10 Questions with ... Maurice 'Mo Better' Rivera

NAME:Maurice 'Mo Better' Rivera POSITION:PD STATION:KXHT MARKET:Memphis, TN COMPANY:Flinn Broadcasting BORN:New York, NY RAISED:New York, NY

1. Memphis is a very unique city with a storied musical history. Who is leading the way on the Memphis music scene today?

Too many to name, but I will try. Still Three 6 Mafia has opened it up to everyone in Memphis. I would tell people to be on the look out for the following:

Al Kapone - Al's been putting it down in Memphis for a long time now and is getting ready to hit the road with a live band.

Yo Gotti - Signed to TVT a few years back, has lyrics from the street to the boardroom and conducts his business the same way.

Nasty Nardo - Had a joint on the Hustle & Flow soundtrack called "Let's Get A Room" that we banged to death.

Free Sol - Just signed to Justin Timberlake's camp and can cover Neo-Soul, Hip Hop, and Rock.

Producers to look out for are: Joe Blowe Da CEO, Hollywood JP, Carlos Broady

2. Think back...what initially got you interested in Radio?

Once I found out that people actually got paid to wear jeans and get free music, I was hooked. I started at WRPS-FM in Potsdam, NY in 1985, but it wasn't until I worked for Robert Scorpio at KBXX-FM that I really became obsessed with the Biz.

3. You moved into programming from promotions/marketing. Would your promotions director say you are a very demanding boss?

Well, considering the fact that I still hold that title, I guess I would say I'm very demanding.

4. Who's on your staff at HOT?

6a-10a The Hot Wake Up Show with TK & KJ
10a-3p Superman
3p-7p Boogaloo
7p-12a Spyderman
12a-6a Spanish Fly
Weekends: Jus Borne, Rob Storm, Kojack, Lil One

5. I know that you are a wine connoisseur. Have you found friends in the radio and record community that share your passion?

My midday jock, Superman is a wine nut. I find myself taking about good wine with John McMann (Atlantic), Gary Marella (Universal), Rick Sackheim (Def Jam) (Don't tell him, but I drank that bottle of Cakebread I owed him), and Steve Chavez (Asylum).

6. Hip Hop music sales are down. Is that a bigger reflection on the choices available to record buyers or is it a bigger reflection on the product available?

Sales are down due to many factors. The economy is horrible now. Gas prices are out of control and now milk is going up. Then to make matters worse, when was the last time to heard an album that was good beginning to end. Most of the joints out today have one maybe two good songs tops. Times change and I think traditional record stores will cease to exist unless they specialize is rare vinyl. America is lazy and we have the option to buy directly online.

7. Who do you consider to be your radio mentor(s)?

Robert Scorpio - Only person to test me as an employee and as a person. He opened my mind to promotions and programming in ways that I thought he was crazy, but now make sense.

Duane Hargrove (My current GM) - Another person who works in non-traditional ways that I have never witnessed in radio and the results are incredible.

8. Let's say you have a guest in town who has never been to Memphis. Wherewould you take them and say, "Now this...is Memphis."?

Graceland and The National Civil Rights Museum

9. Outside of Hip Hop And R&B...what's the hottest song you've heard in awhile?

Emerson Drive - "Moments" (One of the best written songs I've heard in awhile.)

10. If you had to pick one athlete, one actor and one music artist to form a morning show for your station, who would you pick?

Serena Williams, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez

Bonus: Do you have any film, TV or musical guilty pleasures that may surprise people?

I like country and jazz music, and watching Ugly Betty (Kiss my ass, I'm Latino!)