10 Questions with ... Paul McCoy

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

G105/Raleigh, 102Jamz/Greensboro, WNOK/Columbia, Z104/Norfolk, Z104/DC, Hot 100.5.

1) Congratulations on your recent ratings. The 6+ "Beauty Contest" numbers that we published have looked real good. The demos have to be outstanding...

Thanks! Yes, indeed ... September PPMs gave us #1 P18-34 and #2 P18-49. We have fierce competition in the market we feel REALLY good about our position. Plus the sales team kinda likes it...

2) You have some cool promotions going on ... Hot Handbags and iPhone 4S phones ... you even morphed your logo into a "Coach-like" logo on your website. What's up with that?

Earlier this year we did a Hot Handbag promotion that totally blew up. It really generated a lot of talk and kinda took over the station. It also generated a lot of new business as clients wanted to be associated with "the Hot station giving away Coach bags." So we brought it back with a "fall fashion" theme and, as expected, it's huge! It's all about planning ... we knew they were going to announce a new iPhone. I had my voice guy do several reads, not knowing what it was going to be called, and had the promos ready to go. As soon as Apple announced it, the following day all Coach bags came with the new iPhone 4S. Everybody wants one, so the response was insane. It's all about understanding your audience and what they want.

3) What's the radio landscape like in your market these days, and who are you sharing the most cume with?

The landscape is hugely competitive! There are a lot of stations playing the same music. We obviously share most of our cume with WNVZ, and to a lesser extent WOWI and WPTE. It comes down to what happens between the music, and Hot 100.5 totally wins that position.

4) What makes your station unique? How would you compare it to other stations you've worked at?

I've never worked with an air staff this passionate and driven. It's rare to find a team that doesn't have SOME drama or issues getting along. My air staff all encourage each other and exchanges ideas. We all hang out with each other outside of work. Monthly jock meetings at Gordon Biersch don't hurt, either.

5) What would you say is one of the most "fun" aspects of the job?

Radio is an immense creative outlet for me ... it never gets old. I've recently started producing imaging on my iPad. It doesn't suck to sit outside with a ... beverage ... and get creative.

6) Could you give us a little insight into your on-air staff?

As I mentioned earlier, best air staff ever. With PPM changing the game somewhat, the days of success with Zoo-type shows is limited. People want their stuff, and they want it now, which is why we moved Corey from nights to mornings. He's doing his night show, yet tailored to the morning audience. He keeps the hits rolling. Bobby Hollywood does middays. He's a local guy we found in a club who totally lives the "Hot" lifestyle and is real. He has a huge following. In afternoons is my homie Kendall. She's real, lives the hot life, and is consistently #1. I've always loved females for drive time and she's the one. It's a party every day. In just two years she's a household name. Plus, she may or may not have a cocktail named in her honor called "The Dirty Sexatini." At night it's Elizabethany. We just brought her in from College Station, TX. Where do I begin... she's a social media award winner, she runs a popular blog site and totally lives the life. She'll totally be famous one day. She's not yours. Can't have.

7) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?

I like so many but the one that really stands out is Joe Daddio from his days at KC101. THAT was legendary radio. Also, I like Elvis Duran.

8) What led you to a career in radio?

As a kid, one summer day, my dad said "Hey ... paint the outside of the house. I'll give you $200." So generous. With a radio on the ladder, I found myself being into what was happening between the music ... wanted it from then...

9) What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?

Currently, the freedom to deliver a world-class product. Management trusts us to do our thing, which we do very well. Our Market Manager, Dave Paulus, is our cheerleader on a daily basis. This is what it's supposed to be like.

10) What would you like to do to save radio from its "dying-industry" image?

Hot 100.5 is making a difference in that perception. We hyper-focus on things you can't get from the other media. The Pandoras of the planet can't give you Hurricane Irene updates, or any type of a personal, local experience. The jocks do video blogs every week or so. Sounds obvious, but make it fun, and über-relevant to YOUR audience and you'll win.

What's the best sweeper/liner you've ever heard?

It's Joe Daddio! Gettin' jiggy with it ... on KC101!