10 Questions with ... J. Reed

NAME:J. Reed POSITION:PD/middays STATION:KISV Hot 94.1 MARKET:Bakersfield, CA COMPANY:American General Media BORN:Atwater, CA RAISED:Atwater, CA

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started out doing weekends on KHTN/Modesto-Merced and weekends on KBOS/Fresno in 1998. After a year and a half doing that I got the nod from Bob Lewis to do the night show on KISV/Bakersfield which set off a somewhat long process of becoming the MD and then the Program Director in late 2005....and here I am.

1. What got you into radio?

Besides listening to the great station that Pete Jones programmed in my hometown, I would listen to radio every chance I got and try to win everything in sight! I think the only thing I won was from Mark Medina (now PD at KZZP) I still have that copy of "Ghetto Jam" from Domino. Other than that, one of my best friends in the world had a chance to work for the station. He asked me if I thought I could do radio and I said, "yes." My first night on, when I cracked the mic, I yelled like I was in the middle of a fire and was hooked!

2. To date, what is the highlight of your radio career?

This is a crazy question to me, because I, like everyone else, we had a love for music first, then came the chance to get into this profession. So as a fan of music, and having a chance to be a part of it, I would say meeting some of the people that made me love this form of radio. Case in point, meeting and seeing Jay-Z perform in New York for the 10 year anniversary of his album Reasonable Doubt, and the next day taking a flight back to Cali hung over and meeting another one of my heroes, Nas on the same flight as me! I will tell that story until the day I die. On the radio side, it has to be me trying to fill the big shoes of Bob Lewis and Picazzo Stevens and keeping this station on top of the market since they left.

3. Time is flying by. You've been the PD at KISV for awhile now. How has being the PD there evolved since you started?

Since I started out in the same position as the guys that work for me now, I know the things they had issues with previously...even though I didn't. (hey Bob) I try to come to an understanding with everyone of my staff. And with the ever growing success of the station I have to work harder to make sure the sales staff and myself are on the same page with the amount of traffic and commercials on the station, and the same goes for my promotions staff and the corporate office.

4. What's probably the most important thing about programming passed along to you from your former PD, Bob Lewis?

I think it would have to be keep it simple. When I would come to him with ideas for my night show at the time, they always sounded like the best thing ever in my head, then I would talk to Bob and see certain things I could change to make it easier for the listeners to get involved with and have fun. I've continued with that in my head with everything dealing with the station.

5. How do you make KISV stand out on the radio?

I don't think there is another station in the nation besides on Satellite that you will hear a morning show like mine. Romeo is his name and pulling no punches is his game. He is the most real person on the radio that I think I've heard. He does not care what people think about him and his views. There is a good chance that there are more people that hate him then love him. With that being said the people that hate him listen more than the people that love him...go figure. The rest of my staff is always on point. From middays (that would be me), to afternoons, to nights, to the weekends, to the mixers. It's like we are a big family, and I think the listeners love that about the station since they have been with us every step of the way.

6. Not that a PD has much spare time but what do you do with yours?

I try to spend as much time with my family as possible. I did nights here for 6 years before I moved to middays so getting home around 6 pm makes a world of difference at the crib...just as my Wifey!

7. Has being a PD been everything you thought it would be...so far?

Without question. From the first day I moved here, the station has been my baby, and now to have a hand in every aspect of its growth is amazing! And also to see my guys grow as jocks is great, and dealing with great people at the labels and having the same passion for certain songs that they do and to help build up an artist and see them make it, there's nothing like it!

8. You end up "Lost" on a deserted island. You have 10 years worth of batteries for your cd player but only one CD. Which CD would you want to have?

So many choices, but to be honest, the cd that I listen to the most to this day is the stuff that I made myself when I thought that working in radio would lead to a record deal and me being the next hottest emcee, I hope that doesn't sound bigheaded, but my rhymes were the shit!

9. Programming Rhythm radio in Central Cali has its own vibe. What are some of the records you're able to play now to appeal to the tremendous Hispanic audience in Central Cali?

Flex "Te Quiero" has been a record that has killed the Latin charts for 16 weeks straight. We have been on it for a month and it's in top ten requests from day one. Also my good friend MC Magic always comes with hits that this area eats up as well as Mr. Capone-E.

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

Before I actually got paid real money to do radio I've always worked with kids, so I would try to fall back on that. I'd probably do something to do with foster care since my wife and I are in the process of adopting. If not that I think I'm a damn good cook and maybe open a restaurant. All radio people would get a 50% discount, I promise!

Hypothetically speaking...You are the last man on earth, who would you like to be the last woman to begin re-populating the planet?

Are you serious? Are you trying to make me sleep on the couch tonight? No question, it would be my wife. Now let me ask you that question, Pete.