-
10 Questions with ... Bradley Grein
September 19, 2006
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Bradley GreinPOSITION:MD / Web DesignerSTATION:KDHT (HOT 93-3)MARKET:Austin, TXCOMPANY:Emmis CommunicationsBORN:Houston - North SideRAISED:H-Town
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started as an intern in sales in 2002 in this building, then owned by LBJS. I was a graphic designer. I met DOUG WILSON, PD of KEYI/KXMG. He had just launched KXMG and saw potential in me. I started jumping in on afternoon shifts, board oping, the usual. Then the morning guy got fired and I was thrown in the booth. JAY MICHAELS then took over KXMG and I helped move it away from the dance format and towards a Top 40/Rhythmic. JAY made me the Assistant Music Director and he and I flipped KXMG to KDHT (HOT 93-3) in AUGUST 2003. In MARCH 2004, JAY appointed me Assistant Program Director/Music Director for KDHT. Then BOB LEWIS joined as Program Director in AUGUST 2004 and in DECEMBER 2005 brought PICAZZO on board from KISV/BAKERSFIELD as APD while I retained MD duties. Whew.
1. What was your last non-Industry job?
RITZ CAMERA, I'm a complete photography dork. I also worked in a warehouse unpacking broken DELL laptops. We would try to piece them back together and re-sell them, what a crappy setup
2. What got you interested in Radio?
I had an internship in high school in HOUSTON with JACOR promotions. I was an event photographer. That and my college radio experience pretty much sealed the bite of the radio bug.
3. What's the highlight of your radio career to date?
Becoming MD was a huge highlight. I've worked for some of the most respected and talented people in the industry (JAY MICHAELS and BOB LEWIS). I'm incredibly lucky to be working for EMMIS. Our company is the real deal.
4. What's your favorite part of your duties as MD?
Easy...the music. I listen to music the way I do when I'm at home, with an open ear. I'm a music lover and I work with TONS of other music lovers, what could be better.
5. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Programming a somewhere for sure, maybe a PD?
6. AUSTIN is known for its vibrant music scene, does that include Hip Hop?
AUSTIN is a melting pot of great music, hip hop included. But I think it's a TEXAS thing when you look at hip hop exclusively. I mean DALLAS, HOUSTON, AUSTIN, SA, even HUNTSVILLE, DEL RIO, and CORPUS are putting out great hip hop. The community is a statewide network. TEXAS is the largest state in the lower 50, and these acts are using every square mile to their full potential.
7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
My dad because of his work ethic, EVAN SHIPE (KBPA) for being there for me since the very beginning, and all of the PDs and Record friends I've either worked for or even worked around (BOB LEWIS, KRASH KELLY, STEVE CHAVEZ...there are too many to list)
8. You also the Web master for KDHT. How did that come about?
I did a lot of side design work while interning and in school, flyers, cd covers, that kind of stuff. I was also doing a lot of artwork for station promotions, t-shirts, and really anything that needed to be done around the building. When EMMIS took over the cluster, JAY and I wanted a website on the EMMIS Interactive platform. I called REY MENA, EMMIS INTERACTIVE VP, and gave him the rundown on my background and offered to care for the site after it was launched. The position stemmed from necessity but continued because I love design and I know how we want the station represented. It's literally my other love. I get the best of both worlds.
9. How much is the station interfacing with sites such as MySpace?
We recently started a MySpace page for HOT 93-3. I keep it updated with our station promos and videos. We were also one of the first stations to launch a co-branded iTunes store. Co-branding and/or participating with these large Online sites will be key as we move forward and evolve as radio stations.
10. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
Probably graphic design, print design, or something in that realm. I am a HUGE computer nerd...seriously.
Bonus Questions
1) What's your favorite song that KDHT doesn't play?
Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push (the album is amazing)
2) A freak gravitational shift has added three hours to everyday. What would you do with those extra three hours?
I'd like to say I would drop everything and go take a photograph, that's the ultimate in relaxation for me. But I would probably end up at the office. I'm a self-proclaimed workaholic. If I wasn't working on MD duties, I would be working on the Web site. If that was all done, I would be researching new music or trying to learn some new skill I could use online.
-
-