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10 Questions with ... DJ Buck
November 11, 2008
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NAME:DJ BuckPOSITION:PD/morningsSTATION:WZMX HOT 93-7MARKET:Hartford, CTCOMPANY:CBS RadioBORN:Providence, RIRAISED:Providence, RI
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
My radio career started at Rhode Island College and WXIN in 1982 where I started their first hip hop show. After that I worked at various college stations that I had no business doing because I wasn't a student at these stations such as WDOM and WBRU. When they finally caught up to me and kicked me out, I started doing clubs heavy and I managed Skippy White's record store in Providence. Jerry McKenna, who was programming HOT 106 had heard about me and brought me in as a mix show dj. So I had to decide on club money or mix show money. I lost money and took the mix show money. From the mix show and the great response I was getting I was giving the afternoon slot and when Jerry left the building my boss, Bonnie Gomes let me run the show. I did that for a while when Steve Salhany offered me the gig in Hartford Hot 93-7.
1. What job at the station, other than PD/mornings would you find interesting?
I would probably be into production. I love the creative side of radio and the way it can change the whole feeling of the station.
2. What got you into Radio?
I think the fact that I can make a difference in people's lives by what I say on the radio. When I know that I put a smile on the person's face that just had a bad day at school or the office. There's nothing like instant reaction of radio.
3. You've been in the PD chair at WZMX for a while now. What do think has changed the most about the way you do your job on a daily basis?
The way I manage my time has changed a lot. I do the morning show also and I still love the night life. You can find me in New York on Tuesday night and right back on the air on Wednesday morning. I guess that hasn't changed because I still do it but I just have to find time for getting the most out of my staff. Keeping up with all the paper work and legal stuff is something that has changed my life.
4. What did you see as your biggest daily challenge at WZMX?
It's becoming more of a challenge to get more done with less. We all have to become Web site techs because content is the most important thing with this Web site world we live in. Nothing works better then instant content and I've been lucky to have all live personalities who have adapted to updating there own pages. Another challenge is to make all of my people understand that radio is still a great job. It's hard make people believe that when you open the open your email and you see another station making major cuts.
5. If you were a Hip Hop artist, what older Hip Hop record would you LOVE to do a cover of right now?
I would do Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five "The Message". Wouldn't have to change to many words because that song talks about some of the same stuff we see today.
6. Jobs in Radio are getting harder and harder to come by. What are you looking to hear as you hit "play" on an aircheck for a gig?
I'm looking for the person that's sitting right in front of me. I like real personalities that are relatable and real. I need the aircheck to make me feel like the jock is talking directly to me. So many times I hear airchecks where I don't feel like there talking to me. Make me look at the radio and say "Wow".
7. If you ran into your 8th grade English or Mathematic teacher on the street and got into a conversation about your career path, what do you think they'd say? Would they be surprised?
They would say there's no way on Earth. I was never the outspoken kid and was heavy into sports. I did love music but I could never turn a mic on and talk to the masses.
8. If you could get one "do over" or "mulligan" in your life to this day...what would it be?
I would have jumped into radio when I was younger and took a chance on going to a large market and starting there. I don't regret that decision because I'm happy here at Hot 93-7 and I've meet and learned from a lot of great people along the way.
9. Hypothetical...You're planning your wedding reception and you can have any artist that you want perform. Who would you pick? (keep in mind that they have to be able to play/sing "The Chicken Dance" thing as well as One Nation Under A Groove.
I would have love to have Rick James and the Stone City Band.
10. Very hypothetical...Your VP/GM tells you that you've got an additional $50,000 in the promotion budget for 2009. Where might you spend it?
LOL! That would go fast. Gas promotions, lottery ticket promotion or small series of concerts.
Bonus Questions
What song, outside of your format, is your favorite?
Natashia Bedingfield "Love Song"
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