10 Questions with ... Boomer

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WFLY- Albany 2001-2008
• WZMR - Albany 2008 - present
• WHHZ - Gainesville 2008- present

1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

First job in radio was at Top 40 WFLY/Albany doing weekends and board op, before the advent of cyber-jocking. I then was blessed into mornings with Candy and Potter who are now at WLNK/Charlotte. I was highly influenced by my old PD John Foxx, now building KLIF/Dallas. I finally landed at WZMR/Albany, thanks to Kevin Callihan.

2) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?

WZMR is unique because it wasn't thought to be a player in our saturated Rock market. Now chipping at the "Major Players," the station is making a huge impact on the Albany Market.

3) 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?

I don't think the FCC is paying attention to us. For the past three years, we were playing "Fuel" by Metallica and the word "f---" just caught our attention last week.

4) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?

For us, terrestrial radio hasn't helped or hurt us. It's a 50/50 situation for tech-savvy people in Albany. But our Internet stream is loved between 10a-5p, which is what we love.

5) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?

Interaction is key. Being a 24/7 webcam or instant message in the studio right from the home page of our website. Keeping info relevant is a huge factor as well.

6) What's the best concert you've been to so far this year and why?

My best concert would have to be a tie of Slipknot and Mudvayne. After each show, I convulsed for about three hours in the fetal position and loved it. Nothing like hard metal to get the blood flowing.

7) 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?

Right now I am into a lot of METAL and hardcore Hip-Hop. In my car is the new single from Ramstein, "Pussy," on repeat. Hip-Hop-wise is Jay-z and Rihanna "Run This Town" and Raekwon with "Catalina." I don't know why these songs stand out to me, but it just gets me going.

8) Over the years, we've had the "British Invasion," "Disco," "New Wave," "Rap & Hip-Hop," "Boy Bands," and many other genres and sub-genres of music take off. What do you think is the next emerging music trend?

Real pop music (as per our night guy Focker), not the pussy-ass chick rock now aka Fallout Boy, Framing Hanley, Cobra Starship or any guy wearing his girlfriend's pants, eyeliner and has feathered and layered hair that falls into one of their eyes.

9) If you are voicetracking shifts or syndicating for stations outside of your market, how do you get familiar with that marketplace/community?

Road trip! Luckily, I am VT'd in Florida and I live in NY. BOOOYA!

10) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?

Have something to fall back on. Radio is a fickle mistress and can be gone without you even knowing it.

What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?

I have to say my new one I like is I-93 Dallas, Hi John.

How have music file-sharing services affected the way you program to your audience?

I go by charts strictly and not the overrated MySpace because who knows if the band is paying someone to hit repeat to get play counts up.

What is your favorite TV show?

FAMILY GUY!

What was the first song or full-length release you purchased?

Wayne's World soundtrack

What gets you upset at work and how do you channel your anger?

FRIGGIN DRAMA is not needed in the office atmosphere. I go to the gym after work to hit a punching bag pretending it the bitching co-workers that don't shut up and try to make everyone listen them even if they have no real reason to open their mouth. You know who you are, stop sneezing so loud to get everyone to say bless you.

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?

Shakira because she is hot ... and she would not have a problem killing anything on the island for sustenance to survive.

What has been the best performing record on the station so far this year?

The new Alice in Chains - "Check My Brain" has created a love/hate thing.