-
10 Questions with ... Ron Roberts
March 7, 2006
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Ron RobertsTITLE:PD/Morning HostSTATION:KQIDMARKET:Alexandria, LAOWNER:Cenla
Please outline your radio career so far:
Began working radio at age 16 (1990) for then-AC/Gold WNTZ/Augusta. Then worked afternoons at Hot AC WGMG/Athens, while in college 1994-5. I worked briefly at WFBC/Greenville, before coming back to Augusta, in November '95 at WZNY, where I went from overnights to afternoons to morning drive within four months. I spent 4 1/2 years at WZNY as morning host and promotions director, before going to WABB/Mobile, in August 2000. I spent 1 1/2 years before taking my first programming position here in March of 2002.
1 It's been half a year since Katrina. How goes the clean-up/rebuilding efforts along the coast?
I've visited New Orleans four times in the past three months, and each time I came away with a mixed impression. I see so much 'buzz' on the streets ... traffic is LITERALLY clogged. I'm glad to see people again in and around New Orleans, but there's just so much debris to clean up even at this point. Lawmakers from all parts of America who have visited and toured the area, surely realize just how bad the situation remains, and understand how important it is to keep up the rebuilding efforts. The entire Gulf Coast is essential to the economic well-being of our nation. Now is the time for local and state leaders to do their job, and for folks in Washington to start helping those local and state leaders, despite political differences. I'm a native of Georgia, but have a profound appreciation for the spirit and resolve of the people of Louisiana. New Orleans will recover ... Louisiana will recover, and be better and stronger for it. If anything, Katrina (and Rita, too) brought to light terrible disparities that this state has been suffering from for decades. Perhaps now, they may finally be resolved.
2 How was the mood during this year's Mardi Gras celebration around your area?
I stayed in Alexandria the entire time, for the first time in my four years here, and enjoyed myself. Alexandria is a small city, but the Mardi Gras tradition has grown strong here, with over 150,000 enjoying our Sunday parade, our local Krewe parade on Tuesday and a new twist in which we partake on Kincaid Lake - an annual flotilla parade.
3 You had to make some changes in the morning team recently. What happened?
CJ, was my co-host before his National Guard unit (the 256th ... Welcome Home!) called him to active duty in early 2004. Upon his return he decided to give going to college another go. He'll always have a home at Q93 when he's in the area. Recently joining the show is Riley. She's like a little sister to me and I think we combine for a very entertaining program. Her work ethic speaks volumes!
4 What is the radio landscape like in Alexandria these days?
Things have gotten very competitive lately. In addition to two strong Country stations, there is our Urban sister which still wins the 12+ war (despite having two competitors),an Oldies station that's been adding in more "classic hits" now, and sharing some titles with the market's AC. We likely share the most titles with our Urban sister, but we try to keep the focus on Pop/Top 40 tracks that appeal to adults, with targeted dayparting to keep the younger listeners entertained. At night, we feature an Alternative music block program called "Q2." Since nobody in the market is playing anything from that format, we felt it could bring in some new listeners by if we did. We're happy with the response, so far.
5 What is your favorite part of the job?
I get a real kick out of being on the air, and whipping together fun contests that the listeners truly get involved in.
6 What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
104.3 WBBQ/Augusta, Georgia used to be a Pop/Top 40 giant in its day. I grew up with Buddy Carr, Dick Shannon, Mike Dineen, Mark Summers, and Bruce Stevens, all as radio heroes to me. Hard to believe that Augusta went so long without a CHR after WZNY was flipped to country over a year ago. Glad to see my hometown is being treated to the hits again now, since the flip of AC WSLT to Top 40 as WHHD (HD98).
7 Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?
I coach 5-6 year olds in tee-ball every spring. The 2005 "Q-Ballers" are in spring training as we speak. This is my fourth year coaching with the local Dixie Youth baseball league.
8 What music do you listen to when you're not working?
I'm usually listening to sports or news talk.
9 What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Talent can (and will) get suppressed or let go by those who only focus on the bottom line. But great talent ALWAYS rises to the top. If you're talented, and you KNOW you're talented, don't let a myopic number-crunching market manager knock you down. Get back up and show them how wrong they were. Oh, one more: rock DJs who cut their mullets and lose their spiky hair usually just become cliche-driven market managers.
10 What advice you would give people new to the business?
Learn more than one skill. Today's radio climate calls for the people who can do a shift, program a station, spit out a music log, do a live two-hour remote, update the website and sling together a few imaging elements - all in one day. Learn all that you can, and tinker around with the rest in order to better yourself in all capacities.
Bonus Questions
How would you describe the condition of your personal working space?
Let's just say, I'm still waiting on FEMA to issue me a new desk.
-
-