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10 Questions with ... Steve Chavez
March 7, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. What programming or research tool available to programmers now do you wish you had at your disposal as a programmer in 1999?
Honestly, I would say Spotify streams and YouTube views. Of course, we don't know how old the people are who are viewing or streaming, but it is a great look into what people in general are listening to. I tell people a lot that NOBODY does more research than Spotify and Apple. Those playlists are not just random songs that some guy in a NY or LA office is feeling.-
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started as a 14-year-old club DJ in 19__, went on to doing mixshow at KTEP in El Paso, then KQQK and KNRJ (for Steve Smith & Michel Newman) in Houston, then moved to Dallas to do clubs and KNON until my brother Charles brought me in to KTFM in San Antonio. I soon became mixshow coordinator, night show, afternoon drive and programming. All the while, I was still DJing clubs and staying up on all the street stuff. Shoutout to guys like Jazzy Jim that STILL do that. After I left KTFM in 2001, I moved on to the record side (the dark side?) to work at Interscope. Stayed there until 2006 when I became Senior Director of Rhythm Promotion for Asylum/Warner. After that run, I decided that I wanted to try it on my own, from right here in Houston. Though I love NY and LA, this is home, and I love working from home in shorts and t-shirts everyday...for MYSELF! You know, I'm not rich this way, but I get to pick and choose what I work, and I get to stay in the business that love. Radio AND Records!
1. What got you into the music business?
I was that kid that would take 45s and albums to the parties. What's a 45? Haha...showing my age a little bit. For as long as I can remember, I've just been a music guy.
2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?
See my previous answer, lol. At one time, I wanted to play in the major leagues for the Yankees, but as a 5 ft 9 in, slightly overweight guy that loves to eat and drink...umm, nah, wasn't gonna happen. Real talk though, I started college with the hopes of becoming a teacher. Love helping the kids.
3. What surprised you about the transition from radio programmer to music promotion professional?
When I first went into records, it was a WAY different world, and the times that I was in radio...that was a WAAYYY different world, too. It's so hard to really answer this question. When I started at Interscope, they were arguably the biggest label in the world at that time, so dealing with radio at the time, it wasn't real hard to establish that label/station partnership. We had hits, so resistance wasn't long term.
4. Biggest change you've seen in radio programming since you left for the music promotion side of things?
I was fortunate to have been established at a station that strived to stay locally relevant. We played records that did not necessarily work in other parts of the country but were really big for us. As long as it sounded and felt like San Antonio, we didn't care what anyone else thought. Even our jocks may have been looked at by other markets as maybe not so great, BUT...they sounded like San Antonio, and that's all we needed. In those 90s and early 2000s glory years, it wasn't unusual for KTFM to be #1 18-34, 12+, or even 25-54.I guess what I'm saying is that I wish radio still worked that way. Voice tracked personalities, national programming, etc, etc, is the new way for a lot of stations in 2022. I get that it's a business, and I understand why, but...I can still wish for a perfect world, can't I? Haha.
5. Who are/were your music promotion mentors?
Oh no question, my first record boss, Nino Cuccinello. Also my brother, Charles Chavez, Brian Gray, John Strazza, Franco Iemmello, Dee Sonaram, my partner on a lot of records Danny Cee, Brian Samson, Shadow Stokes, Lester Pace, and to be honest, so many more including....Pete Jones.
6. If you weren't in music, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?
I took a shot at owning a restaurant for a bit. Lost a lot of money, but I loved it and learned a lot. Don't think I would do a restaurant again, but I could end up owning a bar someday. If I could, I wouldn't mind finishing my degree and maybe still ending up as a teacher one day. I've also had a lot of offers to be an exotic male dancer, so...who knows. Lol
7. Got any hobbies?
Last year I bought myself a DJ controller and Serato. I stopped DJing in 2001 and stayed retired this whole time. When I get stressed, I go into my office/DJ room, and just rock records! That's my hobby these days.
8. You are alone and stuck on a deserted island. You have a shit-ton of batteries and a portable entertainment center featuring a DVD/CD player. You only have 3 movies and 3 albums for the next 3 months. What 3 movies and cds would you want on hand?
Movies: Goodfellas, Blood In Blood Out, Coming To America.
CDs, Ooh, that's a tough one, but: Stevie Wonder "Songs In The Key Of Life", Jay Z "Reasonable Doubt", Santana "Abraxas"9. You're challenged to a game of Hip Hop trivia for big bucks. Who do you pick to be your partner?
Fat Joe is a Hip-Hop history genius!
10. What programming or research tool available to programmers now do you wish you had at your disposal as a programmer in 1999?
Honestly, I would say Spotify streams and YouTube views. Of course, we don't know how old the people are who are viewing or streaming, but it is a great look into what people in general are listening to. I tell people a lot that NOBODY does more research than Spotify and Apple. Those playlists are not just random songs that some guy in a NY or LA office is feeling.
Bonus Questions
If you had to eat one type of meal every day for a month, what would it be?
HAHA! You're joking, right? Soy Mexicano loco, so...TAKE A GUESS!
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