10 Questions with ... 'Java' Joel Murphy

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WNYO/University Of New York at Oswego: 1992-1993
• WSNN (99 Hits-FM)/Potsdam NY: 1994-1995
• WVNC (Mix 96)/Canton NY: 1995-1997
• WWHT (Hot 1079)/Syracuse NY: 1997-1999.
• WPXY/Rochester NY: 1999-2001
• WKSC (103.5 Kiss FM)/Chicago IL: 2001-2005
• 94-7 Hits FM, Montreal (Voicetracked): 2006-present
• WAKS (96-5 Kiss FM)/Cleveland: 2006-present

1) What led you to a career in radio?

My love of music. First "pop song" I remember hearing was KC & The Sunshine Band's "(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty." I was probably two. I got a kick out of it. Was buying 45s regularly by six (In case you were wondering, my first was "Kiss On My List" by Hall & Oates, May 2nd, 1981). It was then when I toured my first radio station, 1050 WYBG -- a now defunct AM daytimer in Massena NY. I was hooked. Get paid to play records. That's a job? Sign me up!

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

The top stations in town are essentially gold-based. It's an older market for sure. While we have no direct competitor, we have a Hot AC masquerading as a Top 40 on one end and a Hip-Hop station that is reaping the benefits of the current music cycle shift back to Rhythmic.

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

Who isn't? I had the benefit of starting in a microscopic market where you were forced to wear different hats - programming, jocking, production, writing copy, reading news, promotions, imaging, whatever. I learned a helluva lot. Definitely helped prepare me for 2018.

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

Well, we are in a "transitional phase" right now at iHeartRadio/Cleveland. Our main guy, Jesse Shultz, is on his way to iHeartMedia/NYC. (Yeah. He's that good!) We've been lucky to have some really talented in-house production peeps. One of our previous guys was Miles Hlivko, now at KIIS/Los Angeles. For voices, we're currently using Jeff Berlin and Kelly Doherty.

5) What is your favorite part of the job?

Crafting a perfectly balanced music log. Really cut my teeth doing a lot of that when I handled music for our sister station, Adult Hits WHLK (106-5 The Lake). I find an afternoon with GSelector to be quite relaxing actually. It's like Tetris, only instead of blocks, it's "hot jams."

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

Without a doubt, social media director/content creator. Someone wholly dedicated to the task of "programming" all of our social media platforms. Our on-air talent (and myself) do a lot of that, but it would be nice to have someone in-house to regularly "wipe that butt." Yes, I did just say "wipe that butt?"

7) What's the most unbelievable on air bit you were allowed to do?

"Allowed?" You mean all those years of being a night jock, I was supposed to ask permission? Pfft. I had the privilege of working with a PD, Rod Phillips, in Chicago who didn't micro-manage. He hired good people and let them do their thing. I think most PDs will always say "No," just because they can. We very rarely asked permission. If at all. That said, I'm a PD now, so ... for the benefit of my jocks ... you'd better ask me first. Just to be safe.

8) Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

Rick Pendleton aka RJ Jordan. He was one of my first PDs (at WVNC, Mix 96 in Canton NY). When I was a "baby DJ," he showed me the ropes, taught me the basics and inspired the hell out of me. Used to show me old airchecks of the greats. Empowered me early on. The stuff he taught me back in 1995, I'm still carrying with me today. He got me my first job in Syracuse. He's a true Radio Renaissance Man. Great jock, programmer, promotions, imager, engineer, strategist. Any major market in America would be lucky to have him. Brilliant guy.

9) Looking back, which years hold the best musical memories for you and who were your favorite acts at that time?

For most, it's all about the music you grew up with. I'm convinced that 1984 was the greatest year for Pop music ever. Even the stiffs were brilliant. I was nine years old. Had just discovered the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40. Was starting to hear early Hip-Hop and remixes on nearby Montreal radio. Watching wall-to-wall MTV. Loved Hall & Oates, Duran Duran, Prince, Grandmaster Flash. Give me a time machine and overnights on WCAU, KKHR, B96 or Kiss 108.

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

Hush all the smack-talkers up once and for all. We've had people saying "Radio is dead" for, literally, decades now. It's a fact, 93% of Americans listen to the radio every week. That's the same number as it was in 1970. Video was going to kill radio. Walkmans were gonna kill radio. CDs, mp3s and satellite would kill radio. Now, Pandora and Spotify will "kill radio." That said, we need to be able to "Make Radio Sticky Again." That may mean having to break rules ... and that scares many. We need to take more risks. We need to stop letting the research wholly dictate how our radio stations sound. Remember the number of focus groups and research studies it took for Steve Jobs to conceive the iPod? Zero. Let's use common sense. Listen to the marketplace more, listen less to label agenda. Less spreadsheets, more gut.

If someone were to visit your market, what are some must-see destinations?

Everyone knows the Rock & Roll Of Fame, but ... The house used in "A Christmas Story" is also in Cleveland. Back in early '83, when they filmed the movie, certain scenes were shot here, including the parade scene (at Public Square), the Santa scene (the old downtown Higbees) and exteriors of Ralphie's house. They've renovated the home and built a museum with mementos from the movie shoot. There are some truly great restaurants in Cleveland. Our "flats" are coming back. Lots of great nightlife down there. You could also check out a Cavs or Indians game. Or ... for a laugh, a Browns game!