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10 Questions with ... Steve Huber
April 7, 2009
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NAME:Steve HuberTITLE:MDSTATION:WIYYMARKET:BaltimoreCOMPANY:HearstBORN:6/3/1977RAISED:Baltimore
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started as an intern at 98 Rock in 1998. Promotions assistant until 2000. Asst . Promotions Director in 2000. Asst. Music Director in 2007. Music Director November 2008.
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I started as an intern here at 98 Rock in 1998 and have climbed all the way to MD. The Orioles may have forgotten the Oriole way of bringing people all the way through their system, but 98 Rock hasn't. There isn't much at this station that I haven't done as part of one job or another here. I couldn't have done it without the people who I learned from ... Rob Heckman, Dave Hill, Rick Strauss and Lori Smyth, who turned me from intern to promotions employee/drinking buddy.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?
I always wanted to be in radio. I was always the guy making mix tapes ... then burned CDs ... then playlists for all of my friends or at parties. I feel like I've always been making lists of music for other people to get into and love as much as I do my whole life, so why not make a career out of it.
3) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
I grew up on a farm north of Baltimore. If my mom and dad hadn't demanded I go to college, which led to my 98 Rock internship, I'd probably still be working on the farm. I still like helping out there when I get time, which isn't too often, but just enough. There are actually more similarities to what I did on the farm and what I do in radio than you would think!
4) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
Terrestrial radio provides locality that any national delivery method just cannot. I feel like our listeners want to hear stories about me passing out in bars that they too have passed out in, or commenting about a great show that they were at the night before ... or both in one night.
5) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
Hands down, far and away it has to be the Internet. I fully believe that it will become the delivery method of choice for our product sooner then we think. I already listen to the station on my computer and iPhone more then over the air already! Stations need to be prepared to deliver on multiple platforms over the web like supporting an AM show bit with video, having 24/7 web cams in studio, etc.
6) 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?
We have five people regularly in the music meeting. I try to bring a short stack of priorities and present them and their cases to the group. We listen loudly (much to the disappointment of the rest of the office) to each song and then say what we think after it. Gut is our driving determining factor, about 80%, for most songs we pick. If we are stuck deciding -- there are two clear sides or a split in the group -- we use charts, sales or other factors. We work for a great company that lets us make all of the music decisions right here in the office!
7) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
I sometimes get bogged down in things I have to do, or the politics of radio, and forget that I am not doing hard labor or outside sweating digging in the dirt. This job IS fun. Tons of people wish they could be doing it. I get to do it. If I have fun, doing it will come through on the air and with the programming.
8) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on-air?
At SXSW 2008 I was doing my specialty show live from Austin on Saturday morning. We had been drinking and seeing shows since Wedneday ... and on Friday night we were still seeing a band (pretty sure it was Nada Surf) at 1:55a. By the time we got some late-night WhataBurger and went to bed, it was 3:30a Austin time (4:30a Baltimore time) Completely slept through the first hour of the show and when I did make the air, the show was not something for the resume' reel. But it truly was delivering the spirit of SXSW to the listeners!
9) What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?
I am kind of an Alternative geek at heart (shhh). So far in '09 I love the new records from Cursive, White Lies and Phoenix. I cannot wait to hear the rest of the Silversun Pickups record ... and the new Muse record slated for this year!
10) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
If you want to be in radio today, know how to be on the air, edit audio AND video, have good marketing sense, be fun and funny, know how to update your station's website, drink heavily and be WAY ahead of the tech curve ... and plan on doing all of those things everyday... and then some.
Bonus Questions
How do you stay in touch with the latest music trends?
Staying in touch with music trends is why I love this job. I put a lot of work into discovering new music. I read a bunch of music blogs everyday. I have a network of friends as geeky as I am and we trade new music constantly.
What is your favorite TV show?
Curb Your Enthusiasm.
What singer/performer/artist really inspires you and why?
I really admire Jack White's work ethic. The guy just seems to have music pouring out of him and isn't afraid to try all sorts of new projects and styles to get it out. I love that he puts out a record as soon as it is done and goes on to something else. I am completely jealous of the way he can command a crowd. If I had that type of power it would be scary.
You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have 5 CDs with you. What are they?
Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
Radiohead - OK Computer
R.E.M. - Document
Idlewild - 100 Broken Windows
Pixies - DoolittleWhat do you do in your spare time?
The things I like to do in my spare time are listen to music, hang out with friends and have fun. The only difference between work and spare time is whether or not there is beer/wine involved.
Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?
I have to confess. It is Snoop Dogg. I can't let him go...
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