10 Questions with ... Dray Lopez

NAME:Dray Lopez POSITION:PD/Middays/Mixer STATION:KSXY (HOT 98.7) MARKET:Santa Rosa, CA COMPANY:Sinclair Communications BORN:Santa Rosa, CA RAISED:Cloverdale, CA

1. What was your last non-radio job?

I was a delivery driver for a furniture store.

2. What's been the highlight of your career to date?

Getting to meet the mixers that I always looked up to from KYLD and KMEL, the ones that actually made me want to get into radio. I never thought I would meet so many of my inspirations. I also have to mention my first ratings book as a PD, we took our P18-34 demo from a 1.7 to a 4.6 share. I'm pretty proud of that, but definitely not satisfied.

3. In addition to being PD, you're also on-air. What's your favorite aspect of being on-air?

I enjoy meeting listeners out at events. It's always fun to chop it up with the listeners.

4. What's been the biggest difference from being a jock to being a PD?

The responsibilities. I have a really small staff, so I do a lot of things myself. I produce promos, sweepers and other things of that sort.

5. Pick a spouse...any spouse.

Spouse? No spouses here, come on...I'm a young 25 year old male. I'm ripe, ripped and ready to roll.

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

A bunch of people have helped me along the way, PHIL MOORE, MICHAEL NEWMAN, BENJI KURTZ, JOHN CHRISTIAN, JAYTEE VALENCIA, definitely my really good friend LAUREN MICHAELS, and GREG LAWLEY, he's the man.

7. A freak gravitational shift has added three hours to everyday. What would you do with those extra three hours?

I would try to get more things done for the station, I always have wished there were more hours in a day.

8. What's the worst and best part about living in SANTA ROSA?

The worst part is that someone knows you through someone else. The best thing is that everyone knows you through someone else, so it feels more community oriented.

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

That is a tough one. I really like to feel productive, so maybe construction, but then again, I love music so I would try to get on top of my producing game. I think I would be very good at it if I stuck with it.

10. Which new artists do you expect to still be playing in five years?

Probably Clyde Carson, that dude has a certain mellow, clean sound that you don't really find anywhere else. Also maybe J Valentine, both dudes are very talented.

Bonus #1. If you could be on any TV reality show, which would you be on?

My Sweet Sixteen...na just playing. I can't stand that show. Every time I watch it, it makes me so freaking mad, all those ungrateful kids. Anyway, for me, if I really had to be on a show, it would be the Real World. I don't think I would want to be on a show though, especially after seeing a behind the scenes look at reality TV shows...all bad.