-
10 Questions with ... John Candelaria
March 21, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I fell in love with radio as a high school senior in Albuquerque at KANW, a non-commercial public radio station. I would volunteer and spend days, nights, and weekends working for free. I spent so much time there; you would have thought I lived there.
My PD career consists of 4 companies. I worked as PD in El Paso for 10 years, Dallas for 10 years, Las Vegas for 8 years, Detroit for 2 years and I just celebrated my two-year anniversary in Phoenix.
My first real break happened while I was attending college at New Mexico State University, Bob Perry hired me to do weekends at the legendary KPRR in El Paso. I worked my way up the ranks serving as Production Director, then APD/MD and eventual PD, for 10 years while having a full-time air shift, at KPRR.
It was Bill Struck who allowed me to serve as a Regional PD for Clear Channel, helping with CHR radio stations in West Texas.
I moved to Dallas in 2002 and worked at Radio/Urban One. I served as OM/PD for KBFB and KSOC (now KZMJ) for 10 years. I was blessed to oversee the Beat in LA for a couple of months. During my time in Dallas, Jay Stevens, VP/Programming, gave me the opportunity to work with Hot 97.5 in Detroit for a few years.
In 2012, I moved to Las Vegas where I was PD of KVGS and KOAS. Justin Chase, VP/Content, elevated me to OM of the Beasley/Las Vegas cluster and appointed me to serve as Urban Programming National Captain. In 2018, I met Mac Edwards and took an opportunity to move to Detroit and program WMGC and WDMK.
In May of 2020, I started my own consultancy / talent coaching company, and I still work with a few radio stations today.
I landed at Sierra H Broadcasting in Phoenix in November of 2020. Today, I continue to work as PD of KZCE and KAJM.
1. What got you into radio?
I love Rhythm/Urban Music. In high school, I wanted to be a club/radio mixer. I once owned a Mobile DJ company. Radio is addicting. Once you crack the mic, it's hard to stop.
2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?
A sports play-by-play announcer. I played all sports in High School. I was never good enough to play sports at a higher level, but I knew I wanted to stay close to sports. My education focus was broadcasting. But sports broadcasting was not available so my first mentor, John Aragon at KANW, suggested I learn radio broadcasting. He said those skills may be transferable to sports announcing. The rest is history.
3. Most of your radio work has been in the Southwest. Is that a personal preference?
Yes, most of my family resides in New Mexico. I have a brother and daughter there, and other family members in Nevada, Texas, and California. Being close to family is very important to me.
4. What would probably surprise most people about Phoenix?
The heat is not as bad as perceived. Dust storms can come quick. It's growing incredibly fast and the high country, Sedona, Flagstaff, are spectacular. It's a highly competitive, respected, radio market where radio's best thinkers and strategists once battled head-to-head and perfected their crafts here. Guy Zapoleon, Steve Smith (RIP), Jerry Clifton, Dave Ryan, Jay Stevens, Rick Thomas, Steve Goddard, Bruce St. James, and others have profoundly shaped the sound of Phoenix radio as we hear it today.
5. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?
Working and serving people in a public servant role. I come from the "Life is Messy" let's clean it up camp. I enjoy working in an environment where you lean into discomfort and make a difference. I do have Counselor experience serving college students at NMSU, and later younger students and parents in the Albuquerque public school district.
6. You fired up The Bounce in Detroit and now in Phoenix. What's special about The Bounce?
The station and format are on fire. Throwbacks from the 90s and 2000s attract many adults that grew up with this music from those two eras. I was fortunate to play many of these songs when I was a Program Director in Detroit, Dallas, El Paso, and the Urban Captain of Hot 95.5 / 93.1 in Augusta, GA. Those experiences shaped my vision for the Bounce in Phoenix. The Bounce in Phoenix launched on April 1, 2020, we were fortunate to find a wide body of high appeal rhythm music from the 90s and 2000s that was untapped and not featured on any radio station in the valley. We designed the Bounce for Phoenix, by studying several Throwback types of radio stations around the country from the past.
I contend most of those type of radio stations was too narrow in appeal, and most did not last. Our version is uniquely different and designed to be more than a one – trick - pony. We take a general market approach to our version. Our presentation is not niche based. Like most radio stations, we continue to feed and evolve our brand. This is a fun format, cost effective, and caters to all the important advertiser demographics. You see these types of stations, in various deviations, starting to pop up in most major and large markets. I am a strong advocate of this format and know of its success. The Throwback format, when executed correctly, will attract an adult audience.
7. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?
I really don't watch much TV. If any, I watch local news and sports. Occasionally, Family Feud because of Steve Harvey.
8. What do you think are the keys to staff building in radio now and in the future?
Great question. It will always be about "Connection." It's what gives relationships purpose and meaning. To earn Connection, we must be honest with ourselves, audience, friends, clients, and co-workers. We must have the courage to show our authentic selves. Connection is the result of authenticity. It certainly helps when the staff shares the same vision, values, and philosophies. Whether you are in Sales, On-Air, or a social media influencer it all comes down to establishing meaningful connections. I admit it is hard to build connections with many people working from home or having limited time in the office.
I believe it's better to build connections face to face. We must find the time to connect daily. It takes dedication and should be a priority. Lastly, never violate trust and genuinely care about individual needs and goals. To earn trust you must give trust. No one wants to work in a one-sided environment. We all need meaning and a sense of value.
9. Who were/are some of your radio mentors?
John Aragon gave me the confidence to pursue a radio career.
Bob Perry is the smartest, kindest, authentic, person I will ever know. He has the unique ability to bring fun to any situation.
Bob Mitchell gave me day to day guidance as a first time PD in El Paso.
Bill Struck, rest his soul, was a father figure to me and always had my back and gave more responsibilities at Clear Channel.
George Laughlin, now with Yea Networks, gave me my first big break in Dallas and was a Candyman believer.
Mac Edwards is one of the premier General Managers in the country. I was blessed to watch his mature - calm - even leadership daily.
Robert Scorpio helped me in Dallas, Dom Theodore guided me in Detroit, and Joel Folger steered me in Las Vegas. I'm thankful to have worked under Justin Chase for eight years. Justin has tremendous leadership qualities, outstanding strategic skills, and makes you feel special. I wish everyone has the chase to work for Justin. He's just a great person. Today, I talk with many radio colleagues that I admire, and they continue to influence me. I consider them true friends.
10. 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?
I'm more of a reader so please allow me to recommend these authors
Any and everything from Seth Godin, Ries and Trout and Ryan Holiday. 1 book, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl is a must read.
Movies
1. Godfather I and II, part 3 is no bueno.
2. Coming to America
3. Trading PlacesMusic-All 3 in Active rotation on my phone
1. Earth, Wind & Fire Anthology
2. Best of Sade
3. Gap Band Greatest HitsDon't laugh too hard, in high school I wanted to be Morris Day and sometimes in the car, I pretend he is me.
Bonus Questions
If you had to eat one type of meal every day for a month, what would it be?
Mexican, for sure. One of the reasons I love living in the Southwest. Hatch Red and Green Chili goes with EVERYTHING! We all could use spice in our lives.
-
-