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10 Questions with ... Chris Chaos
July 5, 2005
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NAME:Chris ChaosTITLE:Program Director "lucky to be employed" afternoonsSTATION:WAROMARKET:FT.MYERS/NAPLES #65COMPANY:MeridianBORN:and bathed by NorweigansRAISED:by gophers
Please outline your radio career so far: (station/date, station/date, etc.)
Mimicked 92PRO-FM jocks at age of 9, and was DJ'ing neighborhood dances and yacht club socials at 13. Got my FCC radio license by age 15 and began working at the University Of Rhode Island's student run radio station as a non-student (to young to go to college at 15 ... wussies!) Worked in Providence, Boston, Tampa, Memphis, Portland, Fayetteville, NC and a slew of quick stints at smaller stations in BFE.
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
First commercial radio job was in a small trailer for an AM station in Wickford, RI. Did NEWS afternoons part time. Yup, I attended those boring Monday night town hall meetings. Then one day the afternoon guy didn't show up, so I played records, then moved on to a Jazz station in Newport overnights. After that it was a few Ma & Pa's in the Northeast, after which I landed nights at WWRX Classic Rock, Providence. Dave Richards taught me a lot in a short amount of time. Also influenced by the entire WNBC gang in the 80's: Don Imus (when he was funny), Alan Combs, Howard Stern afternoons. Randy & Ralph here at Meridian are GREAT! Mark Pollitt, Alan Furst, Bob Raleigh, Val Garris, Perry Stone, Gary Berkowitz, Rick Everett, Ulysses and Brad Beasley, all spent countless hours teaching me tricks of the trade. I still have a long way to go, but we're getting there!
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
Between my first small market gigs in the late 70's early 80's and my WRX deal I spent 5-6 years on the road with New Wave / Punk acts in North East punk palaces in Boston, CBGB's New York, & Providence as roadie and sound tech. The bands I worked with opened and toured with include Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders, Plasmattics, Oingo Boingo, Joan Jett, etc.
WAY too much fun. I probably would've seen GOD if I continued playing with the rock stars, and GOD would've been pissed, so the radio opportunity opened at WRX nights and I saved my ass and haven't looked back since.
3) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
Probably be a promoter, record rep or in artist development and management
4) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
Howard "went away" and Bob & Tom are awesome morning anchors! Of the four rock stations in the market we play the most music -- and it's a kick ass classic rock format! Not a lot of filler music or songs our demo doesn't know and like. Babble free and we give the people what they want, which is more rock & less crock! Helluva concept that's working well for us..
5) 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?
WARO has always been the most female and family friendly of the four rock stations in this market so, absolutely, it's a family owned company and we try to keep our pants on and potty mouth off as much as possible. Still, it is a rock station, so we appeal to that lifestyle and culture connections as well. There ain't nothing better than four Hooters in one town!!
6) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
There is no comparison. The local service elements for every radio station make the difference in the TRE (total radio experience) to the listener. You won't get up to the minute updates on weather, news, traffic or local happenings by listening to the comedy channel 24/7 on satellite radio, and you won't learn about I-75 being closed until it's too late. It's what happens between the records that makes the distinction between us and everyone else.
7) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?
MJ Kelli at FLZ Tampa. The guy is always evolving. A perfect potpourri of creative, contemporary, hard working and funny, consistently, every day!
8) 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?
In my car CD player now, hmmm. Velvet Revolver, Big & Rich, Evanescence, Michael W Smith, The Fifth (local rockers), Joe Perry, Pink Floyd and a couple demo's from jocks looking for their next gig!
9) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Less is more.
10) Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?
I thought stealing their money in the mid 90's was fun, but this Harley Charley Concert Party is the shit! We're raising money for SW Florida hurricane victims and displaced families (which by the way there are tens of thousands of still down here) and the SW Florida Make A Wish Foundation (we just helped make six year old Shea's dream of getting a new room in his house done Friday). The concert features 4 local bands and three classic rock acts: Grand Funk Railroad, Edgar Winter Group & Rick Derringer. We're giving away a brand new pearl yellow Harley Davidson 1100 street rod to one of 94 lucky key holders after Edgar Winter plays "free ride" on stage. The concert falls on the one year anniversary of Hurricane Charley, Sat Aug 13, 2005. 94 cents from every ticket sold goes to SW Florida hurricane victims and all the net proceeds go to Make a Wish. The community is behind us, the listeners are digging our first concert ever and specialty T-shirts, and vendors and major sponsors are in the mix! For the jocks and guys we are at clubs with the bike and there are babes of the week qualifying via our website for a chance to go "hog wild" for a key, strapped to pigs and hogs, in mud and jello... yum!! Send those pix!!
Bonus Questions
What do you do in your spare time?
Concert photographer and my four boys keep me running. Yup, you'd think I'd be in better shape (yes round is a shape, but I've been told it DOES NOT count)
What has been the station's biggest accomplishment?
I think when we changed the positioning from "The Arrow, all rock and roll classics of the 60's, 70's etc" to CLASSIC ROCK 94.5 was HUGE! We enhanced the music and logo, adjusted our on air line up and freshened the station imaging. We're on the right track to the top! Time will tell. Either way, we're doing all the right things and the fun continues. Next!
What other format would you like to program and why?
Hot AC & Country have both been very, very good to me. My last station (WQSM Q-98) Hot AC was nominated for 2004 station of the year/small market under my direction. I have extensive experience and success plugging into the country life style, and gained national attention for saving the life of a listener at a country radio station here in Ft. Myers ten years ago, so I've been lucky and blessed with good people, friends in the business and my family
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