-
10 Questions with ... Ed Ocanas
August 14, 2007
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Ed OcanasPOSITION:Dir./Programming and OM/PDSTATION:KZFM, KKBA & KEYSMARKET:CORPUS CHRISTI, TXCOMPANY:MALKAN BROADCASTINGBORN:LAREDO, TXRAISED:The U.S. (Military Brat-Pops was in U.S. Air Force)
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started radio when I was a Junior in high school and have not stopped yet. I started as an intern with JD CHANDLER, LARRY WAYNE, SCOTT ALEXANDER at KGOT/ANCHORAGE. I worked there for about 1 1/2 years started interning first then parttime, then moved back to TEXAS. In CORPUS CHRISTI, I worked at KITE and later KJKC for a few years then moved over to KZFM with J.D. GONZALEZ where I started at nights, Production Director and every shift since. Currently, I'm doing mornings with Danny "B" Bocanegra and ARLENEe when I'm in town. And have been at KZFM for 18 years
1. What was your last non-industry job?
Wal-Mart & Whataburger (Great Texas Burger Spot)
2. What initially got you interested in Radio?
My love for music and Rick Dees hitting a post.
3. You've been in the PD chair at KZFM for a while now. What about the job still surprises you on a regular basis?
Maybe that I still get paid to do what I LOVE?...Play Music and entertain. Even with the paper work and responsibility as the years go by to think the job we have and get paid for still surprises me. I Love IT. I have always felt "I would pay to do this".
4. What did you see as your biggest challenge when you accepted the job as PD at KZFM?
Following great PDs before me at KZFM, JD GONZALEZ, TODD TUCKER, DANNY B, DALE BAIRD, and many others.
5. What secret about ED OCANAS will surprise even those that know you well?
I don't know how to type?
6. You've had a very successful foray into the music business? Is your management stable growing?
I'm very happy and pleased at where I'm at with management I have always wanted to be on that side of the business ever since I was very good friends with the late SELENA, her sister SUZZETTE and brother A.B. I'm the type of person who learns and grows and with the help of BABY BASH, PAULA DeANDA and TONY CALDERON at EVIDENT MUSIC GROUP, JOE HECHT and many others I continue to learn.
7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
In Radio- The late AUDREY MALKAN who I learned so much from. She really GOT IT. She understood the basics of winning...give the people what they want and listen to them don't just expect them to listen to you. "Listen to them"...it works. May she rest in peace. She was like a mom, sister, friend and the best boss ever.
JD GONZALEZ who still leads UNIVISION. He let me enjoy radio, try new ideas and at the same time guide me to be the best that I truly could be. JD taught me to "Get the Monkey Off My Back" and just get it done. I still try and use every bit he ever taught me, he is like a brother I miss him, but we stay in touch as much as much as we can. He is an amazing PD/OM/GM/ and now VP of Programming. He keeps the neatest desk in the WORLD only one pen on it-LOL.. I could write a book about him. He's great man to work for who "GETS IT"
BOB MITCHELL consultant of many stations of the years and for KZFM well over 12 years. I still learn from BOB. He too believes that when you have hit music in front of you and have the gut feeling - USE IT and PLAY IT. Label or no label when it's a hit we GO. He is also the best computer consultant EVER if anyone needs PC/Laptop help, etc...hit up BOB MITCHELL. He's cool and has great radio stories.
GLEN POWERS - My current GM. GLEN lets me grow and learn. He was the first one to hire and give a job to RICK DEES he is a living legend in our industry and IM very proud to learn from him on a daily basis.
Mentors in Management -CLIVE DAVIS, STEVE FERRERA, WENDY GOODMAN, JOE HECHT, DINA LAPOLT, MICHAEL WILLIAMS, JULIE PILAT, PETER GRAY, RANI HANCOCK, MICHAEL WHITED, MICHAEL NEWMAN, STEVE CHAVEZ, MICHELLE JACOBS, AYELET SCHIFFMAN, BRIAN GRAY, GREG LAWLEY, DONTAY THOMPSON, MEGAN YOUNGBLOOD (music starts to play here) and...and...there are so many others who I still learn from (cut to commercials)...the award show is over. Really, the above names are just a few but this list continues to build as I do too as a Manager.
8. Can you tell me a little about your staff? I
I'm so glad you ask because my staff is ME. I truly believe in a team effort and I rely on everyone at KZFM, and KKBA, to win at KZFM.
ARLENE M. CORDELL is the best she is MD/APD Morning Show Co-Host and has two beautiful girls and a cool husband, BRANDON. She is a Supa Chic. She programs music, schedules talent, and so much more. Please don't try and hire her away.
DANNY B - we all know our Morning Shows are the most important day part for a winning diary. I'm so proud to have DANNY B back at KZFM. Hhe knows how to win and win again and he is funny as hell. If I had a bigger market to put him on it would be a no brainer. He is STRONG.
GINO FLORES does promotions, Afternoons, cub remotes, you know, the tough all around winner. He has been approached by many stations, even some majors. He can take the full time slot in a top 10 market easy and I'm glad he sticks with his family at KZFM for now.
ALMA PACHECO who isn't on the air but knows more about it then a bunch of jocks. She is our Office Manager, Traffic Director and I have worked with for her for 17 years. We do get along and yes, it's possible to get along with your traffic manager.
JAYREE, NICK RUSSO, DJ N R JENZ, DJ PHILLIP DUCKER, DJ CHRIS. I will sum it up with this, when DJ CHRIS resigned about 6 months ago to go fulltime on road with PAULA DeANDA as her Tour DJ, I moved NICK RUSSO from parttime to Full Time nights. That's the first change I have made with this staff in 6 years. I love, respect and need each and every one of them. They are my family. Wouldn't you love to work for a team like this? No egos or controlled ones, at least. They are hard working men and women who respect one another, love radio and still understand what getting into the music we play is all about. And they can hit a POST, too. (That's Old School but still works better then Automation)
9. What has been your greatest accomplishment?
As a manager, I would say discovering PAULA DeANDA and getting her from raw demos to her first producers DUSTY, NICK and MIKE and then getting her played nationwide and then signed with CLIVE DAVIS. Also, the BASH/FRANKIE J record Suga Suga. (It was called Lifted) Also the pleasure to work/manage BABY BASH and some new artists coming out real soon - COLOR BLIND, THE STOOIE BROTHERS, J ROMAN, and the twins TANYA and DEY. (Name TBD).
10. Hypothetical...you are throwing a huge party at the "Casa De Ocanas". Pick two artists outside Rhythm-Crossover to perform.
MARC ANTHONY, ALAN JACKSON
Bonus Questions
BONUS. Your VP/GM tells you that you've got an additional $50,000 in the programming budget for 2008. Where might you spend it?
A couple thousand in bonuses for all my staff and then spend the rest with on the air giveaways - one gallon at a time - hee hee.
-
-