10 Questions with ... Matt Sneed

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

1996: WPLJ Promotions

On-air at...

1998-2002- 93.5 WSBG/Stroudsburg, 94.3 The Point/Monmouth, APD/MD MAX 106.3/Sussex NJ, 106.3 WHTG/Monmouth, 96.5 The Point/Philadelphia

Afternoons 2002-present 97.5/94.5 WPST Trenton/Philadelphia. 2006-Present APD/MD

2006-2008 Voicetracked 107 WORK/Barre, VT and 105.5 WJYY Concord/NH

1) 'PST has been classified as a Top 40, a Hot AC, an Adult Top 40... how would you classify the station right now?

Honestly, it's tough to say. We are not as aggressive as a traditional Top 40, not as slow moving as a Hot AC, and not adult enough to be called an Adult Top 40. However we do have aspects of all three! 'PST has always done our own thing and been successful; these days it's no different. If I had to describe us, it would be, well, described as ... 'PST!

2) In addition to dominating the Central NJ area, you cume over 500,000 listeners in the Philadelphia market, according to the PPM. Is your primary programming focus on NJ or Philly these days?

Can we say well over 500,000? Yes. The Philly PPM numbers are impressive. We always knew we had great numbers in Philly, at times beating out stations in Philadelphia. However with the advent of PPM we found out just how many people are listening to PST in Philly. It's impressive, to say the least. Without giving an actual answer to this question, I think I just did :)

3) 'PST was one of the early adopters of the Jelli platform, which you run at night. Tell us about your experiences with this.

Jelli's Real Time Radio is a very cool program that runs from 8-mid every night. Listeners literally have control of what plays on PST for a full four hours. No ... REALLY, they do! Every song that makes it on the air has been voted on by the listeners. The other cool aspect is that the listener can get the song taken off the air ... mid-song! It truly is listener-controlled radio. So far the response has been great.

4) That's an impressive fleet of vehicles in the 'PST parking lot. Give us a feel for your promotional effort.

'PST is very promotionally active. The summer months are just through the roof with activity ... and the rest of the year is nearly as busy. Most weeks there are events EVERY DAY! Getting out to interact with the listener has always been benchmark of 'PST. Get out and meet and form relationships with the people who enable us to do what we love for a living! It's very important to us.

5) How would you describe your first radio gig?

WSBG was a great experience. I learned so much and did so much of the cliché first radio job stuff ... sleeping on the studio floor, driving 100 miles one way every day to work in the middle of the night for $5 an hour, and gaining confidence in myself that I could really do this. It was a great experience.

6) What led you to a career in radio?

I had a teacher in high school tell me he thought my future was in broadcasting. It stuck with me. Three years after graduation I got my first on air gig.

7) What is your favorite part of the job?

Being on the air is still the best for me. It was the reason I got into the business in the first place. I love it.

8) Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?

Not sure you would call it a hobby ... but being the father of a 3-year-old little girl has taken over my life! It's what most, if not all, of my time away from work is devoted to. So no real time for a hobby ... I am too busy being blessed with an amazing, happy, healthy, energetic little girl! :)

9) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Honesty, hard work and most importantly ... don't complain! So many kids we get as interns say they wanna do radio for a living and then just complain about every little thing we ask them to do! Its not gonna cut it, kid!

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

Work hard! Don't complain! And never say "no" ... do whatever is asked of you. And if you find a place that will give you real on-air experience make sure you make the most of it!

Name the artist/act (living or dead) you'd love to meet and why?

I always wanted to meet Johnny Cash. He lived a full life of tragedy and triumph. I would have liked to have had the chance to get some real-life advice from him!