10 Questions with ... Jay Styles

NAME:Jay Styles POSITION:APD/MD/middays STATION:WHZT MARKET:Greenville, SC COMPANY:Cox Radio BORN:Rochester. NY RAISED:Rochester. NY

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

WIRQ/West Irondequoit, NY (Sports Director/Play-by-Play)
WPXY/Rochester, NY (AMD/morning show/swing/board op)
WBHV/State College, PA (MD/nights)
WAPE/Jacksonville, FL (MD/middays/nights)
WHZT/Greenville, SC (APD/MD/middays)

1. What was your last non-Industry job?

While interning at WPXY I worked at Eckerd Drugs, Structure, and Abercrombie & Fitch. The days of "Just look pretty and fold clothes" are over for me.

2. Why Radio?

When I was 5 or 6 my mom brought home this book called "Benny, Benny Baseball Nut." It was about a boy who would run around all day and night announcing everything as if it was a baseball game. I used to mute Sports Channel and announce New York Met and New Jersey Nets games. However, having a POWERHOUSE radio station like WPXY growing up, it wasn't that hard to catch the radio bug. Hearing the voices of Scott Spezzano, Artie The One Man Party, Cat Collins, Chris "Lear Jet" Leary, "The Mayor" Pete Kennedy, JoJo The Hitman, Mike Danger, and JJ Rice (also heard on WDKX). All superstars and the coolest cats in Rochester. I wanted to be just like them.

3. Five years ago...would you have guessed Greenville, SC?

Five years ago I was still at 98PXY. I did not care about any other station around. I thought I would spend my entire career at PXY. However, that obviously wasn't the case and I have since moved around a bit. As a wise man once said, "market size is just a number." I have just as many great stories working in market 254 as I do from working in market 47. NO, I would have never guessed Greenville, but, I love the time I have spent here thus far, and look forward to my time to come.

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Program Director of a great station in a great city. I want to continue to climb the ladder of goals I have set forth. Owner and consultant of radio stations in the end.

5. What's the highlight of your radio career to date?

In 2005, while in L.A. for a TV special on American Top 40. Chase Daniels (WAPE) and I had Ryan Seacrest interview us during the press junket. It was a lot of fun and certainly left an impression on Ryan throughout the weekend as he also made a point to say hello to Chase and I. That was a surreal moment. But, in all honesty, in an industry that is subtracting more then adding it feels good to have made it this far and all that I have accomplished along the way. No regrets.

6. What's your favorite part of your duties as MD?

Knowing I am programming the main ingredient for the radio station. Each song we play I schedule. It doesn't get any cooler then that. I prefer the old school Selector DOS over Selector Windows and Music Master.

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

I am in much debt to...

Cat Thomas (Entercom/Austin) - Cat has groomed me not only into the professional but, the person I am today. He taught me that being a PD is not just about airchecking your staff. It's also helping them better their lives as well. If your personal life is out of control how are you going to be any good to me? I am especially grateful for his patience with me and the opportunity he gave taking me from a small market to nights on the same station The Greaseman and Carla's ex on Cheers once rocked the mic.

Kobe (B94) - Still Busta Nutt to me. Kobe was the vet on the staff at PXY who would take the time to listen to the airchecks I made in the prod studio in the wee hours of the morning. His guidance along the way has paid off for me. I also respect his character a great deal by stepping down from being a PD and one of the best, to become an APD and go back to Pittsburgh. Titles and money aren't everything. Happiness is priceless.

8. Describe the HOT 98.1 staff?

Local and big city sound. Murph Dawg, out of Atlanta voice tracks a very music intense morning show. His name alone in this city gains several shares. I handle the day time. My PD, Jet Black handles afternoons. Jet has grown very nicely into his first PD stop and the sky is the limit for him. Tone Hollywood is a local celeb in the upstate and his 20 share at night does not hurt either. Gabe does overnights and is also our mixer at 10pm. He is very creative in working the phones and has a bright future ahead.

Our parttimers are all very strong. Shorty is going to be a star in this business. Supa Dave is also a local celeb. He handles our weekend mix shows and creates a good chunk of our remixes. Lucky handles weekend mornings and her smile comes thru clearer than the music sometimes. She also has a bright future ahead. Justin Kase does swing and has the attitude I find that is lacking in most new kids getting in. He lives in Atlanta and will drive the 2 and half hours at the drop of a hat to do production or board op. His passion is contagious in the hallways!

9. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

CIA agent. But I think with the levels my ADD reaches having a gun in my possession might not be a good thing.

10. Let's say you're auditioning for American Idol...what song would you sing?

Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis... It's the only song I can sing were I don't sound tone deaf.

If you could pick an artist or band to perform at your wedding (and do all the traditional songs like the Chicken Dance) who would you pick?

Sean Paul. Watching him sing all the traditional songs slow and fast would be hilarious since you can never understand a word he says.