10 Questions with ... Cagle

NAME:Cagle POSITION:PD STATION:WBTS 95-5 The Beat MARKET:Atlanta, GA COMPANY:Cox Radio BORN:Freeport, TX RAISED:Morrilton, AR

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KKYK/Little Rock, AR (parttime on air) 1988-1990
WEZB/New Orleans, LA (Promotions Director/Asst. Music Director) 1990-1995
KQKS/Denver, CO (Music Director) 1995-1997
KXHT/Memphis, TN (Program Director) 1999-2001
Jcor Records (A&R) 2001-2002
KPAT/Santa Maria, CA & KWWV/San Luis Obispo, CA (PD) 2002-2003
WFOX/Atlanta, GA 2003-2004,
Transferred to sister-station WBTS in MARCH 2004

1. If you can remember that far back, what dragged you into Radio?

Passion for music...I have always loved music and that's why I got into radio and why I still love my job today.

2. What's the biggest daily challenge as a PD in Atlanta?

Dealing with all the local artists...There are a bunch of 'em here, and they all believe their cd is the s**t (and often it is, but not in the way they mean). I thought Memphis was bad, but the ATL is much worse. Every now and then you find a gem, however, and that makes talking to all of them worth it.

3. What's your favorite thing about living and working in Atlanta?

I love this city...great music town and always something happening. The only thing I hate about Atlanta is the traffic.

4. 95-5 The Beat's ratings have been surging...pretty much since your arrival in Atlanta. Can you sum up why in a sentence of less than 15 words?

We are listener and product focused...saying anything else would be showing all my cards, which I never do.

5. How's your morning show coming along?

Murph Dawg & CJ have come a long way in a year and a half...they have grown from 9th or 10th persons 18-34 to top 5.

They have developed a great chemistry on air and off. They are like brother and sister...they fight all the time. CJ always wins.

6. Any similarities in playing cards and programming?

Only in that I get a rush from both, and you have to deal with jokers. And you have to know when to hold 'em...know when to fold 'em...never mind.

7. You have artists popping into the station all the time. Got any good ATL gossip?

If I told you that, they wouldn't stop by anymore. One of the benefits of being in the center of the hip hop universe is that we do have local, as well as visiting, artists here on a regular basis and have built great relationships with most of them.

8. Haven't you just hired a new night jock after a long, laborious search?

Yep, I hired Mami Chula from Hot 107.9 here in Atlanta...and just in time. Not 2 weeks after she started Hot blew out half their staff.

She is awesome...a team player with great relationships with all the important players in the ATL hip hop scene.

9. You're a good Southern boy...can you cook? What's your house special?

I cook a mean burger...The Cagle burger, as it has come to be known. Other than that, I can microwave with the best of them.

10. As a grizzled programming vet, got any advice for the young bucks out there?

Wow...am I grizzled? I suddenly feel old...

The best advice I can offer the youngsters is to pay attention to your market. Just because a song is working in Chicago, LA, Atlanta, etc. or even nationally does not mean it's going to work for you. We have songs that work here in the ATL all the time that never make it anywhere else. Pay attention to what your audience wants musically, promotionally and content wise and you will be ok. And don't get overly concerned with what your competitor is doing. Do the best you can for your audience and give them what they want from you and you'll be ok.

If you're playing cards with Cox Radio CEO Bob Neil...do you let him win or do you pummel him and trust that he respects your abilities and competitive drive?

There is no right way to answer this question.