10 Questions with ... Justin Bryant

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WPXY/Rochester
• WWYL/Binghamton
• WBHT/Wilkes Barre, PA
• WVBX/Fredericksburg, VA
• WMGB/Macon, GA since Sept. 2013

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

An incredible experience with programmers like John Ivey, Cat Collins, Clarke Ingram, Jeremy Rice, and Mike Danger over nine years. I soaked up everything I could about Top 40 and then some.

2) What led you to a career in radio?

I originally went to college with the goal of becoming the next great TV play-by-play guy or at worst ... color commentator. Early on, a couple of my professors greatly discouraged me from pursuing my goal because I didn't have the "look" or "the voice" to be in front of the camera. Shortly after, I started working at the college station which was run like a regular commercial station (Top 40, Alternative and Rhythmic hybrid) and the rest is history. The station's GM Warren Kozireski was very instrumental in my early days, teaching me programming ideology and to be confident in my abilities. "Koz" is still there at The College at Brockport (just outside Rochester, NY) and instilling the same beliefs in dozens of students every year. We have alumni in radio and TV all across the country working in a variety of market sizes in radio and at major networks like CNN, MTV, and more, along with staff working for MLB and the NFL.

3) Who handles your imaging, and what voices are you using?

For almost the last two years, I've been blessed to have the tag team of Rich Witt and his crew at Vanilla Gorilla in Texas producing the great voice of Stacie Bartro. It's like having two people tap into my brain and take what I'm thinking while turning out incredible imaging and promos every month.

4) What is your favorite part of the job?

Being able to play a major role in defining pop culture everyday while still putting smiles on the faces of our audience on the air, via social media, or in person. I'm still amazed by the simple pleasure of giving someone a T-shirt, gift card, or tickets to a sold-out show.

5) What's the coolest promotion you've ever been involved with?

I've always been proud of the Summer Jam concerts we did during my time in Rochester. Starting in the early '90s, we began doing these shows for a thousand listeners in a nightclub. Before the end of the decade, we'd moved into the minor league ballpark averaging 15,000 fans a show, a tradition which still continues to this day. We were always fortunate to have a who's who of Top 40 each year. Watching a young Beyonce and Destiny's Child be embraced by our audience, or seeing the legendary Run DMC control a crowd of thousands in the palms of their hands, you can't put a price on those memories. Runner-up mention for the time we brought Hulk Hogan and his daughter Brooke into Binghamton for a Summer Jam concert we did there on a week's notice ... my inner 12-year-old got to come out for an afternoon.

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

Retired NY Yankee and 1st ballot Hall Of Famer SS Derek Jeter. I would love to pick the brain of a well-respected athlete who's always done it the right way.

7) What music do you listen to when you're not working?

I still enjoy some Classic Rock and some '80s and '90s Hip-Hop.

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

I'm still continuing to learn something each week that will help moving forward, whether it's about ideology, professional growth, and watching the yearly evolution of Top 40. Being with Cumulus, I'm able to work with Mike McVay, Cat Thomas, John Dimick, Rob Roberts, Davey Morris, Gillette, and Tom Mitchell ... all guys with tremendous track records of success for years who I can talk to about an idea or a problem while learning something in the process that's ultimately going to help me going forward.

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

Honesty, communication, and attention to detail. Honesty and attention to detail came easy to me through constant success at the places I've worked, and we saw amazing results in a variety of ways. Communication has been something I've had to work on, mainly because everyone is not the same as I am, nor are any two people you work with the same.

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

Get involved at a local station while you're in school. Don't wait until graduation to send out a resume and aircheck to see if there's a position available for you just because you're trying to find a job. Start after your freshman year, get an internship, and learn a variety of skills to make yourself more valuable to that station as time goes on. Show those leaders your willingness to do anything to get in the door and stay there. Before I got on the air in Rochester, I did promotions work at remotes/events, produced minor league baseball games, pulled each hour's music and spots, etc. There may or may not be existing pictures of me as the 98 PXY Purple Dinosaur from the summer of 1993.

What was your last non-industry job?

I was on the beach for a bit before coming to Macon and worked for a year at a pizza shop. I mainly delivered, but also worked in the kitchen, and did some marketing work too. Honestly, it taught me some humility but I was able to use my radio skills to get bigger tips since I've always enjoyed meeting people. Right before I took that job, I delivered phone books for 6 weeks in the 100 degree heat in Virginia ... not fun. I also collected unreturned cable TV equipment from non-paying customers or people who simply just didn't feel like returning their equipment. Those stories are best saved for a book I may write later in life.