10 Questions with ... Top 40 Mainstream

This week, we look back at 2018 with 10 of the best answers to 10 of our best questions

Mark Adams,
Top 40 Brand Coordinator & PD, KIOI/KYLD, KUBE San Francisco & Seattle
iHeartMedia

iHeart has entrusted you with stations in two of the company's biggest, most crucial markets -- San Francisco and Seattle. In Seattle, where after a two-year absence, the company has reignited the legendary KUBE call letters and music position. What's that been like from the inside and how has the response from the listeners been?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We were seeing, hearing and feeling the reactions almost immediately. Our social media exploded out of the gate, and the excited listener audio we collected was immediately produced for air, and today remains a part of our imaging strategy. Similarly, local media embraced the brand's return. In the first several days we received positive coverage both online and over the air from local TV and print. In addition, we heard from a number of iconic Seattle partners (including both The Seattle Seahawks and The Seattle Mariners) that were looking to either re-establish past relationships they had with KUBE, or work to create new partnerships. KUBE has always been a well-known and beloved brand in Seattle with strong community ties; its absence was clearly felt. With the multi-year resurgence of Hip-Hop, which has become the most listened-to music in the country and was almost totally unrepresented on Seattle radio, the timing for the station's return couldn't have been better. While it's still early going, the ratings have been positive. We've created significant disruption Adults 18-34; we actually popped #1 Women 18-34 in the last week. The station's also performing strongly with both adults and women 18-49 and 25-54. It's just the beginning of a long journey, but it's a great way to start. Both the Seattle and KUBE teams deserve most of that credit, including Rich Moore, Tim Herbster, KUBE APD/MD afternoon personality Eric Rosado, Shay Diddy, Bootleg Kev, DJ Phase, DJ Supa Sam, a number of KYLD and KMEL mix show team members including DJ Jeanine Da Feen, DJ Patrix, Lexx Jonez, and Big Von. Along with a whole raft of talented iHeart/Seattle and KUBE employees who have been working non-stop since the station's launch to build out the new station.

Brady
APD/MD, WKSC/Chicago
iHeartMedia

What advice would you give people new to the business?

Have fun. Be kind. Try and stand out. Go above and beyond as much as possible for co-workers. Treat clients and listeners like family.

Paul Kelly
VP/Broadcast Operations, WWAC/Atlantic City
Longport Media

You've been in the Atlantic City market for a long time. How has the market -- and the radio landscape there -- changed over time?

This has always been a very crowded and competitive market flooded with local signals as well as the Philly stations bleeding in, and that hasn't changed. I'd say probably the biggest change in recent years was the closing of a handful of casinos a few years ago when times got tough. Those closings took a lot of jobs, a lot of revenue and a lot of radio dollars out of the market, but 2018 is looking like a year of growth for the city and the market as a whole with the openings of the new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (formerly Trump Taj Mahal) and the Ocean Resort Casino (formerly Revel), the opening of Stockton University's Atlantic City campus and the addition of Atlantic City FC, the first sports team the city can truly call their own in many years.

Miguel "Mijo" Irizarry
PD, WPOW/Miami
Entercom

What's the music mix like these days? What is the ideal balance for you between rhythmic and pop titles?

The magic happens between the records. How we serve our community while keeping them up to date with what's popping is key. We're the perfect mixture of rhythm and the "cool" pop. We continue to build and stay in our own lane. And we take pride in being the boutique radio station we were designed to be.

Priscilla Kincaid
APD/MD, KHKS/Dallas
iHeartMedia

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

Scott Spaulding was a former teacher of mine who initially got me to intern. He's the one who I credit with getting my foot in the door. Mr. Ed Lambert gave me a chance in programming. Being able to stay after my shift and watch Kidd Kraddick work his magic on the radio was an opportunity like no other. But working for Patrick Davis has been the most rewarding (and I'm not just saying that cause he's still the boss -- ha,ha) He took the time to get a once shy overnight/swing jock to see that I was good enough to also be a programmer. He's taught me that my possibilities are endless and I'm honored to continue to learn from the best!

"Java" Joel Murphy
PD, WAKS/Cleveland
iHeartMedia

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."

Chris Rollins
Mornings, WPST/Trenton-Philadelphia
Townsquare Media

You've been doing mornings for 22 years now. How do you explain your incredible longevity in the key-est of key dayparts?

I truly believe my longevity has a lot to do with my real factor. Just like friends, listeners can sniff out a fake. They don't want a fake friend, chilling with them on their commute, at school, in the gym or wherever. I'm just me in the morning, telling them about me and my life. My interests, my triumphs, my challenges, and my struggles. I hear from my listeners constantly how they've been through the same things as me. They take comfort in it. It's a great relationship!

Chris Taylor
PD, WHBQ/Memphis
Finn Broadcasting

"Local, local, local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?

Our competitive advantage is live and local. We have done a great job of owning most of the major events in the city. We are out every day doing remotes or just on the street giving away prizes. The stations are at the fairs, festivals, 4th of July fireworks shows, a 10k run, or whatever else. Almost all our talent is here in Memphis. The Q is live in mornings with Nugget and Liz, middays is Latty who grew up in Memphis, and afternoons is Joe Mack, also from Memphis.

Tracee Tuesday
MD, KXIX/Bend
Gross Communications

You were just voted Best Local Radio Personality by the readers of the Bend Source Weekly. Congrats! The people have spoken; how are you feeling about it all?

I still pinch myself to make it all real again ... Amazing! Just Amaze Balls! I came to Central Oregon six years ago. Central Oregon is, well, not as diverse as, say, Portland. In fact, as far as I know, I'm the only African-American, dare I say, African-American female on the radio airways here! You could only imagine the shocked looks on people's faces when they met me in-person. LOL! Since then, things have changed, dramatically. If you're not a 'voicetrack jock,' it is imperative that you get out in the community. Meet the listeners. I did. I became a Big Sister for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Oregon; I met my listenership through contests, song requests, events, social media. Anytime I could connect with listeners who, out of all the vehicles to access to get their music and entertainment, they chose me and my station. I 'thanked' them every single time. It was an enjoyable grind, cultivating myself as: 'Your Best Girlfriend, Tracee Tuesday!' In 2012, listeners didn't get it. In 2018, they did! Thank you! I'm so dang grateful to everyone who took time to write my name in as 'Best Local Radio Personality!'

Ashlee Young
PD, KVJM/College Station
iHeartMedia

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

Most people don't know Charlamagne Tha God kept me in radio with a phone call. I was frustrated with my career at one point, and I reached out to him for guidance, thinking he most likely was never going to respond - but he told me to call him on his birthday, while he was on vacation, having never met me or knowing me from Adam. But he gave me the most encouraging and inspiring conversation that kept me from literally quitting that week, and has been a great friend since then.

Also, Michael Saunders and Tutu Durant are the programming mentors I see regularly. They allow me to train with them in Houston, ask questions, and participate in their day-to-day. I am eternally grateful for them.

Thea Mitchem has really influenced my career as a programmer and being one of the few Black women at that. She helped change the course of my career with her guidance. She's been that voice of encouragement and just pushed me to take everything to the next level. I'm just learning to be a beast in the game, like her.

Also, how could I forget Doc Wynter. When I was an intern in Jacksonville, Doc was the only person who would listen to my airchecks at first -- and took the time to critique me. I saw how respected he was in my building and just around the company; he was someone I modeled myself to be like from early on.

But the funniest part is when they are all together, it is hilarious. Just being a fly on the wall, hearing them tell me radio stories "from back in the day," is amazing - I sure wish I was programming in the '90s!