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10 Questions with ... JoJo Lopez
October 17, 2006
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NAME:JoJo LopezPOSITION:PD / MorningsSTATION:KWWV (WILD 106.1)MARKET:San Luis Obispo, CACOMPANY:Newly acquired by Mapleton CommunicationsBORN:Torrance, CARAISED:Palmdale, CA
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
KAVS/Lancaster (Part-time), KISV/Bakersfield (Mid-days/Mixshow DJ), KSEQ/Fresno (APD/MD/Mornings), KVEG/Las Vegas (Mornings/Imaging Director), KWWV/San Luis Obispo (PD/Mornings)
1. What was your last non-Industry job?
I am one of the lucky few who can call radio my very first job. Long ago between gigs I was the receiving manager at LONG's DRUGS. I was hoping a pallet of canned food would fall on me and end my pain, but MARK FEATHER, then at KISV, saved me before it came to that.
2. What got you interested in Radio?
I've always loved music... and as a kid my dad would yell at me, "Turn that junk off"... "There's no future in that rap crap". I just wanted to prove him wrong. I've made a pretty decent living playing, "rap crap" for the last 10 years. Hi DAD!
3. You are doing the morning show and you are the PD at Wild. Have you always been good with time management?
Everyone in radio says this, "There's never enough time in a day", but I've grown when it comes to not sweating the small stuff. I've always been such a perfectionist... A few years ago I'd waste too much time working on one promo, or one morning show bit, or scheduling logs... when you've got all those things on your plate... getting it all done is a lot more important than taking too much time doing just one thing.
4. This is your first PD gig. How did you get prepared for this position?
I've been prepared for a while. I've done everything else in radio... nights, mid-days, afternoons, mornings, MD, Production director, Imaging, Mixshow Coordinator, APD... So PD was the next logical step for me. I was just waiting for the right opportunity.
5. What's your favorite part of your duties as PD?
Whenever I get a chance I try to get out of the office and listen to the station as a listener. When it comes together right and sounds the way you want it to, that's the best.
6. Now that you are a PD, has your view or perspective on your work as the morning guy changed?
For sure. It's very easy to be a loud-mouthed morning DJ and push the envelope when you've got a PD that has your back in the GM's office when some old lady calls and complains about you. But when you actually ARE the PD... you want your visits with your GM to be as pleasant as possible. I definitely bite my tongue more on air than I used to.
7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
TOMMY DEL RIO at KSEQ/Fresno), BOB LEWIS formerly of KDHT/Austin, MARK FEATHER (formerly of Hits Mag), consultant MICHAEL NEWMAN, and LEE CAGLE (WBTS/Atlanta) have all had the biggest direct influence on my growth, and are all true masters of their craft. But so many others deserve shouts for being good friends through all of this... ERIC SEAN (KISV/Bakersfield), BIG BEAR (KCAQ/Oxnard-Ventura), MIKE YEAGER (KWYE/Fresno), MR. CLEAN (KWYE Fresno), GREG LAWLEY (Lawman Promotions)... and everyone else, you know who you are!
8. Why would you get voted off next year's SURVIVOR-AVENAL?
AVENAL? The state prison? Are they really doing that? I'll do whatever I have to do to get voted off... before I drop the soap.
9. 2006 is winding down quickly. What area of your "game" do you want to improve in 2007?
Personal life. All work and no play is actually OK with me. I think work IS play for me, but people tell me that I need some kind of a personal life. Who knew?
10. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
Beach bum... if they can do it... I can do it better!
Bonus Questions
1) A freak gravitational shift has added three hours to everyday. What would you do with those extra three hours?
I'd love to say something noble like, "Donate my time to charity" or "Adopt an orphan from Cambodia", but who am I kidding... I'd just work more.
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