10 Questions with ... Jill Strada

NAME:Jill Strada POSITION:APD/MD STATION:WQHT Hot 97 MARKET:New York, NY COMPANY:Emmis BORN:Chicago, IL RAISED:Chicago, IL

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Promotion Assistant and On-Air Personality at WJHM/Orlando, Marketing Director, APD and MD at WPYO/Orlando, and finally PD at WPYO/Orlando

1. What got you into radio, initially?

Radio was not something I was certain I wanted to pursue as a career. I started an internship back in college and just fell in love with all aspects of it.

2. What was your biggest adjustment in the move from Orlando to New York?

PPM. PPM. PPM. LOL! Learning how to program in a PPM world has been the biggest adjustment for me. And...uh...the weather! It went down to 12 degrees last winter! I have never been in 12 before! And I am hearing that this winter is going to be worse.

3. How exciting is it being at a station like Hot 97 in the "birthplace" of Hip Hop?

I am honored to be at HOT 97. Like you said, it is the birthplace of Hip Hop. This is a dream come true. I'm living in the moment every step of the way.

4. What's the first thing you do when you get to your desk?

Turn on the computer, check emails, open up Music Master and work on music logs.

5. Living and working in New York at Hot 97...the demands on your time outside of your work day must be pretty extreme. When do you find time to relax?

I have always put an emphasis on living a balanced life, so I'll chill out when I feel like I'm going too hard. I try to relax on the weekends. I love to read, so you can catch me chillin' in a bookstore or at a park reading a book or writing in my journal. Oh - and I go to the spa and get massages....I LOVE massages!

6. Where would a perfect 7 day vacation take you?

Italy. I would chill out in Florence, maybe explore Tuscany...and then visit my family in Lizzano!

7. You've made it to market #1... What advice would you give someone trying to get their start in radio?

Get your foot in the door - intern, part time, whatever...just get in there. Then WORK HARD at staying there. No matter what you are doing, always make sure you are doing your best. Don't ever say, "That's not my job" - be down for anything.

8. Who do you consider your mentor(s)?

I have a few people that I have to give credit to for helping me get to where I am right now. Carlos Pedraza for giving me my first job in radio. Rich Reis for taking me the next level. Phil Becker for making me a great Programmer. Michael Newman and Colleen Cassidy for guiding me along the way.

9. What song on the station now makes you smile whenever you hear it?

T.I. -- Whatever You Like. There is a story behind why this song makes me smile. John McMann from Atlantic was in my office asking me to check this new T.I. song out. So, I pop it in the CD player and the first thing we hear is "Hey Jill". Apparently John had not listened to the song yet, so we were both like WHAT DID HE SAY?!?!? So I start it over like 80 times! DJ Enuff even went on air and played it on repeat HEY JILL! HEY JILL! HEY JILL! I had all the DJ's at the station rockin' with the HEYJILL! So when T.I. comes to the station for an interview, I ask him what he says in the beginning of the song and tell him it sounds like HEY JILL. He laughs and tells me that he was saying hey JIM...JIM JOHNSON was the producer of the track. I told him I like HEY JILL wayyyy better!

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

I want to write a book, so maybe I would have been a writer. Or I would be doing something in Marketing. Maybe running my own marketing company. I love to dream, so I can keep going on and on with this one!

What has surprised you the most about living and working in New York?

I'm surprised by how quickly I adjusted to living and working in New York. It's like this was where I was always supposed to be. I love it here! And I just realized how much I love being here when I was away for a weekend and I couldn't wait to get back! This is home now.