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10 Questions with ... Michelle Parisi
July 5, 2006
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NAME:Michelle ParisiPOSITION:Producer, writer, talent booker, etcCOMPANY:The Weekend Top 30 is distributed and marketed by United Stations Radio NetworksBORN:Madison, WIRAISED:Madison, Milwaukee, Lantana, FL and Los Angeles
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WNGS/WEST PALM BEACH
WWQM/MADISON
WTFX/MADISON
WQFM/MILWAUKEE
KNAC/LOS ANGELES
RADIO & RECORDS
ROCKLINE (GLOBAL SATELLITE NETWORK)
MEDIABASE
GEFFEN RECORDS
AMERICAN TOP 40 & 20 WITH CASEY KASEM
HOLLYWOOD HAMILTON'S WEEKEND TOP 30 and KNAC.COM1. What was your last non-Industry job?
Delivering pizza for Uncle Jim's Pizza in MADISON. My friend TJ was the manager. I got more cans of beer from college kids than tips! And in Milwaukee I bartended and delivered medical supplies part time.
2. What got you interested in the business?
I listened to the radio as a kid constantly. My earliest favorite radio station was WISM 1480 in Madison. Instead of trying to learn to sing along to Mariah Carey, I was memorizing artists and song titles and album titles and DJ's names, and of course winning stuff. My Mom and Dad were always like, "who are you on the phone with?", and I'd say, "oh I won some more albums and concert tickets." So at some point I thought, maybe I should work at a radio station.
3. Besides your current gig, of the things that you've done in the business, is there one job that stands out and why?
When I was hired at 93QFM in Milwaukee it really was a dream come true (they used to be a rock station). Madison has great radio but as a kid, driving to Milwaukee for Summerfest or whatever show it was, as soon as QFM would be in range it was so exciting for me. "93 Q F M Milwaukee's rock station", I can remember David Lee's voice booming out of the speakers and just be blown away by it. The big rock station, big voices, great music! Madison had nothing like it. My friends in the car with me were always asking, "why do you turn up the volume when the DJ's talk?" At Summerfest every year I'd just stand there and watch the jocks from 93QFM broadcasting live and think they were the rock stars. I wanted to work at 93QFM my entire life. I think during the time I worked there, I was at the station more then I was at my apartment. Getting hired at KNAC 105.5 fm in LA was my second dream job.
4. What's a typical day like for the Producer of Hollywood Hamilton's Top 30 Countdown?
Turn on the computer, drink coffee, and go full speed ahead all day long! As all you record promo people know, I'm in your face every week asking for something! But hey, I can't help it; I have a show to put together. I need guests and you have artists. Writing the scripts takes a good chunk of time because some weeks there is a ton of cool stuff to write about, other weeks it's tougher. We have two three hour shows to put together, 60 songs. I talk to Hollywood almost every day about something. Some days I'm out doing an artist interview or covering an awards show and overseeing our other reporters. I talk and email with our affiliates and the USRN LA and NY offices often. One day a week we track the show and that takes an entire day. Hollywood, myself and our engineer DD are very creative in the studio and spontaneous. He does not just read the script, that's why the show sounds very different than other syndicated shows.
5. What do you think is your single most, mission critical duty as a producer?
I want all our PD's, APD's, and MD's to turn on the Weekend Top 30 and think to themselves, wow this a great show, I'm glad it's on my station not the competitors! Making sure everything is ready to go when we get to the studio and then making sure all the post production stuff is handled. Booking a guest each week. And doing everything I can so that our show stands out among the other syndicated shows. And making sure our 3 hour air shift is the most entertaining, fun, non-generic shift in the respective formats. We have a mainstream Top 30 countdown and a rhythm Top 30 countdown.
6. Hypothetically...You've been asked to join an existing band and tour Europe and North America. What band would you want it to be?
My first thought is Def Leppard because I know and love all their songs, especially the old ones like Rock Brigade and Wasted. My next thought would be the Donnas because they rock and it's only a few CD's of songs to learn. I actually do play bass! Being in Beyonce's touring band would be hot but I don't know if I could do a whole set in high heels, but I'm sure the paycheck would be worth the pain. Kelly Clarkson's band would be fun and my nieces could brag about it. I could handle a Shakira tour because live she totally rocks out. Also, Juliette Lewis and the Licks because her band is amazing and the energy on stage would be insane.
7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
OK, here's the list..... Jonathan Little, Fletcher Keys (both Madison radio legends), Mark The Shark from WTKX/Pensacola (love the Shark!), Gail Mitchell from Billboard (she hired me at R&R the 2nd day I lived in LA), Ken Barnes from USA Today (at R&R, I used to open his mail and he would not normally go to any of the awesome record release parties and events he was invited to and told me I could RSVP for them, that ruled), Jimmy Rash (Rockline engineer), Gregg Steele (he hired me at KNAC, my 2nd dream job and he showed me how to be an LA sounding air talent not a Wisconsin sounding air talent, boy did I luck out !) Warren Christensen, Michele Munz (they actually put up with my lame phone answering skills and didn't fire me, love them!), Stew Herrera (whenever I'd be at KNAC waiting to meet with Gregg Steele I'd hang out with Stew in the production room and he was always super encouraging and helpful), Lorre Crimi (from Casey Kasem, she taught me how to write for radio, boy did I luck out!), John Pepe (who told Hollywood he should hire me, thanks John!)
Maria Musaitef (my confidence and fashion guru) Paula Stimson, Mark Strickland (my music and real estate guru) my parents Mickey and John, my sister Joanne, Lisa Kerr (my best friend since 10th grade whose mantra is Take A Risk), and of course Hollywood Hamilton!! I have learned so much from Hollywood, I'd need another entire website for that! Talk to me about my consulting fees later :)
8. Who has been your favorite artist to work with on the show?
On the rhythm side, we've had the Ying Yang Twins on the show many times and they always have something interesting to say. Also Chingy, Pitbull, Baby Bash and Bubba Sparxxx we've spoken with on several CD's and singles. On the mainstream side, we've been lucky enough to interview Kelly Clarkson from Idol graduation to Breakaway and she is really nice and remembered me and it's funny because we both talk fast and it makes for some pretty funny audio. During the reign of the "Mimi" CD we had Mariah Carey on the show 3 times and I also spoke with her a year before "Mimi" came out, and she is a class act. It always confuses me when the platinum selling stars with many hit songs and CD's do interviews but we have a difficult time getting interviews with the stars who have only one or two hit songs out.
9. You have to work closely with record labels as producer of Hollywood Hamilton's Weekend Top 30 Countdown. What do you normally need from them and does anyone stand out in their level of assistance?
I need interviews! Give us 15 minutes and we'll give you over a million listeners!! Teens & adults who buy CD's! People that listen to countdowns are music fans and they really listen. We can do phone interviews, in person interviews, this isn't a Barbara Walters 3 camera shoot. It's me, or me and HH or me and a reporter, a mini disc, a mic and your star talking to their fans. Honestly 15 minutes or less and all parties benefit! From day one I noticed how hard the Def Jam artists work. They do those satellite tours and stuff and I think we've had every Def Jam star on the show since I started with the WT30. Our show is very lucky because so many people know Hollywood from his New York City and Los Angeles radio days that we do secure big interviews. Big thanks to all the promo cats who hook us up. It really means a lot to us! And those that don't, there's still time! Really, call me, email me. We do great interviews too !! Hollywood can make any artist smile. Even Cam'Ron and Lloyd Banks.
10. If you were to leave the business today and you could choose any unrelated other occupation, what would it be?
I would like to work for the NFL. I love music and I love football. I would like to do sideline interviews or play by play stuff. Anything with football. I could be Pam Oliver's apprentice! I would also dig working for the TV show What Not To Wear or The Amazing Race. Or if they bring the show Love Monkey back, I want in. I would like to do more with my voiceovers too, be the voice on a cartoon or something huge like that.
Bonus Questions
What secret can you divulge about you that few people know?
I have not eaten cookies, candy, ice cream or chocolate since 1993.
What trash can you dish about Hollywood Hamilton that won't get you canned?
He doesn't eat fast food.
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