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10 Questions with ... Shaun Andrews
July 17, 2007
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NAME:Shaun AndrewsTITLE:PDSTATION:WSKS/WSKUMARKET:Utica, NYOWNER:Clear Channel
Please outline your radio career so far:
4/20/98-present -- from Intern to PD in nine years. I've only been here!
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
My first paid shift on the station was Sunday morning 6am-noon the week after I started interning. I ran public affairs programming from 6-7am. Sometimes one of the shows would be missing or broken and I'd have to jock for a half hour. Man I really hated when that reel to reel wouldn't work. Then it was running Rick Dees for 4 hours and then pulling music for the next live jock on after me.
2) What led you to a career in radio?
I love music. Always have. I really wanted to be part of the music industry in some way. I didn't play any instrument. I didn't sing good enough. I was always listening to the radio. In fact before long trips with my family I would figure out how many hours we would be on the road and then I would make a list of what songs I would play on my boombox. On loose-leaf, I would go through and write down 15 songs in hour 1, 15 in hour 2 and so on, repeating the most popular and favorites every 2 hours or so. Hmmmm I wonder what drove me to radio?!
3) What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part believe it or not is scheduling the music. Every time I hit the schedule button a million different song combinations are possible. Making my way through it and turning the computer's idea of good music selection into as much of a CHR symphony as possible is an amazing feeling.
4) What artist would we be surprised to find on your iPod?
I don't know which would be more surprising, Spice Girls or Gloria Estefan. I'm life-long fans of both.
5) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I do a dead-on Scooby Doo voice. I'm still a bit hurt I never got the call to voice him in the 2 movies. Ok, maybe just the first one. I can't make any excuses for the second.
6) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff, and why do you like them?
Silly Jilly, nights at WHKF in Harrisburg and tracking many others. No doubt in my opinion the best female voice out there. She has such a great, unique sound. Great entertainer. Even if she's just front-selling a song she does it with her own little sassy flare...wow, I'm a fan. Can't get enough!
7) Looking back, which years hold the best musical memories for you and who were your favorite acts at that time?
I'd have to say '98-'02. The boy bands were in their prime, and it was just fun to be on the radio. Destiny's Child was putting out awesome single after single. My friends and I would drive around and belt out all the boy band songs. And, um...I even did the choreography to "Bye, Bye, Bye" during our celebrity waiters luncheon. They're still talking about it. Co-workers started calling me the "sixth man" of NSYNC.
8) Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?
I'm majorly into bicycling. I try to get a 5-8 mile ride in everyday. On weekends, 10-15, or the occasional 30-mile ride. Key word is TRY.
9) What music do you listen to when you're not working?
I'm open to pretty much everything, but most of the time I'm listening to CHR. If not my own station, streams from around the country to see what's happening and hot around the US.
10) What is the current state of the radio "talent pool"?
It could be much better. It's like pulling teeth to even find a part-timer, let alone to convince them to go on-air. Even students who are in the local Radio/TV programs don't want to go on-air. Cable TV didn't kill local television stations. Satellite Radio and other music players aren't going to kill local radio stations. We will continue to grow and adapt and we DO need a next generation.
Bonus Questions
BONUS: For someone vacationing in your market, what one thing would you say they "must see"?
Saranac Thursday. Every Thursday during the summer the city shuts down Varick Street in our brewery district. The event runs from 5-8pm at the Saranac Brewery with live bands and much more. The event then spills over to all the other bars on the street with live DJ's and other acts. This small little city comes alive and rivals "community block events" you'd find in bigger cities throughout the state.
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