10 Questions with ... Justin Bryant

NAME:Justin Bryant TITLE:PD/Middays STATION:97 BHT MARKET:Wilkes Barre-Scranton OWNER:Citadel

Please outline your radio career so far:

April 1993-February 2002 -- 98PXY/Rochester, NY
January 1999-February 2002 -- 94.1 The Zone/Rochester, NY
February 2002-April 2006 -- Wild 104/Binghamton, NY
April 2006-Present -- 97 BHT/Wilkes Barre, PA

1 How does Wilkes Barre/Scranton differ from your previous markets? What makes this market unique?

The main difference here is the market's wide variety of musical tastes. They just don't like one or two formats, they like three or four. BHT's audience also listens to some Country and some Alternative -- once in a while some AC as well. It really forces us to make quality music and marketing decisions to keep the audience with us the most.

The most unique thing about the market -- our audience is SO passionate about the contesting and events we do! Whether it's a CD, a trip, instant lottery tickets, beer (yes, it's legal in PA to give away beer on the air), etc., they call for it and want it just as bad 20 minutes after we've given it away. It drives the BHT airstaff to continue having fun and working hard!

2 Run down your airstaff for us. What are their individual strengths?

The Jenn & A.J. Morning Show has been together now on BHT for six years. Jenn is a market veteran with multi-format experience, and she's always involved in the community and always working on ways to make BHT better.

A.J. is the co-pilot of BHT. He's the APD/MD of BHT and will soon become an excellent PD as well! A.J.'s been in on the air in the market for a decade, and he's only in his mid-20s. He does so many things on and off the air to make BHT complete.

Afternoons/Imaging are handled by Marino, another BHT veteran with great skills and great ears -- not to mention he can hold his own with a set of turntables too! He'll be a major-market jock with APD/MD skills in the not too distant future.

Lisa G. dominates nights in the market on BHT. She's been #1 across the board in three of her first four books since joining BHT in late 2005. Lisa's also begun to learn the programming side of the business during the last few months, and she'll continue to grow her already impressive skill set.

BHT's "Sixth Man" is "D-Dub" Danny Waters. He sounds great in every daypart, and, like A.J., Danny has also been on the air since his teens! He also takes care of producing BHT's weekly mix shows. By the way, I'll probably be working for him someday! D-Dub also runs his own website-building company and has begun to enter another "hobby." Trump better watch himself!

I'm also very fortunate to have a great management, marketing and event staff here at BHT. Big thanks to Regional President Wayne Leland, GM Bill Palmeri, former OM Jim Dorman, Promotions Director Casey Consagra and the event staff (Slim Jim, RJ, Jason, Tony, Tim, Jeff and Mark) for their support, assistance, and hard work since arriving at BHT!

3 In the last year, what song surprised you by becoming a hit?

"Black Horse And The Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall. I liked the song when I first heard it, but didn't think Top 40 was ready to embrace her style of music.

4 How would you sum up the current state of pop music?

FANTASTIC! There's great pop music like Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera out right now. Mix that with emerging Pop/Alternative artists like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance, add some Nickelback and Akon along with great new artists like Daughtry and Paula DeAnda, and it's easy to see why the format is thriving right now!

5 What other stations in the format do you respect and watch?

Z100 in New York, KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, KDWB in Minneapolis, PRO-FM in Providence, WNCI in Columbus and Kiss 108 in Boston -- all heritage stations with great ratings and revenue success.

6 Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff, and why do you like them?

Dave Ryan at KDWB. Simply put, a naturally talented, very real sounding, entertaining, and creative morning man!

7 Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?

Playing No Limit Texas Hold 'Em Poker. I find it relaxing, challenging and financially rewarding. I came VERY close to winning a seat in the 2005 Main Event of the World Series of Poker shortly after I began playing. Recently, I've been "cashing" about 75%

of the time when I play. I plan on entering a couple of the lower buy-in events at this year's World Series.

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

It's a combination of a couple of things -- the ability to create pop culture and entertain people every day. I enjoy every minute I spend in this great business and wouldn't trade it for anything!

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

That I've been successful in every place I've been, along with being known as a hard-working, dedicated and talented programmer.

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

Get as much experience as you can as early as possible. Most of the very successful people I've learned from in this business started in their teens as board ops or interns and did whatever it took to learn radio. It's not smart to wait until the last semester of your senior year in college to finally begin pursuing a career in radio. You'll find yourself on the outside looking in and taking your first job in a very small market for low pay instead of starting in a top 75 or top 100 market making decent money.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A cross between John Madden and Bob Costas. A college professor I had one semester discouraged me from pursuing a career in front of the camera, so I got into college radio, fell in love with it, and the rest is history!