10 Questions with ... Fisher

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• Board-Op @WABC-AM/New York
• Board-Op for the nationally syndicated Rush Limbaugh Show
• middays/nights/Assistant Music Director @ WBLI/Long Island
• PD/afternoons @ WHZT/Greenville, SC
• PD @ WMXB/WKLR/WDYL Richmond, VA

1. Why Radio?

I've been doing it since I was 10 years old....it's like a bug that sticks with you. I cannot imagine doing anything else.

2. To date, what is the highlight of your radio career?

Doing two start-ups. 1st in Greenville, SC starting WHZT on 4/1/01 and now starting WHTI on 4/29/10. Its just amazing to launch a radio station and see it grow and how it changes the market.

3. Greenville certainly embraced Hot 98-1. How is Richmond responding to Hot 100.9, so far? Does it feel similar?

The buzz on HOT is amazing, I am constantly around town asking people what their favorite station is and 8 times out of 10 it's us. I think the buzz is actually bigger here in Richmond than in Greenville, but it's a different time and the make-up of the markets are very different at the start-up dates.

4. What's the biggest differences you've seen between the audiences in Richmond and Greenville?

Well the make-up of the Richmond market is more urban than Greenville, so it gives us a different dynamic that we didn't have in Greenville. Richmond is very dynamic though.....it's a college town, a town that loves its "local-ness", a huge Rock and Country town, yet the Urban stations are always in the Top 5 ratings wise. In Greenville, the market is huge in a distance sense....basically from the SC/NC border to the SC/GA border. We're not as spread out here, which makes the ability to reach your audience very convenient.

5. You were new to the PD chair at Hot 98-1 and now you're a grizzled veteran of programming several formats. Care to offer some sage advice for the youngsters looking to develop as programmers?

Don't pigeon hole yourself and NEVER stop learning. If you think all you'll ever do is one format or just the formats you want to do, you will limit yourself and your possibilities. Radio (as we know) is ever changing and if you want to stay in the biz, you'll need to adapt to new things.

6. Rhythm radio may not have ever sounded so Pop and Pop never as Rhythmic. Any quick thoughts on Hip Hop and Rhythm radio today?

It's ironic but Rhythm radio today seems to be a lot like it was when I started in Greenville. It leans a lil pop, but you have a few of those true rhythmic songs to balance it out. I feel R&B has a good presence too which really makes the format universal to all demos. Rhythm is in a good place right now, with the legends...Jay-Z, Luda....etc and the one hit wonders who right now are making good music for the format.

7. Could Lady Gaga take Christina Aguilera in a cat fight? What about Ke$ha?

Christina is old-school, she'd whip Gaga's ass, didn't you see the dirty video? Gaga wouldn't be able to move with all that crap she has on. Ke$ha is that dirty girl from H.S. who thinks she can scrap, but when it comes down to it she's got nothing.

8. If you were getting married this summer and you could pick one artist that's NOT on the Hot 100.9 playlist to perform at your reception, who would you pick?

I should cause you great pain for even the mention of that , but if I had a choice it would either be Slipknot or Dave Matthews Band.

9. You're a hard working guy...what do you to relax and recharge?

The work-life balance is a huge part of keeping your sanity. Sure there are weeks that you may continuously be working without a break, but you need to schedule time to just veg or get away. Personally, I like taking advantage of the weekends and doing fun things around town, getting outside or just driving around. I also scuba dive and like to go to the gun range.

10. Hypothetical again...you're chosen to be ABC's next Bachelor. Can I get a breakdown of who the bachelorette contestants should be? Ratio of blondes to brunettes? Age range? City girls vs small town girls?

Wow! Nice question, I'd say 75% brunette / 24-32 / 50/50 city to small town....they're all crazy anyhow.

You are driving across the country and 100 miles into your trip, the radio breaks. You only have two cds with you. What two cds would you want them to be?

I would HAVE to have 30 Seconds to Mars "This Is War" and Dr. Dre "Dr. Dre 2001"