10 Questions with ... JulianOnTheRadio

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• weekends at WWZZ (Z104)/Washington D.C.
• weekends at WYCR/York, PA
• nights at WQPO (Q101)/Harrisonburg, VA
• nights at WVSR ( Electric 102.7)/Charleston, WV
• weekends/late nights/swings at WNVZ (Z104)/Norfolk/Virginia Beach
• weekends at WITH (HOT 995)/Washington D.C.
• Freekshow Nightshow at WITH (HOT 995)/Washington D.C. -
• Night Ninja Nightshow at WBBM (B96)/Chicago
• mornings at WBBM (B96)/Chicago

Websites

• Web: julianontheradio.com
• Twitter @julianondaradio
• Facebook: Julian Nieh & JulianOnTheRadio's Fan Page
• Linkedn: JulianOnTheRadio
• YouTube: B96julianontheradio

1. What do you love most about radio?

Not to sound cliché but I can honestly say entertaining our audience. I love getting that reaction out of people whether it's on-air, on-site, or online. Evoking some sort of emotion from people is an absolutely irreplaceable feeling for me. Where else can we for the most part be the leaders of or own ship, not have to wear a suit and tie, and basically relate to people our personal stories on the daily? Attempting to take them out of whatever funk they got going on in their lives by creating laughter, informing, and creating friendships are some of the reasons why I put my heart into this business.

2. When was the last time you listened to your first aircheck?

Oh Jesus NO! I have my box of all my old tapes stashed away and I did listen back recently to an old mp3 of mine. "Z104 Washingtons #1 HMS, hey its Julian and these guys gonna be performing at Merriweather blah blah its Lifehouse Hangin by a Moment on Z104"! HA. 9 sec post done!

I remember writing out all my breaks and after every break feeling nervous, and excited and I'd be thinking "Man, that was a rush I wanna try that again"! I remember being Matthew Blades intern/phone op/stuntboy from the Z104 nightshow back in DC delivering Subway all over the city and me getting lost live on the radio LOL!. As much as I cringe hearing myself back in those days I also sense the genuine excitement which hasn't changed to this day for me.

3. Now that you've been doing mornings for awhile, what do you think is the most significant lesson you've learned?

I think I'm constantly learning. But, I think working in a team environment now for a few after working solo for something like 10 years (remember we didn't really all know each other when this thing started) has made me realize and understand how important we all are to each other for the ultimate success and growth of this show. Not one individual can support every nuance on a daily basis for any shows success. So, taking part assisting in leading this has been a learning process. I can't stress enough how much and I think I can speak for the show on this... the fact that we've truly come together as a team and realizing we pick each other up when one falls and vice versa. Derrick Rose needs Noah who needs Boozer or Deng...you get the idea. Oh, speaking of the Bulls..next question...

4. Is the city mired in Bulls fever again?

Well, we were! I will say we are proud regardless of our loss to the HEAT. I'm not the biggest sports buff BUT I had been watching a lot of the BULLS in the Playoffs and let me just say....you want to see PASSION? Come to our town. Be ready to wear and see RED of course.

5. What about your show screams "CHICAGO!"?

The fact that we live, breathe, and love this city as much as we do. Each of us are very different people, and have different interests...BUT being curious allows us all to share experiences...Chicago experiences with everyone.

Besides, the sports affiliation and pride we have with our teams I think the show does best because we are very normal people like our city who are just trying to live life, and enjoy it day by day. I have this phrase I made up it goes like this "All Heart Not A Hustle". To me, this speaks volumes of what Chicago is about. Our city has so much heart in its people, yet everyone is grinding to make ends meet. In many ways I think our show screams this phrase! Oh, and did I mention diversity!? Not to go off on a tangent but you've got an Asian guy, black guy, and white girl and you represent Chicago. Different outlooks on life, with different experiences and opinions. If our show doesn't scream Chicago than I'll just go back to delivering Chinese food, "Would you like Combo Numba 5"? Yep, I still got it.

6. What two words best describe your co-host J Niice?

Cool and calm

7. Got any advice for jocks looking to step into morning drive radio?

HA, I'd say be mentally prepared to give certain things up. Aside from going to bed early, and waking up extremely early (345am). That "whatever it takes attitude" will be put to the test. Example, there are plenty of days we have meetings, prepwork, and bits to tape that take the day quite late. Watch your health! The lifestyle change can effect some more than others. Thank god I'm a ninja so I survive on less. You gotta train yourself to pick and choose what's important to do in your life, but still LIVE LIFE, and get enough rest. I also must make mention diversifying yourself in what you read, and watch on TV.

I'm still working on this. Being selective so not to waste time in what you experience, what you read, and watch on TV so that it could possibly be beneficial for yourself and the program.

8. Take yourself back to your first days in morning drive. What would you do differently...particularly on Day 1?

Are you serious? I would do EVERYTHING differently! Focus is key. Prep talk together before anything that hits the air is key to me where necessary. Especially, in the beginning. I remember our first day we must of covered 3 different news stories (not even that interesting to our demo but we felt it was worth a discussion because it was "informational")? LOL.

Jesus, wanna have a laugh ask our PD to pull that aircheck. He definitely pulled it out for us after the show was done that day! It always works out that way though. I bet we can all go back to when we first started anything and thought to ourselves "what the HELL was I thinking". It's called being human. Without error one cannot learn and move forward-Ancient Chinese Secret

9. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

Well lets just say....my name is Chow.....Leslie Chow! LOL. Let me put on a serious tone now...I genuinely love talking with people and I know I'd excel in the PR field, or even the marketing field working with a product or service I believe in. Coming up with new ways to penetrate the marketplace could be fun for me. But, than again the business side of me has always wanted to be a partner in some interests of mine.

10. What's the strangest call you've ever aired from a listener?

I've had quite a few. So many from the past I can't remember. I got a new website up soon but in the meantime you can check out www.julianontheradio.com, and their should be plenty of "interesting calls" for your pleasure or displeasure.

What are some of your hobbies?

I'm like a girl in many ways. I'd rather shop than go drink (I don't drink nor smoke btw). I LOVE romantic comedies and high school/college flicks (Valentines Day, The Break Up, Say Anything, Can't Hardly Wait, 10 Things I Hate About You, Breakfast Club, anything with Katherine Heigel..you get the idea). I love relaxing and experiencing anything new. It could be new food, a basketball game (only been to 1 game in my life), a play even. As long as it's new I want to say at least I got to experience it. I'm also a serious shoe collector. When I say serious walk into my apartment and one room is dedicated to my shrine of Nike AM 90's, 95's, ACG's, Quickstrikes, Toki's, Dunk's, and Blazers. I appreciate fashion. My Mom was a fashion designer so obviously those traits rubbed off on me.

You do a lot of work outside of the morning show. What are you currently working on?

I pride myself on doing a lot of community based events, along with being on the street a lot......a hell of a lot (peep my FB: Julian Nieh).

I'm also working on a mixshow demo comprised of hit based music, live interactive calls, along with hit based mash-ups done by Jay Michaels. Creative will be headed up by B96 masterminds Mike Horn, and Josh R. I've always been interested in doing something like this mixing personality in short form with music that's #winning! I think a lot of small and medium markets can benefit from this. Making the listener the star, making the interaction fun or "funny", along with their music are key. A demo should be done shortly.

Wanna check it out? Contact: Mike Horn at xbluemikex@gmail.com or myself at julianontheradio@aol.com.