10 Questions with ... Phil Becker

THROWBACK

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

WPYO, CKEY, WCXT, WSNX, WJFX, WBCD and so many more!

1. Why radio?

I like the intimacy that you can have with your listeners. No, I don't mean the type where you pick up girls on the request line. I was drawn to how radio allows you to be a part of your listeners work day, car ride, yard work and overall soundtrack to what they are experiencing.

2. What was the most significant change you found when you returned to WJFX?

My return to WJFX was in a partnership role so many of my decisions are about the operation and the financial aspect. Another change is the saturated radio market. We are a small market with 19 viable FM radio signals and that is a bit of a change but the competition is what drives me.

3. What did you see as your biggest challenge when you accepted the job to return to WJFX?

Saying goodbye to the Florida sun.

4. You have added programming duties at one of Oasis Radio Group's other Fort Wayne stations. Have you found that it has sharpened your programming of WJFX?

Yes. I find that in working through strategic decisions on my other stations it forces me to take a look at WJFX and how I can make it even more "dangerous".

5. With your additional duties programming WVBB, have you relied more on your longtime APD/MD/morning man Weasel at WJFX?

Weasel is the guy in the building that I go to most often. All managers have a journeyman and Weasel is that for WJFX. He and I "hear" the same type of radio and his involvement is critical to my operation. He is one of the most under rated guys in our business.

6. What secret about Phil Becker will surprise even those that know you well?

I aspire to do stand-up comedy.

7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?

Russ Oasis for giving me the opportunity to evolve from a programmer to his partner. Russ has a vision for radio that is truly the opposite of many Wall Street run radio stations. To me he deserves more industry spotlight and respect.

My Market Manager and fellow partner Pete DeSimone for his structure, leadership and believe in the type of radio that we are about here.

Tony Coles for being a solid sounding board.

Kevin Legrett and John Hager in Buffalo for teaching me the value of forming an operation and cluster programming.

Lastly the Cox Orlando team for putting out a product that shows 10 heads is better than one.

8. Say you're getting married...pick one record promotion person that you'd be afraid to have planning your bachelor party?

I actually am getting married and Chuck Field believes that he is a part of a bachelor party. This brings me a great deal of fear.

9. What excites you every day when you come in to work?

I program a group of radio stations that believes in two customers...the listener and the advertiser.

10. If you could get a "do over" on one song you didn't play...what would it be?

Enur "Calabria"

What song, in rotation now, always seems to make you want to smile when you hear it on the station?

Jesse McCartney "It's Over"

What's your perfect vacation?

A beach house on Lake Michigan.