10 Questions with ... Dave McKay

NAME:Dave McKay TITLE:AD/Programming STATION:Nassau Broadcasting, includes WPST, WPXC, WJYY, WAFY and more. MARKET:Trenton, NJ; Frederick-Hagerstown, MD; Reading, PA; Allentown, PA; Cape Cod, MA; Portland, ME; and others. OWNER:Nassau Broadcasting

Please outline your radio career so far:

WNAV/Annapolis, MD: weekends
WLAN/Lancaster, PA: weekends
WQXA/York-Harrisburg, PA: weekends
WPST/Trenton, NJ: Overnights, Music Director, Program Director
Nassau New Jersey: Operations Manager
Nassau Broadcasting: Associate Director of Programming

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

I was a board-op for Baltimore Orioles games on WNAV in Annapolis, MD. Luckily, I was a fan, so I got paid to sit there and listen to games. John Miller did play-by-play, so even when the team was bad, John made it entertaining. I also got to hang out with some great people at the station. I met a few lifelong friends at WNAV.

2) What led you to a career in radio?

My father's tape recorder and a love of music. In middle school, I told my teacher that I wanted to be a disc jockey. She was so concerned, she told my parents that I had an unrealistic dream. I saw that teacher a few years ago and she was shocked to find out that I had actually made a career in radio.

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

In a word, unusual. There are actually only two FM stations licensed to Trenton, but we are sandwiched between New York and Philadelphia, so dozens of stations can be heard in the market. Technically, with a cume of over 400,000 in Philadelphia, we have more listeners in that market than we do in Trenton. Plus, I can look out of the station's windows and see Middlesex County, which is part of the New York metro. I'm guessing you don't see markets like this in the Midwest.

4) What is your favorite part of the job?

I still love listening to new music. Music is what drew me to radio and it is still what gets me excited about the business.

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

I love listening to Elvis Duran on Z100. He was a great afternoon jock and he is just as good doing mornings. There is something very genuine about him. As a listener, you really feel like he could be your best friend. He also has a great ability to sell station promotions and songs on the station without sounding fake. There are so many other things he does well. He's just a great jock!

6) What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

When I was very young, it was WFBR and WCAO in Baltimore. As I grew up, there was B104/Baltimore and Q107/DC, but, when WAVA/DC was a Top 40, it was my favorite.

7) Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?

Probably video games. I've got PS3, Wii and PSP.

8) What music do you listen to when you're not working?

A little bit of everything. My iPod playlists include new music, Classical, '70s AM Gold, '80s Rock, Dance, Hip/Hop, etc. I also love listening to British and Australian radio stations online. I've discovered so many great songs and artists that way. Right now, I really like Missy Higgins, Thirsty Merc and Sneaky Sound System from Australia and The Pigeon Detectives, Mutya Buena and Ross Copperman from the UK.

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

There is nothing else I can imagine doing that would be as fun and rewarding. I love music and I love radio, so to be able to make money doing something I love is the only incentive I need.

10) What is the current state of the radio "talent pool"?

Most people think it is bleak, but there are lots of talented people out there. We just need to find them. Remember, you can teach people how to be a jock, but you can't teach them to be entertaining. On PST, one of our morning show co-hosts and our midday person both worked behind the scenes at the station before becoming jocks. And our morning show producer and both of our night jocks were interns. The way we have built our staff -- when so many people say they can't find new talent -- may be the thing I am most proud of.

BONUS: What's the best sweeper/liner you've ever heard?

It would probably have to be the Chuck Riley-voiced Hot 97/NY top-of-the-hour sweeper. "From the top of the Empire State Building. 97.1 WQHT, New York. Hot 97!" It's a classic! (By the way, if anyone wants a copy, I have one.)