10 Questions with ... Jordan Lee

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Fell into radio after 10+ years as a Hip-Hop/club DJ. Heavily involved in the Milwaukee music scene, which keeps my finger to the pulse of this city's wonderful, and often under-exposed, music scene.

1. How did you become interested in radio?

By accident. I began to DJ in 1997, with the sole intention of learning to scratch records. I became quite good at it, and joined a few bands, and then toured for a period of time with Milwaukee Hip-Hop group, the Rusty Pelicans. That gig got the attention of WMSE DJs at The Late Night Hype show. I was asked to take over that program when the founders of the show moved out of the market. I just did radio as a hobby, with no intention of leaving community radio, mostly because Milwaukee commercial radio was terrible. I later volunteered at a few of the 88NINE Radio Milwaukee fundraisers and got to know the team here in the first few months the station signed on. I was asked to apply for the morning show host in the Fall of 2008.

2. RadioMilwaukee is celebrating 10 years! How has the sound of the station evolved as it has progressed through several PDs to you?

In the early days, the station's founders wanted to blend Soul, Hip-Hop and R&B with Rock, Indie and Americana. Conventional wisdom at the time, suggested that this was an impossible programming technique. Many PDs before my time here, tried but failed to make this work. A few of them gave up on this idea, but the DJ team here was steadfast in keeping this vision alive. My mentor, Mark Keefe, was the most successful of my predecessors due to his open ear and open mind. He recognized his strengths and leaned on us to make up for his weaknesses. From 2010 to 2014, Mark laid the foundation for our sound. From then to now, the key focus has been to celebrate our diversity. I have always believed in our team's ability to find the best in a wide array of genres. Good music with a good message transcends genre. That's my programming philosophy.

3. What plans do you have in the works for the anniversary celebration?

We are launching a number of new programs and events. In March we will introduce LISTENER APPROVED, our new audience top-10 show. This Friday night weekly countdown will be hosted by our MD Justin Barney.

We are also launching 88NINE After Nine, hosted by our Digital Director Tarik Moody. Every weeknight after 9p, we take a cue from Tarik's Rhythm Lab program and introduce our audience to a new definition of the urban sound.

In addition to new music programs, we are also stepping up our community stories programming with a new initiative called IN THE WINGS. Over the course of 10 months, we will profile 40 people in our community who are at the forefront of positive change in our city. We will cover a new topic each month, ranging from Urban Arts and Food to Job Creation and Mental Health.

We are also stepping up our commitment to the Milwaukee music scene this year, with a big announcement on "Milwaukee Day" 4/14/17, stay tuned for that! It is also important to us, that we continue to bring people together through music, so we will be holding an all-day free street concert outside our downtown studios on June 24th, with a mix of national and local acts. (Additional big announcements for that festival this spring!)

4. Tell us about the station's proactive community outreach initiatives.

We broadcast more than 200 original short-form community stories each year. These are not just featured in a specialty late-night or Sunday afternoon show, but rather they play throughout the weekday schedule. We've also increased our efforts online, including our addition of a full-time video producer to show off the organizations and individuals who are making a difference in Milwaukee.

We've launched our "Cultural Commons" initiative, which involves more than 20 organizations in an effort designed to break down barriers and bring people together. We air about 600 free public service announcements a year for more than 45 organizations. And we help collect donations of needed supplies and goods for the community through campaigns with groups such as Milwaukee Public Schools, Hunger Task Force and Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee.

5. Tell us about the station's great studio and performance facilities.

In the Fall of 2013, over 1,700 Milwaukeeans donated to help us renovate a vacant former foundry in the Walker's Point neighborhood, and turn it into a $2.8 million state-of-the-art studio and office building. Our complex includes a 99-seat performance space for live broadcasts, a local coffee shop (open seven days a week) and a sustainable green roof that overlooks downtown Milwaukee and Lake Michigan. Thanks to the performance space, we host a weekly on-air music session with a Milwaukee band in front of a live audience and national "Studio Milwaukee" sessions with bands coming through town. We also offer regular tours. Our space is not just a "cool" radio facility, it also acts as a town square for our city. Our space enables us to create events welcoming all Milwaukeeans.

6. What are the biggest challenges for RadioMilwaukee?

I'd say our biggest challenges is that of our city and region. Segregation. We are one of America's most racially and culturally segregated metro areas. Milwaukee is also home to our nation's most incarcerated ZIP code, 53206. While these challenges are great, the efforts to break away these issues has brought out the best in our city. I'm proud to see Radio Milwaukee as a leader in the effort to bring our city closer together.

7. What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

Younger generations lack of connection to FM broadcast. My kids can name more apps than radio or TV stations. While I love the way technology brings the world closer together, I feel the power of community-based media is something we cannot lose. Pandora is never going to tell me about the issues facing my community, and without that knowledge, I'm powerless to make any change.

8. Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?

I'm a Hip-Hop head for life. I grew up in the '80s and '90s, when the genre was breaking musical rules, and breaking down social barriers. That had a huge impact on me, and it drives the work I do today. I spend a lot of time in Phoenix, now that my oldest son goes to ASU, and they have a commercial Hip-Hop station out there called 101.1 The Beat. I LOVE THAT STATION! They will play Public Enemy, Jay-Z, Beastie Boys, Lil Wayne and Queen Latifah all in one hour. It's my jam!

9. How do you feel about the current climate of music?

Great. We are in a wonderful time. You have access to ANY music you want to hear, with just the click of a mouse. That's a very empowering opportunity for us. Now more so than ever, curation and cultivation are what listeners and fans needs from DJs and radio stations. It's a cool thing.

10. If you wanted to completely change careers today, what would you do?

I'd either be a teacher or a chef. I love to share knowledge and work with children. I also LOVE to cook.

Last non-industry job:

Barista

First record ever purchased:

First tape, the Ghostbusters soundtrack. First LP, Dance Craze soundtrack on 2Tone Record.

First concert:

The Four Tops. My dad's band The Satisfactions, were opening up for them, and my Mom would regularly take me to see my Dad when he was in the Midwest. I think I was two, and the story goes that I sang with them during soundcheck.

Favorite band of all-time:

The Clash (they are the only band that matters). Public Enemy is right up there for me as well.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?

Creating music and scratching records, mostly with my kids (they are great musicians). I love cooking, and make most of the meals in the Lee house. I also love to read, and have been studying the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.