10 Questions with ... Scrap Jackson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• On Air PD, all CHR/Rhythmic: Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Nashville, Fort Myers and Orlando (APD)
• MBA in Consumer Behavior, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
• MA in Communications, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
• BS in Broadcast Management, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

1. What got you into radio?

Basketball. I was the kid at the playground with my boom box and mix tapes.

2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

At age 12, I told my parents I wanted to be a radio DJ. I'd sit in my room emulating Buggsy on 98.7 Kiss FM/New York, talking over the songs. At age 15, when I moved to Florida, I earned weekends on Super Soul 1330 AM. Haven't stopped.

3. What would probably surprise most people living and working in Fort Myers?

The people are precious, immersed in our fly culture like it's the 90's. We treat them as fam and they reciprocate in triplicate!

4. You jumped back into the Rhythm fray in 2017 with Fly 98.5. What were you doing after you left The Beat?

I never left rhythm radio or Fort Myers. From my home, I morphed into a full service consultant for radio stations in Jamaica, Bahamas, Antigua and Trinidad. Given these experiences, my approach to radio is unconventional. I created Fly 98.5 18 months ago and thanks to ownership here, love every minute of it!

5. Why does Fly 98.5 work in the market?

#1 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 p/m/w

We're brand-centric. Our audience knows exactly what they get when they engage us. We work hard to live up to our brand promise and our fam's expectations. We eschew radio normalcy. I don't give an ish if Niki in middays talks for 3 minutes, so long as she evokes compassion. We determine airplay with our ears, not analytics. MD Jade McClelland and I "feel" our city, then tailor an expression for our "239". Every member on our team, from morning hosts Jason and Michelle to Gman at night, love radio like it was just invented. We are artists and Fly 98.5 is our canvas! In an ocean of automation and apathy, we cut through.

6. What's your favorite song on the station right now?

T.I.'s "The Weekend" elicits a magical, spiritual moment. It does for me emotionally what I hope Fly does for our listener.

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

I'd executive produce the cartoons currently airing in my head.

8. What do you see restricting some Throwback Hip Hop stations?

Throwback stations need to be buoyed by playlists boasting a majority of currents, or it will get stale.

9. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Basketball, gym, beach, clubs, church, Miami weekends, Gators basketball/football, walking my Labrador, travel to South America...

10. Who are/were some of your radio mentors?

Programming: Rick Cummings/collaboration, Bill Tanner/strategy, Jerry Clifton/art, Duff Lindsay/heart

On Air: Wendy Williams, Joe Nasty, Bo Griffin and Fred Buggs taught me the all important thing - swag!

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

Caribbean Life on HGTV. Nuff said!

If you could be an Avenger for a week, who would you be?

Iron Man, because he does it his way.