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10 Questions with ... Shaun Andrews
September 28, 2021
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WSKS April 98-Present…and I’ve done many things on many of my past and present sister stations during time owned by Dame Media, Clear Channel and Roser Communications
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
My first radio gig was answering phones and helping out during an internship at the local Forever Broadcasting group (Now Townsquare Media) they were supposed to hire me but my internship program moved me over to Dame Media for my final rotation and WSKS hired me within the first week to board op public affairs shows and Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 6a-Noon on Sundays.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
Doing the New Visions college prep internship program my senior year of high school. Though I had planned to go to the local community college for broadcasting anyways.
3. You just celebrated your 23rd anniversary at Kiss, which is remarkable in and of itself. What’s been the secret to your longevity?
I don’t know, right place at the right time. I could have moved on several times over the years…Albany, New Orleans, Jacksonville but I always choose to stay close to my siblings who were growing up here locally so I could cheer them on in their games and support them growing up. And whenever there was a task or a job that needed someone to take it on, working the front desk full time, helping out with traffic, being interim traffic director, tracking overnights for a station, afternoons for another, moving to mornings, rising to APD or stepping into the PD chair when he left I did it all no questions asked.
4. You still crack the mic every day on your midday show? What is it about walking into the studio every day that still rocks your world?
Yeah it’s still a highlight of every day to be some small part of someone’s day. Hopefully I’m a familiar voice that can bring a smile or a welcome distraction if only for a moment from the highs and lows of the day.
5. Who would be a dream guest that you’d like to plug in across from you in the studio and why?
Kristen Bell…because my wife loves her and might actually make her care for a moment that I’m on the radio.
6. You’re fortunate to still have a full staff, including weekenders. That’s a rarity in this day and age. Brag about your people a little bit.
I’ve got a radio veteran in afternoons, Brandon C who started off years ago at 93Q in Syracuse and other stations out there before I stole him away. And my mornings, nights and late night hosts are all local talent who I’ve trained and honed from the ground up over the years. I don’t think there’s anything I enjoy more than taking raw talent and molding it and fostering a love for radio in the next generation that our industry needs so badly. And on the weekend I have station stalwart Bryan Lakes and former full-timer from back in the day Kenny The Promo Guy.
7. “Local local local” has always been radio’s mantra. Has your station been able to stay visible and involved in the community? Have you been getting back out there yet?
We’ve been lucky enough to be able to stay about as local as we had been before the pandemic. We did our weekly food truck rally WHAT THE TRUCK last year, as well as a record setting STUFF THE BUS campaign that raised 45,000 toys for those in need around the holidays. And 2021 looks to be just as big.
8. What was the Song Of The Summer for Kiss?
No one can seem to agree this year on what a song of the summer should be, I can go back and forth and make a strong case for a few but I can definitely tell you that the ARTIST OF THE SUMMER without a doubt is Olivia Rodrigo. Maybe she even had the songs of the summer too with both “Déjà Vu” and “Good 4 U.”
9. What were your favorite stations growing up as a kid? Jock(s)?
I listened to a lot of Syracuse radio growing up. Jocks from 93Q and Y94FM back in the day--Jay Nackalus, Lisa Moon, Skip Clark, Big Mike and Kathy, Gina Jones (who I got to work with at KISS). Utica legends Trudy and Jeanne Ashley (who let me board op my first segue on a station visit)
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
My first PD Stew Schantz (may he rest in peace) taught me very several important programming and life lessons, and I didn’t even realize that until years later thinking back on them. One of the most important, especially in the last 2 years of ‘not the greatest product releases because we want to hold back the really good stuff until the pandemic is over or we don’t know what our tempo should really be nowadays’ is to surround the hits with good sounding stiffs. The may not be the super hang around in the top 10 for months on end songs, but they’re at least top 20 songs the compliment the “Bad Habits” and “Leave Before You Love Me”’s of the world that round out your current feel and song presentation looking at you “Skate,” “Don’t Go Yet,” “Anyone,” “Hold On,” and “Dakiti…”
Bonus Questions
With the venue of your choice available and an unlimited budget, which 3-5 acts would you pull together for a station show?
I know the first choice would be Flo Rida…we’ve always wanted him for a show. I’d love Ed Sheeran, Listen It’s Liz in the morning would choose Taylor Swift and we’ll round it out with Morgan Wallen for my late night diva Alex Affect. I’m sure I could get several venues to fight for that!
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