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10 Questions with ... Tony Waitekus
February 14, 2006
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NAME:Tony WaitekusPOSITION:PDSTATION:WERO (All The Hits Bob933)MARKET:Greenville, NCOWNER:Next Media Radio
Please outline your radio career so far:
Brain damage and a love of music. I've always been fascinated by the art and science of popular music.
1. Please explain to those few souls who don't know your story, what led you to a career in radio.
Brain damage and a love of music. I've always been fascinated by the art and science of popular music.
2. Welcome to Greenville! Sure ain't Davenport is it? How do the markets differ?
This will sound strange. Bigger market. Smaller town. The studios are actually in New Bern, NC, which is a very small town. Smaller than any other place I've lived. But the radio market also includes Greenville (an hour to the north) and Jacksonville (an hour to the south). Our signal is huge. We reach the ocean to Raleigh. Our studios were located in New Bern, in order to be centrally located in the market.
3. I know you did your homework; what's the radio landscape like in Greenville?
There are only a handful of stations that blanket the whole market. We are one of them. Other stations use two different frequencies to try to cover the market, with varying degrees of success.
4. You're a tough one to beat when it comes to TSW (Time Spent Working) at a given station. What's your secret?
I guess it's concentrating on the station and community instead of the next position.
5. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Be honest and respectful of people. Bill Gavin put it this way, "Be nice to the people who are paid to be nice to you."
6. Podcasting. Downloads. MySpace. How important for radio will these tools be in the near future?
I'm already reading that podcasting is not what they thought it would be. I read a report on "iPod fatigue," suggesting those users are getting tired of the same 500 songs they downloaded. Technology moves fast, but doesn't always end up the way you think it will. When microwave ovens came out, everyone thought they would be used to cook turkeys and bake cakes. Turns out we ended up using them to heat things up. My point is, new technology is not going to replace radio. Some new technology is fun when it's new, but then it gets old. We've yet to see how specific technologies will play out.
7. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
I had several ... WLS, WCFL, WIND and WGLD (when it was an Oldies station). All were signals from Chicago, where I grew up.
8. What station from Top 40's past would you like to have programmed?
WLS or WCFL.
9. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Financially self-sufficient.
10. What advice you would give people new to the business?
Save your money. Have fun. No reason not to, as it's a fun business.
Bonus Questions
Name the artist you'd love to meet and why?
Elvis ... he's "The King."
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