio career so far:
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1) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it?"
In college, back in the late 80's, I thought I wanted to get into TV and broadcast production. So, I jumped on that track and took a few classes. (Turned out to be really, really, boring.) A buddy of mine volunteered at a local campus radio station and I sat in with him a few times playing tunes and gabbing and having fun. I started paying more attention as to how the local commercial stations conducted their business... I visited KXRX in Seattle and got a glimpse of Crow, West, and Vanderpool (among others) doing their things and I was hooked. I understood it, I "got it." I enrolled in a broadcasting trade school and never looked back.
2) How is the relationship between programmer and record label changing? For better or worse?
Since the labels, these days, are armed with better audience, marketing, and sales research, there's more of a sense of immediacy as to what's going on music and product-wise. We share virtually every shred of information with 'em, 24-7. That may not necessarily be good news to artists who could use more time to develop.
3) 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?
Our OM Kenny Vest and I usually get together once a week and go over "the stack." I don't like to go by just what the charts show (but yes, I admit, there are some instances where some tracks' success cannot be ignored...). We've taken plenty of chances on new, untested and uncharted stuff over the years, which is where the gut comes in. I do solicit opinions from my staff on new stuff if I'm on the fence about a particular track.
4) 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?
I love old compilation CDs. I'm a big fan of late 80's and 90's Triple-A stuff. I have all of these old Album Network Tune-Ups, Musician Magazine discs, music-store freebies and the like that I load in, hit "shuffle" and veg out. "Oh, I remember that one..." A lot of this stuff still sounds fresh.
5) What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?
10 Years, 30 Seconds To Mars, and Tool... All bound for further glory, IMO.
6) How often do you do remotes and which work best for the station?
I don't do them very often, I leave that job to the Type-A Charismatic Superstars I have in the stable. We're big on bar, club, and show remotes, they tend to be the most successful. We try to do at least two or three hour-long street hits per week with free schwag and goodies at various locations to get visibility - it works well, people love seeing us pop up in their neighborhoods.
7) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Everything we do in this business is subjective. Don't ever think you're doing a bad job. Don't ever think you're doing a great job. Learn to trust yourself and your instincts and always be ready to learn something new.
8) 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?
Thanks to Al Gore for giving us the Internet.
9) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
Learn to adapt, keep your ego in check, and let people do their jobs.
10) As you look back over your career ... any regrets? Missed opportunities?
I suppose I could have handled a few situations here and there a little differently, but I feel that I've paid my dues and have earned the spot I'm sitting in today. Could I have gotten here faster? Maybe... But I wouldn't have any friends left.
Bonus Questions
1) What gets you upset at work and how do you channel your anger?
Laziness. People who refuse to do their jobs or give half-assed performance piss me off to no end. People who also don't appreciate their jobs piss me off - today, jobs in our industry represent less than one quarter of one percent of the US workforce.
2) Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Vault. I need more. More Vault, dammit. I'll be their spokesperson.
3) How much interaction do you have with record labels?
I love all of my record peeps. I consider many of them friends and allow these kind, insightful, generous people to get me really, really, hammered on a regular basis.
4) What is a typical day like in your position?
I schedule, work on-air, write promos, produce imaging, work on our website, talk with the aforementioned record peeps, create new wacky outgoing voice mail messages, bitch at my mid-day guy for talking too much, listen to new tracks, write countless (work-related) e-mails, and IM psycho ex-girlfriends.
5) Anybody you would like to give props to for helping you along the way?
Yes. David Moore, for convincing me that I didn't suck and showing me how to get focused. Patti Haze, for her professionalism. Jay Taylor, who showed me that there's nothing wrong with being pragmatic and organized. And Kenny Vest, who is still trying to get me to just loosen the hell up.
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