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10 Questions with ... Eric "The Funky 1" Rosado
November 3, 2009
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
It all began at KYLD (Wild 94.9)/San Francisco. I did pretty much about anything and everything there. I started off as a Programming intern, shifted over to Promotions, was the stations Street Coordinator, was on weekends for two years, and now have landed at kickass heritage station, KDON.
1. What was your first impression when you first walked into a radio station?
It was like a kid in a candy store multiplied by a million. I was 16 and Jazzy Jim Archer let me shadow him while he did his daily mixshow at KYLD. It was the coolest feeling ever watching live radio/mixing happen in front of my eyes between him and the great JO JO WRIGHT. I was already in love with broadcasting and radio since an early age, but watching all this live sealed the deal.
2. What led you to Radio?
Since I was little I was fascinated with radio, and any kind of broadcasting and growing up in the Bay Area I was fortunate to listen to a lot of big names, and legends. I would talk up ramps of songs from my CD collection, just like many of us have! I got in touch with Jazzy and just said "Hey, if you ever need help with anything, I'm here!", and it actually worked. He was MD at the time and brought me in as an intern in the Programming department at KYLD. I got to open mail, file CDs, grab coffee, pretty much anything for him and PD at the time, MICHAEL MARTIN. It was well worth it just to be in those offices soaking up prime Programming knowledge at a young age.
After paying dues and doing about everything at KYLD, Dennis Martinez brought me down the road to KDON.
3. You've been at KDON for several years now. What helps keep the job feeling fresh to you?
Like I tell the guys here, pretend every single day that we are a new sign on. Pretend that we are a new station looking bring in and keep as many new listeners as possible.
Don't get comfortable because of the heritage, the monster signal, none of that. In the halls you can always hear me saying "Every day is the Super Bowl and we have to do whatever it takes to win!", quoted from the legendary Vince Lombardi. Google that speech if you haven't read it, very inspiring!
4. You've taken on additional programming duties since coming to KDON. What exactly are you doing outside of being APD/MD/afternoons at KDON?
NOT sleeping, but hey who needs that right? Besides my KDON duties, I hold the same title for our Rhythmic Oldies station KOCN, which is a fun station to Program. Of course besides the in office, and On Air duties, there's the usual hosting a weekly club, remotes, which is great still having that contact hands-on to talk to listeners about music, feedback on the station, etc. I'm so lucky to be working alongside Market Manager Rhonda Mccormack, and OM Sam Diggedy and basically I have been their right hand man assisting with anything I can from Programming ideas, to Web content. Every day is not just the Top 40/Rhythmic KDON, but also something do to with the cluster as a whole from our News Talker, to Country, to Spanish....I love it!
5. What has helped you manage your time when there is such a demand for it?
For me it's all about being efficient. All of us in radio, especially Programming, know how hectic a day can get. Now throw in those of us who have to stop our day and leave the office for four or more hours to rock a live airshift. For me it starts with jotting down a little list of priorities for the day, and after going through e-mail, messages, and checking certain websites, I start attacking the list. In a perfect world this sounds like it would work....but throughout the day more and more things either get added to the list, or need to get done right away. Basically staying focused, and keeping it moving is key.
Stick to the game plan and don't get too distracted, unless it's for a good reason like talking to an intern about their favorite music, ideas and so on.
6. Speaking of time...what do you like to do with your spare time away from the station?
Did I mention I don't sleep much! It's the little things that make a simple guy like me happy. Since I'm always on the go, and host a club for work, I try to find a little relaxation time either at home, or just hanging out catching a movie or going to games. I'm a big sports fan (Big San Francisco Giants guy). I'm lucky to be in a market close to home (the Bay Area) where I have family, and friends, I also like to spend time in Florida if I can, more family out there.
7. You have worked with some outstanding programmers and radio personalities over your relatively brief career. Is there a programmer out there that you feel you'd love to work with at some point in your career?
Well, I wouldn't say 12 years in radio is a brief career (lol!). That's a tough one, I wouldn't say one in particular as there are lot of great Programmers, and great stations. I do my share of online listening and admire and respect a station that sounds great and fresh as a complete package from music, to imaging, to jocks, etc. Anyone who shares my same vision and passion for radio is great because we would be on the same page. That's how it is at Clear Channel Monterey, we all think alike, not to mention the market is great...the California sun, great areas like Monterey, Santa Cruz....tourists come to where I work.
8. Hypothetically speaking, you've been put in charge of hiring a female co-host for the KDON morning show. You've been given an unlimited budget. Who do you hire?
I'd have to check with our OM/PD/Morning Host Sam Diggedy as to who he would love to have on his morning team, he has great taste so would pick some good names. Personally I wouldn't mind Kim Kardashian, being added to the staff. Although she would be really bad radio, but very fun to look at daily!
9. In these times of tightened budgets and very few opportunities to snag an airshift at a station, what advice would you give to youngsters trying to break into radio? Is it the same as it was...just kind of push your way in and volunteer for everything?
That would not hurt. It is definitely not the same. I started in a time when we had all live weekend and overnight shifts (which were on CDs and carts and never automated), and was able to drive vans and do call-ins.
The street call-ins were vital to develop myself, and also get even noticed for a possible airshift. With less street shifts, and more automation I can see how an intern can be discouraged, but honestly, at a station like ours where it's a bit smaller there is opportunity to come up. I tell these guys, your learning stuff here interns in major markets will take longer to learn. We all won't be here forever and they are the future. It's just having a little more patience, and if you really love it just work hard, be versatile, learn everything, respect the lovely industry were in, and at that right time and right place, you never know.
10. If you had to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
I've never had a job outside radio so it would probably be something really close having something to do with the media, like TV, newsprint, online, etc. Of course I can go back to my lifelong dream of being a busboy at Hooters, or DJ'ing at a strip club.
Bonus Questions
What's your favorite song on the station right now?
I have like a new favorite song every day, but I still love hearing LMFAO 'La La La" on the air. Off the air you'd probably find me bobbing my head to something like "aNYway" by Duck Sauce (Armand Van Helden's new track).
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