-
10 Questions with ... Matt Holiday
October 25, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Around the end of 2018, I started doing weekends on-air in Nashville, TN at WNFN with Joe Breezy while I was in college at Belmont University. Then during a summer at home on Long Island, NY I hopped on the air staff at 106.1 WBLI with Jeremy Rice. For my last semester at school, I spent half a year in Los Angeles and got to be a programming intern at iHeartMedia/LA. Following graduation, I stayed part time on the BLI staff through the severe industry changing times during COVID. Leading up to spring 2021, I landed an MD/Afternoong gig with CMG down in Orlando, FL at WPYO formerly known as POWER 95.3 working closely with Will Calder. After company wide layoffs in the fall of that year, I reconnected with my iHeart contacts and got offered my current position in Austin, TX as APD of KHFI/KPEZ and afternoon host on 96.7 KISS-FM working alongside Jonathan Shuford and Dan Hunt. I also get the opportunity to be on several other iHeartRadio stations across the country including KHKS (106.1 KISS-FM)/Dallas and WHYI (Y100)/Miami.
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
EXCITING! Music City is a very fun market and getting the chance to be a part of a great brand with an established industry leader was a great first step into my career. I learned a lot very quickly from many in that building. Being at Belmont, basically everyone around me was also wanting to get into the music industry, so getting to tell all my college friends and professors that I was already working in it was so cool! I will admit, there were many Friday nights I refused to go out because I would rather plan out my weekend shows instead.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
I used to work at a well known hotel/family resort up in the Catskills of Upstate New York. Actually lived there for a full year in between school, they called me the Suite Life of Zack and Cody kid. One of my life mentors and best friends is the activities and entertainment director there and I've always looked up to him. Legend. His name is Doc Holiday (that's how I got the last name). After watching him for years interact with all the guests and families hosting shows on stage and being on the microphone, I really took after him and wanted to be in entertainment too. That's when I really started listening to radio stations and realized that host position was something pretty similar.
3. You're close to wrapping up your first year in one of the country's great cities, Austin. What are some of the things about your new home that rock your world?
How frickin' cool and unique this city is! There is always something fun happening in Austin, Texas. I feel like whenever I leave to go visit home or somewhere else I feel like I'm missing out on all the fun happening in the ATX at the moment. From the live music, to the nightlife scene, to all the amazing food; also the beauty of the state. If you're reading this and you've never been here, Austin is a bucket list city to check out for sure, c'mon down to Texas!
4. What is it like for you to still be able to hit the studio every day and do your afternoon show?
A blessing! Never take a day for granted. I know not many folks still get the opportunity to do that, especially live in their home market. So I make the absolute most of my show every single day and try to give everyone in Austin driving home listening to KISS a great listener experience. I love nothing more than answering phones and connecting with listeners, putting them on the radio and making them smile, feel famous, or just laugh a little bit. That it our job as personalities, companionship! Can't get that from the old aux cord and DSPs.
5. Who would be a "dream guest" to have sit in with you on your show?
Charlie Puth, lmao. I am a big fan of him and his music. Probably because we are basically the same person. We both are from the Northeast, both have perfect pitch, and are both complete total music geeks that play a bunch of instruments. I feel like we would go on and on about the intricate musical details of each song in between breaks. Would probably be a nerdy show to listen to…but thanks to the industry we're in, I've had to chance to become good buds with him and love catching up with him when I can!
6. Like everyone else you're a multi-tasker, also handling APD duties for sister HipHop 102.3 The Beat. What keeps you busy on that side of the hall?
Keeping up with all that hot new Hip-Hop music these "damn kids listen to nowadays!" Thankfully, I am not foreign to social media and TikTok where a lot of these popular new rhythm records take off, but it's cool to get into the throwbacks and create a dope playlist on another heritage station here in the market. Mad props to my partner in crime on this station, Eric Rosado. Dude is a veteran pro and I love working with him every day. He is always a great encouraging voice to listen to and learn from!
7. How much are you (and the station) able to be out in the community meeting the people on the other side of the microphone?
Thankfully we can do this again, and this is also one of my favorite parts of the job. To meet a listener and have them know you and feel like you're already friends is the coolest thing! Shows your work has paid off and you mean something to them and I always love to return the gratitude. Always thank them for listening to you, they don't have to! Again, because Austin is always so busy we've gotten to done this a lot this past year. From free gas fill-ups, to Playlist Parties at Dave and Busters, to being on site for 6 straight shows at Harry Styles' residency, to being in the ACL crowds broadcasting live, its been a blast. I also love creating social media content with listeners and random people in Austin as well!
8. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Hard work always pays off.
Nothing is given, it's earned.
Passion and dedication win.
Everything can change tomorrow. Ha! It's true though, you have to be flexible in our industry and always be ready for whatever can happen. But love every minute of what we get the privledge to do and be in the moment!
9. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?
On Long Island, NY the amount of quality radio stations around the dial including the New York City stations that come in is pretty incredible to listen to. Not everyone realizes how fortunate they are to have so many legendary brands in New York. As a kid believe it or not I really didn't listen to the radio at all. The only station I was into was the station my dad would listen to on the way dropping me off at middle school. And that was none other than a little sports station known as WFAN! Listening to Boomer & Carton on The FAN back in the day was hysterical, only being a pre-teen I probably didn't understand half the jokes they were making but I still think to this day that was one of the best, most entertaining and funny morning shows of all time. No one could compare to them, plus you didn't even have to like sports to enjoy the show.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
I don't want to leave any one out! So instead of naming names, I'll just say every program director and programmer I've worked with since the start of my career. No really. Every single one of them. Never had a bad one (at least yet) that I haven't love working with. I know that is a rarity and not many can say that. But they all have believed in me 100%, coached me, led me, taught me, given back to me, and helped me get to where I am today. I look up to each and every one of them. Y'all rock!!!
Bonus Questions
With the Moody Center at your disposal, which 5-6 acts would you pull together for a station listener bash?
Hmmm, how about a boy/girl band bash! Since this is made up, I'll say One Direction is back (which will happen one day) alongside with Backstreet Boys and N'SYNC for the Mom fans, plus BTS and BlackPink for the K-Pop crews. Pretty positive that show would break the record for shortest amount of time for a show to sell out.
-
-