10 Questions with ... J.T. Bosch

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

WUPE/Pittsfield, MA, WAYI/Glens Falls, NY, WVKZ/Albany, NY, WRHT-WHTE/Greenville, N.C., WYKS/Gainesville, FL, WRHT/WCBZ(2nd time), WKSI/Greensboro, N.C., WLAN/ Lancaster, PA, WHKF-WRBT/Harrisburg, PA.

1. Congratulations on some nice Spring numbers for Kiss and Bob. What were the highlights?

WHKF tied for #1 18-34! Up huge 25-54 as well! And tied for #2 25-34, so yeah that's awesome. WRBT was pretty much flat 25-54, but up 35-64 in a big way. You know the age-old struggle all PDs have with Arbitron, so I'll just ... stop right there.

2. What were the main factors - programming and promotions - that led to your success this time around?

There are a lot of things. First and foremost, the air staff at KISS. We're pretty syndicated with Dave and Jimmy in the morning and Seacrest in the middays ... and they did really well. But the two stars of the station are Mike Miller and OC. Both of them were #1 in the 18-34 demo. They are the heartbeat of KISS FM. Our promotions director Holly Love (who does triple duty as promotions for sister,WHP and middays on WRBT) keeps us connected with everything she can get her hands on. Concerts, movie premiers, charity events ... you name it. We also have a small but great part-time staff. Aaron Price, Heather Pakosh, Adam and Big Mike just get it! And I can't forget our traffic guy Chris Garrett. One of the hardest working people I know. We also brought the music back mainstream, which has been a big help with the upper-demo numbers this time around.

3. You've been a Top 40 guy for a long time. What was it like adding Country responsibilities?

Busy, to say the least. There is always something to do. The other day, I was planning an end-of-summer show for KISS with We The Kings, Flo Rida and Auburn, and five minutes later I got a call that we got Joey and Rory for our BOB Boo Bash for St. Jude. But I wouldn't have it any other way. The format is amazing. The music is great. The artists care so much and give back to radio in a way I've never seen before. Listeners are so loyal. And the difference in ages is unbelievable. I had a guy win a CD who was 89. He was so excited to win a CD, talk to me and be a part of the station, I was blown away to hear how excited he was. Ten minutes later, I got a call from a girl who wanted to request a song for her 15th birthday. It happens all the time.

4. You didn't only assume PD duties of the Country station down the hall, you moved your afternoon show to Bob as well. What changes, if any, did you make to your on-air presentation?

I didn't really make many changes. Or at least I don't think I did. My goofy humor translates a little better on WRBT than on WHKF.

5. Kiss is in a brutal competitive situation there, with a Rhythmic flanker and a strong Hot AC that owns the heritage Pop image in the market, not to mention a strong rimshot competitor in the form of WLAN in nearby Lancaster, which you used to program. How do you successfully steer the Kiss "ship" through these hazardous waters?

Don't forget, we also share a lot of listeners with WRBT as well. We try and do great radio and hope books get dropped into our listeners' hands! LOL! There is no doubt that there are some great radio stations in this market ... in our building and others. So much has changed. We have some great tools provided to us these days to help us make the stations the best they can be. There are also some of the best programmers in the business in this company. I'm fortunate that they answer my e-mails and will help if I need it.

6. Who are the key players on your support staff who allow you to wear these two very different hats?

Well, you can see the answer to that question above, for the KISS staff. On WRBT, mornings are handled by Nancy and Newman. They have been together in the market for close to 10 years and are truly loved by all. Recently at the Brooks and Dunn show, we had listeners taking photos in front of our van. When I asked if they wanted to meet Nancy and Newman, you would have thought I handed then meet-and-greet passes. It makes you proud. Holly Love handles middays. She and I started working together at WLAN in 2002, when she did mornings there. I think I have worked with her longer than anyone else. She is really a pro. Matt Meyer does nights for us. He also does news on the weekends for sister WHP, fills in for every shift on WRBT, has a podcast show on our sister Sports Talk WTKT -- and anything else you can think of, he can and does around the building. Everyone on the staff is responsible for making this one of the best stations in the market as far as I'm concerned. I really couldn't do it without them.

7. Run down the on-air lineup at Kiss.

Dave and Jimmy handle mornings out of Columbus from WNCI. I pick up the two hours between them and Ryan Seacrest. Mike Miller does afternoon drive. Mike was the second person on the air at WHKF when it first came on the air, so he gets this station and market. OC holds down the night show like no one else can. Like I said before, they are the heartbeat of the station.

8. What's been the biggest surprise hit for Kiss so far this year?

Lady Antebellum. I play them on WRBT, but I just didn't hear it on Top 40. But once it got started, it never stopped. What a monster hit that was for the format.

9. Who would you say your mentors have been?

It's no secret that Michael McCoy from WKQI has been a huge influence for me over the past nine years. He is a great radio mind and a great friend. But there have been so many other influences over the years; I could fill up an entire page. I've been lucky to have been influenced by or worked with some of the best programming minds in the business, and I'm grateful for each and every one of them.

10. If you weren't doing radio, what would you be doing?

I really couldn't tell you. I can't think of anything else I'd really want to do.

Are the Red Sox gonna make a run at it this year?

They will try, but as of right now, I don't see me watching any October baseball.