10 Questions with ... Mike Klein

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WNVZ (Z104)/Norfolk, 1999 to 2006.
• WKZL/Greensboro, 2006-2007
• Z100/New York (swing, whenever they need me) 2008-present
• WBVD/Melbourne (my first programming gig), 2007-2009
• WNRW-WLGX/Louisville, 2009-present

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

Weekend overnights in Winchester, VA at 92.5 Wink-FM. It was a lot of fun ... but nobody was listening.

2) How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?

We have two Urban's, two Mainstream Top 40s, three Countrys, two Classic Rockers, an Adult Hits station ... we have a bunch of stuff.

3) Are you wearing more "hats" than you have in the past?

Yes ... many more hats. I'm the PD of WLGX, and the PD and afternoon jock on WNRW. I schedule the music on both radio stations, and I do double reports ... which is like having a third station. Everybody has to pitch in for the station to be successful ... we all have to do extra, and I'm doing a LOT extra.

4) What makes your station unique compared to other stations where you've worked?

WNRW is a big challenge because we don't have a lot of staff members, and it's fun to see what we can pull off without having a big staff. We've been able to accomplish a lot here. Being able to pull off big promotions, and doing live broadcasts from major events, such as the Kentucky Derby infield, and doing live mixshows from nightclubs ... we're able to pull off events like major stations in major cities. That's what makes us unique ... we're good at finding ways to make it happen.

5) What is your favorite part of the job?

I think all of it ... I enjoy every aspect ... except for the reports ... and they're not even that big of a deal. I enjoy being out on the streets, and hearing from the listeners how much they love the station. We don't get to hear that every day, because we're stuck in a little room with a microphone.

6) Did you do any other cool promotions revolving around the Derby?

We changed our name to 98.9 The Derby-FM for two days. That was a lot of fun. We even had new imaging.

7) Give us a little insight into your air staff.

We have The Kane Show in mornings, from WIHT in Washington, D.C.; Ryan Seacrest is in middays; I do afternoons; and Diaz does nights. He's also our Imaging Director, and he assists me with music logs. He's going to be a superstar music director one of these days.

8) If you could add one full-time position to your budget right now, what would it be?

It's hard to say, because I don't have just one. It would be great if I could hire another local person who could do more online stuff, and more promotional and street team stuff.

9) Who would be a "dream guest" to have on your show?

I don't know ... with PPM, I don't think we can have guests anymore!

10) What advice you would give people new to the business?

If you want to do radio, you REALLY have to want to do radio. It's not gonna be easy. You're really going to have to step up and put everything into it. If you do that, you can make things happen. You'll get out of it what you put into it.

For someone vacationing in your market, what one thing would you say they "must see"?

They should go see the bat factory, because Louisville Slugger is based here, and that's an interesting little tour. And Churchill Downs is a lot of fun, too.