10 Questions with ... Brett Andrews

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• 103.7 Kiss Fm/Milwaukee - Weekends/swing (02-05)
• The Mix 99.1 WMYX/Milwaukee - Weekends/swing (02-05)
• 102.7 KFRX/Lincoln - Afternoons/MD/interim PD (2005)
• Channel 963/Wichita - Nights, then afternoons/APD, then mornings/APD (05-07)
• Hot 97.5/Las Vegas - Afternoons (2007)
• 103.7 Kiss Fm/Milwaukee - Nights (07-10)

Did the VT thing at 98.7 Kiss Fm/Mason City, X107.1/Cayman Islands, 92.1 The Beat/Tulsa and 95Q/Abilene.

Character VO/Corporate Narration for TV and Radio Voices Dot Com.

1) Congrats on your new gig! How did the opportunity to join KKRZ come about?

When Mick Lee left Portland to program Z104.3 in Baltimore, I sent my stuff to PD/OM Tommy Austin. After the first conversation, I knew I wanted to work for this guy! After a bunch of phone calls and a trip to Portland, Tommy had enough of my stalking and hired me. I start in a few weeks and could not be more excited. Z100 is a legendary station and the people of Portland expect a lot out of it ... can't wait to help! Big shout-out to the Z100 staff, Tommy Austin, Robert Dove, killer music director Kristina Z, and night stud Felix!

2) How would you describe your first radio gig?

I was like a kid in a candy store! I interned at Kiss-FM Milwaukee, which is the station that really helped fuel my desire to be in radio when I was in high school. I interned on the night show that I now host for Wes McKane, who is now the morning guy ... then they brought me on part-time on both Kiss and WMYX; I did that for three years while in college. There are some great people to learn from at Entercom/Milwaukee. Brian Kelly, the OM, has been huge in shaping what I do on-air and the way I look at a station from a programming perspective. Learning radio from the unbelievably talented people at Entercom/Milwaukee helped me make a career out of this, rather than a hobby.

3) Are you wearing more "hats" than you have in the past?

Everyone is, which is a positive thing. Being an expert in more than one aspect of the industry is the key to success and longevity. I joined WXSS three years ago just to do nights and wound up getting my hands on a bunch of web and social networking-based things, plus I did weekends and helped Tony Lorino with music on our sister station, WMYX.

4) What artist would we be surprised to find on your iPod?

If someone were to pick up my iPod, they would think I'm nuts -- and they may be right ... the tests were inconclusive. You might hear a Ke$sha song, followed by a Jack Johnson song, followed by some old aircheck of JoJo Wright, followed by an Afroman song, followed by a Z100 New York jingle package from 1992, followed by a James Taylor song.

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

Man, I'm going to try to not sound like a complete radio geek here, but streaming allows us to hear what everyone around the country is doing. JoJo Wright at KIIS has always been the jock I look up to the most ... dude just brings it every single night and relates to his audience better than anyone. If we all had the work ethic of Frankie V at Channel 933 in San Diego, we'd all be making millions. Scotty Davis, Tone E. Fly and all the KDWB jocks from the 1990s and 2000s just kill the radio. My boy Mo Bounce and JJ from Z100/NYC. My old friend and former boss Matt Mitchell (now at KRBE) can say in 5 words what most jocks say in 20 and has been a great mentor for me over the years, as has Brian Kelly, Lyman James from CC Wichita, Gary Spears, Jet Black, Adam Michaels, Spoon Radio ... was I supposed to only mention one?

6) Who would be a "dream guest" to have on your show?

I'd love to talk to the President.

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

I listened to 106.9 The Point in Milwaukee, a female-heavy Modern AC before there was a Top 40 station in Milwaukee. Then in high school, a brand new station playing pop music signed on and played 10,000 songs in a row. I was hooked and have spent a large portion of my career working at Kiss-Fm

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

I like to watch videos of news people cussing on live TV on YouTube.

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

Do your best to treat everyone well and keep in touch with everyone you meet within the industry. You never know when your former intern might be your next OM. Network, network, network! And, pay it forward ... I would not be here if people had not taken time to teach me this business, so it's my responsibility to help others. That is how we facilitate new talent and keep our industry interesting and strong.

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

Learn as many aspects of the business as you can and get to know people in multiple markets of varying size and format. This will help you learn radio from many different points of view. Take in what your mentors teach you, and borrow from many different philosophies while you're learning. This will help cultivate your OWN style and philosophy.

For someone vacationing in Milwaukee, what one thing would you say they "must see"?

Miller Park, where the Brewers play, has to be one of the most fun places to watch a baseball game! They have a TGI Fridays in the left field stands with game-view tables. Then go across the street for the Miller Brewery tour. It has ghosts and free beer as you go. I see a theme forming here.