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10 Questions with ... Jonathan Maverick
December 5, 2006
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NAME:Jonathan MaverickPOSITION:APD/MD/Creative Services Director/MiddaysMARKET:ATLANTACOMPANY:COX RADIO and (ATownSound.com - Imaging for Rhythmic Radio available from TM CENTURY)BORN:NEW ORLEANSRAISED:DALLAS/FT. WORTH
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
KWTX/Waco, TX (On-Air)
KJYO/Oklahoma City (On-Air)
KHTT/Tulsa, OK (On-Air)
KDGE/Dallas, TX (On-Air)
KHKS/Dallas, TX (On-Air)
WWWQ/Atlanta, GA (APD/MD/Imaging)
WBTS/Atlanta, GA (APD/MD/Imaging)
ATownSound.com - Imaging for Rhythmic Radio (Available from TM Century) http://www.atownsound.comImaging for:
KPWT/San Antonio
WPYO/Orlando
KPHW/Honolulu1. If you weren't in Radio, what do you think you'd be doing with your life?
Selling carpet! Strange but true.... After graduating from college I quit radio to get engaged and live a "normal life." I worked as a National Account Rep for the Shaw Contract Group handling commercial carpet sales. The career and the engagement were both short lived. However, I still catch myself staring down at the carpet wherever I go.
2. What got you interested in Radio?
I took radio as an elective while attending BAYLOR UNIVERSITY in WACO, TX. My student PD, JOE COFFEY, became a good friend and instilled within me a real passion for the industry. I used to put my antenna up on the roof of my apartment so I could pickup Kiss FM in Dallas. When I first heard that station I knew I had to make radio a career. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would one day work there.
3. What do you think is your most important job at WBTS as APD/MD/Creative Services?
Definitely the Creative Services part. I shape the sound of the station just as much as the music does! Think about it.... I get air time via my imaging 24/7/365. It always amazes me to see PDs who spend countless hours airchecking their morning show and other jocks but spend less than an hour a month with the Imaging Director. Bad imaging can ruin a station no matter how good their music.
4. We're wrapping up 2006 and heading into 2007. What aspect of your "game" do you want to see improve in 2007?
I recently launched ATownSound.com through TM CENTURY. It's a new, online, imaging service designed specifically for Rhythmic Radio. Right now ATLANTA Is the center of the hip-hop world. We get more artists through THE BEAT in a month then any other station I've ever worked for. We post more artist audio on ATownSound.com than any other service. We've also got great relationships with a ton of hip-hop producers in ATLANTA.
They're all about hooking us up with beds and beats for ATownSound. What other imaging service can say they OFFER PRODUCTION from people like JERMAINE DUPRI, MR. COLLIPARK, NITTY, TIMBALAND and more? I really want to see ATownSound.com grow and become a massive destination site for Rhythmic stations around the country. It's a blast to make the stuff and to find out what other stations and producers are doing and be creative on that sort of level.
5. What about ATLANTA would probably surprise most people?
It's amazing to see how the major hip hop artists are really part of the everyday lifestyle of the city. It's nothing to run into LUDACRIS out at a club or see the YING YANG TWINS in the mall or USHER at Six Flags. They are totally approachable, too.
6. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully still in Atlanta and doing Imaging with COX and ATownSound.com!
I'd love to be involved at a corporate level with the Imaging for all the COX RADIO stations.
And I'd LOVE for ATownSound.com to become the ChaseCuts of Rhythmic Radio!
7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
The three most influential people in my career:
"MR. ED" LAMBERT - Gave me my first APD/MD gig! Whoooaa!!
CAGLE - My PD at The BEAT - hands down, the best there is. And a close friend to boot.
STEVE SMITH - Has helped me take my imaging to a level I never imagined. A great mentor and motivator.
8. How do you recharge after a particularly long week at work?
My family is the most important thing in the world. I love to hang with my wife ANGIE and our two daughters, ALEX AND PIPER.
9. How has THE BEAT changed over the last year?
At the end of 2005 we transitioned from Atlanta's New #1 Hit Music Station to Atlanta's New #1 for Hip Hop. After realizing that Hip Hop had become mainstream we re-positioned the station to reflect the true lifestyle of our listeners.
Our cume just topped 640,000 and we have the highest 18-34 numbers ever. We're beating both our mainstream competitors (Star 94 and Q100) in both 12+ and 18-34 numbers. Couldn't be happier.
10. Which new artist do you think we'll still be playing 10 years from now?
T.I. - He's an amazing and incredibly creative artist. To watch him work in the studio is truly mind blowing. Besides... A rapper that plays the piano on his own tracks... come on, who else does that?
Bonus Questions
Bonus #1. You're station decides to do a "Second Chance Prom". You have to pick a current group/band for the gig. They have to be able to perform at least these covers, ALWAYS & FOREVER, I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU and FAITHFULLY. Who would you pick?
The Ying Yang Twins...They always bring the party with them. You get those guys on the stage and you have to pry the microphone away from them. And besides... That'd be a hell of a set!!
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