10 Questions with ... Jay Styles

NAME:Jay Styles POSITION:Afternoon Drive (Styles & Nicky) STATION:WJJS MARKET:Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA COMPANY:Clear Channel BORN:Rochester, NY RAISED:Rochester, NY

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

WPXY/Rochester, NY (AMD/Late Nights)
WBHV/State College, PA (MD/Nights)
WAPE/Jacksonville, FL (MD/Middays/Nights)
WHZT/Greenville, SC (APD/MD/Middays)
WJJS/Roanoke, VA (Mornings/Afternoons)

1. Has radio been everything you imagined it would be?

I am living my boyhood dream each and everyday. I have accomplished all the goals that I set for myself. The landscape of radio is a lot different now from when I first started, but, like anything, else change is inevitable so in order to continue to love the day to day you must buy into that change!

2. What area of your "game" would you like to improve most in what's left of 2009?

Everything. Like I said the landscape is changing and I feel we must all re-tool ourselves. Being a PD now is a lot different then it was five years ago as well as being a jock. We now have less time to get our message across. How do we keep the listener with us in 5 seconds opposed to 15? Putting my own unique twist on a piece of content is something I want to continue to improve on as well.

3. What's the first thing you do when you walk into the building in the morning?

Things have changed since we moved from mornings to afternoons. I say hello to my boss(s)... A quick "hey man" everyday, even if I got a response in return of "eeh" or "who?" When I was doing mornings it was old school, I'd read the local newspapers.

4. Until just recently, you were doing mornings at WJJS. How was that experience?

The greatest moments in my career. I started out in radio as an intern for "Spezzano In The Morning" on 98PXY. I learned so much from Scott, Sandy, and Steve/Carson (now on KDWB). Way back then I made it my ultimate goal in radio to have my own morning show by the age of 30. I achieved it at the age of 26. A HUGE THANK YOU to my PD Cisqo for giving me the opportunity of a life time. I have a great co-host in Nicky who is still with me in the afternoon. We had a much different sound from the norm in the morning and it paid off when the ratings came out.

5. What did doing mornings do for you as you transition back into afternoons?

Doing mornings allowed me to be more conversational sounding with my delivery.

6. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?

Cat Thomas (Entercom/Austin, TX)

Kobe (B94/Pittsburgh, PA)

7. You were pretty successful in your stint as the morning guy at WJJS. Would you like to do mornings again?

In a heartbeat! My co-host Nicky and I had just got to the point where we knew what each other's next move/thought was when the switch came down. I am very humble in that I still have a job. My dream job would be to do mornings at 98PXY!

8. Highlight of your 21st birthday?

Mike Danger beating me senseless with a tree branch!

9. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

I am actually going back to school soon to take some business courses, my goal is start up an ad agency with my brother when I am done with radio.

10. You are driving across country. Each night in your hotel room you have to watch the same 2 TV shows (different episodes each night). What 2 shows would they be?

Two and a Half Men and P.T.I.... I love it when Wilbon says "Knucklehead"

What would be the best part of being The Bachelor on the ABC TV show?

I cannot answer this question without getting into trouble...