10 Questions with ... Kannon

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WFTK-A/Butner, NC
• WRDU/Raleigh, NC
• WJBQ/Portland, ME
• Superadio Networks (mix show DJ and music director)
• WBTS (95.5 The Beat)/Atlanta, GA
• WRDW (Wired 96.5) Philadelphia, PA

1. You've been the APD/MD at Wired for awhile now. What is the key to keeping the job exciting for you?

Booze...Kidding. We have incredibly talented competition here in Philadelphia so there's never a dull moment...ever. The bar is constantly being raised and the battle is intense. You'd have a hard time being bored in this competitive marketplace.

2. What's your favorite part of hosting the Sunday Open House Party?

Wow...narrowing it down would be tough. It's the thrill of a lifetime to host the show you grew up listening to that is the very reason you're in radio to begin with. I've learned so much about how to do "personality" radio effectively from John Garabedian, so actually having the opportunity to apply it all to a show I believe in and have such fun doing is incredible. I live for talking to the loyal fans of the show every week and putting something larger than life on the air for the affiliates.

3. You're still practically a newlywed. Has being married changed you in relationship to your profession?

Ha! Great question, because so often that IS the case! The truth is I met my wife Diana when she worked in the Promotions department at Wired six years ago. (go ahead...slap me on the wrist...lol). My point is she has a more, um...."intimate" knowledge of the business and the commitment required on our part to keep up winning consistently. She's the best.

4. If you could be THE star player on any of the Philadelphia professional sports teams. Which team would it be and what position would you play?

That's ridiculously easy. I'd be QB for the Eagles. I love Philadelphia and have been amazed at the passion for the team this city has. To be able to finally get them a championship and see them go insane would be about the best gift I can imagine giving Philadelphia. Yes...even better than Justin Bieber tickets.

5. Are Philly listeners as tough as Philadelphia sports fans?

Nothing comes easy in Philly...that's just the simple truth. Respect is earned, not just handed out. "Tough" is a subjective word, though. We never expected to be taken in like family in the city's heart from Day 1. We work hard to give the city everything we've got every day, and luckily it's paid off and we're honored to be as accepted as we have been. Sorry...yes. The answer is "yes." And we love it.

6. What song has been your biggest surprise hit of the year?

Surprises?! We have none of these "surprises" you speak of here! Between Leo (who's damn near clairvoyant musically) and myself, every move is meticulously deliberate and expected well in advance.

Yeah, right.

Jay Sean "Down" was a sort of surprise because of the sheer longevity of it. Some songs just don't die. The "passion" stays high, the "burn" stays low, and you reach "mega-hit status territory" also known on some radio maps as the "power-recurrent zone." (you didn't know they made those??)

If you're a competing station reading this, I'm just kidding. Ignore those "Down" spins. It's a stiff-o-rama.

7. Ever go back to your earliest airchecks and critique them for shits and giggles?

If by "critique", you mean "get drunk and laugh at," then yes, absolutely. Sometimes I literally do shit and giggle and always in that order.

8. If you could spend an extra 30 minutes on one thing everyday, what would it be?

Exercising. That would boost my grand total to exactly 30 minutes a day, which is considerably more healthy than my current routine. You do the math.

9. Do you have any hobbies?

Watching sports...not actually playing them. (refer to #8). I actually do love SCUBA diving, but the diving in Philly sucks.

10. If you won $266 million in the Mega Millions lottery, what's the first thing you'd spend big on?

Another easy one! I'd buy Q102 and flip it to a Tibetan -monk -chant- loop meets Mexican- hair -band -music hybrid. Hot new format. ;)

What's your biggest guilty pleasure musically? (I can't help singing along with that damn Michael Buble song!)

Dude...John Mayer. OK...I know a guy who got so emotional he was nearly tearing up during "Gravity" at the concert. Yeah...I know a guy.