10 Questions with ... Bethany Kent

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Promotions & Marketing: WWKX/Providence, WRDW/Philly, HOT 97/NYC since 2013... and now overseeing our entire amazing cluster here in NYC including HOT 97, WBLS and WLIB!

1. What got you into radio?

I was a freshman in college working at a music store and ran into a friend from high school's Mom who said "I know people at Citadel Broadcasting in Providence...I could call them about an internship for you if you'd like." Thanks Mrs. Gallogly! During my first week of the internship I told my Mom that I could spend all day at the radio station working for free but the paid retail gig at the music store felt like torture. She said, "you just discovered the difference between a job and a career".

2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid? Do not say Marketing and Events Director!

There were a few years when I really wanted to make music videos. I can remember thinking Hype Williams was so cool. Then MTV stopped running videos and I was like "welp". I've always liked the behind the scenes production aspect of things. I never wanted to be on-air.

3. Radio has had you living and working in Providence, Philadelphia and New York. What is your favorite commonality of the three cities?

Radio and the label side are such a tight knit industry that I've been able to meet some really great people in each market and made killer friendships. The "Squizz-odd" group text of my radio buds is an epic one.

4. Every time I visit New York, I get the sense that the city simply vibrates with energy. What was one of your first impressions of New York?

What I really love about our brands is that they are all reflections of New York City. Lenny Green on WBLS with the chill vibes, Funk Flex when you're wanting to be hyped up, Ebro in the Morning being a voice for social justice, WBLS' Circle of Sisters being the annual "must attend" expo for black women and HOT 97's Summer Jam quite literally telling the story of Hip Hop for 25 years... the energy starts from our studios at 395 Hudson Street and is broadcasted out from the top of the Empire State Building! Emmis NY is New York City!!

5. Now that you've been living and working in New York for a while now, what New York-ism would your oldest friends say that you've picked up?

One thing some of my oldest friends liked to tease me about was when I lived in New Jersey I would still say "living in the city yada yada" as if I lived in NYC and they'd be like "friendly reminder...your governor is Chris Christie". I'm back living in Queens now so I'm OK again but everyone just loves a good Jersey dig.

6. Street team to promotions director to marketing director and now a cluster marketing and events director in New York. Looking back, is there a defining moment when you knew this is where you really wanted to be?

I recently found the link to my LiveJournal (holy throwback) from 2005 when I spent the Summer in NYC interning at Def Jam and Fuse TV. I actually wrote in an entry that I wanted to "be a Marketing Director for a major media company". I don't really remember being that specific at 21 years old but I guess I knew!

7. Who are some of your biggest influences on your career?

In recent years, I've gotten to work with some pretty awesome people at Emmis like Pio Ferro, Koren Vaughan, and Charlie Morgan. I've really enjoyed learning from them and growing as a manager because of watching them in action. I'm inspired when my friends make boss moves like Buster going to FLZ and Mijo getting those PD stripes at Power 96. My Mom has always been my biggest cheerleader. Both my parents have had great careers they worked hard for in a "self-made" fashion that I grew up getting to see.

8. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?

I seriously considered Entertainment Law for a minute. Oh, and music videos seem to have made a comeback online so like... maybe it's not too late!!!

9. WWPW (Power 96.1)/Atlanta PD Dan Hunt was your boss at WWKX and in Philadelphia at WRDW. Dan was the leader of what I call the Providence Mafia. The team he gathered at WWKX (Hot 106.3)/Providence has continued to develop years after Dan left and many left the station. What do you think was critical about his leadership and that station?

Dan has got to be the most dedicated employee someone could ever have. I think those of us that got to come up under him in Providence were not only shown by him what it means to be passionate but also what it looked like to really put in WORK. He also instilled the confidence in us to make moves which was so important and necessary to hear in a smaller market. The Mafia grew when we got to Philly. Now we've got the country pretty much covered with former Dan Disciples. I just made that up and would like it recorded here that I get 20% of whatever Dan tries to use the term for.

10. Does Dan have a future in politics?

I sure hope not but if he does try to become the Mayor of some small town in Maine, he better call his followers the Dan Disciples.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I've been really inspired by my Emmis coworkers to travel more so in the past year or so I've been to Tokyo, Paris, London, and Mexico. I encourage everyone to get out and see the world!

If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?

My Lottery Dream Home or House Hunters International because it would mean I was rich and shopping for property! lol.