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10 Questions with ... Trey Morgan
March 5, 2013
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started as an intern at Clear Channel Radio/Brevard, FL. I was hired part-time to board op for the Talk station in the cluster, and then when the Classic Rock station flipped to Rhy/Top 40, I got my first shot on the air. I still don't know what my PD, Zac Davis, was thinking after that first shift, but he kept me on the air. A few years later, I made the trip to KC101 in New Haven, CT to do nights. After a couple of months, I added part-time/swing duties at KISS 108 in Boston. After two years of trekking to Boston, I made the switch to Z100 in New York City. While pulling double-duties as APD/afternoons at KC101 and part-time at Z100, I began hosting a short-lived TV show in Boston called S.R.O. (Standing Room Only). In November 2009 I was lucky enough to be offered a full-time position at Z100 doing late-nights (10p-2a).
1) So, you wound up being a Fashion Week model. How did that come about?
Yes, I was. I was just minding my own business when I got a call from a PR company working with the designer Michael Fenici. They told me that Michael had heard of me and Googled me. I guess he thought I would look good in his suits, so they asked if I would be interested in walking the runway. After I realized it wasn't someone pranking me, I said yes.
2) Could this be a future career if the radio thing doesn't work out? Not that it doesn't appear to be working out...
Ha! I don't think there will be a lot of modeling in my future. Who do you think I am, Tom Poleman? That guy is a much better model than I am. I think I'll stick with radio and random TV appearances.
3) You've also done some on-camera work as host of the Ourstage talent competition. Is TV something that you'd like to pursue?
TV is a lot of fun. I really like the fact that other people do all the show prep and hand you a script. You can catch me popping up in your living room on VH1, CNN, Fuse and a few networks from time to time too.
4) Okay ... let's talk radio. In NYC, you have a larger, more active late-night audience than you'll find in most places. What's your approach to the show?
My approach is simple. Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake are the stars of my show. I just play the hits. I toss some personality, news and calls in the mix, but it really is all about the music.
5) What's your show prep procedure like? What would we find you reading?
Twitter! It really is the most accessible tool for show prep. I don't know how we did it before we had iPhones attached to our hands.
6) What songs are blowin' up right now on late nights at Z?
- Rihanna "Stay"
- Bruno Mars "When I Was You Man"
- One Direction "Kiss You"
- Justin Timeberlake and Jay-Z "Suit And Tie"
- Icona Pop "I Love It"
- Baauer "Harlem Shake"
7) Lots of jocks would give anything to work at Z100. What advice would you give to those who aspire?
That's such a hard question. The easy answer is to say work hard and eventually you will get where you want to be. I can just speak from my own path. When I started working at WBVD and WLRQ in Melbourne, FL, I would listen to Z100 in the office everyday. I knew where I wanted to be, but getting here was harder. I did work hard, but I think being a good listener was a bigger asset. Not just to Z100 but to all the programmers I have worked with. They have all taught me so much and if I wouldn't have been listening, I probably wouldn't have gotten a chance to work at Z100.
8) Are you wearing any "hats," besides your on-air work?
I help out with the music department with two uber-music lovers and brilliant music minds, Sharon Dastur and Jagger.
9) Do you have a favorite NYC bar or restaurant? Where might we find you gettin' your drank on?
If you follow me on Twitter (@ItsTreyMorgan) then you already know that my favorite restaurant in New York is The Meatball Shop. They have great food, cold PBR, killer music and it's dirt-cheap for New York City. My favorite bar is this tiny spot in the Lower East Side called Nurse Bettie's. If you pop in for a drink, be sure to order a Pickle Back. They have the best in town.
10) Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?
I've been playing a lot of piano and guitar lately. Other than that, I paint and when the spring comes, I'll be attached to my bicycle. Riding through the crazy New York City streets on two wheels is intense. It's not for everyone.
Bonus Questions
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I was torn as a kid about what I wanted to do. It was between being an engineer or a radio host. During freshman registration at college, when I noticed how much math was involved in an engineering degree, I quickly changed my mind.
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