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10 Questions with ... Gia DeSantis
April 8, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. It's been a while since I've been in commercial radio, but one thing I've brought with me from my KROQ and TV days -- that isn't so obvious where public radio is concerned -- is that sense of fun I've always had with the music and listeners. I am filled with stories and goofiness that I can't help but share, but it's always, always, always secondary to the music
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started my career at KDOC-TV/Los Angeles as a producer and director for whichever show was tossed my way. When we started producing and airing music shows, my passion for the music and knowledge of the artists lent themselves to my being tapped to co-produce a new show called "Request Video," which was a daily, live video show that began with a rotating schedule of radio personalities hosting the program: Rodney Bingenheimer, Kevin and Bean, Jed The Fish, John Frost, Rachel Donahue, Holly Adams, Freddy Snakeskin, and The Poorman are just some of the personalities who came in each week to pitch to videos and take calls.
About two years into it, I was tapped to be the full- time host, while still holding duties as producer and programmer. I did hundreds of interviews with icons including Lou Reed, Joey Ramone, Trent Reznor, Nirvana and seemingly every punk band based in and around L.A. and Orange County, to producing interviews with N.W.A. and John Lydon for that show. It was trial by fire, with multiple cameras and microphones recording each victory and mistake. Mike Ness of Social Distortion used to fill in for me when I was sick or on vacation. We were all that and a bag of chips, and we won the Billboard Music Video Award for Best Rock Video Program.
When the show went off the air (due to budget cuts), I ended up as both a jock at KROQ and working MTV and regional shows as Director of Video Promotion for Capitol. I went on to do label stints at Warner/Reprise, then back to Capitol. After I had my first child, I moved to Nevada so I could raise good citizens in a less hectic environment. I admit it wasn't my idea, and that I fought it, but I've learned to love this city in a huge way. It's a completely different vibe than it was when we arrived. I see NV89 as playing an important part in helping it continue to grow and thrive.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
Since the moment I found out there weren't tiny musicians inside the car, and that's the truth. I hadn't really considered getting into radio professionally, as I'd started my career in TV. It wasn't until "Request Video" went off the air that I'd been approached about doing radio. Gene "Bean" Baxter and John Frost told Kevin Weatherly I'd be a good fit at KROQ, and so it began, first with overnights and then weekends.
2. How did the opportunity to join Nevada Public Radio come about?
I was doing a specialty show, "Cocktails in the Kiddie Pool," for the online version of Indie 103.1, and doing most of my recording at the former Shamrock studios here in Reno. Willobee Carlan was the PD/OM in the building, and we became friends, as he'd stick his head in to say hello whenever I was in studio. When he made the switch from Shamrock to Nevada Public Radio, he invited me along for the ride. I'm still honored by the offer. Now that we're officially an NPR Music station, I'm feeling an extra responsibility to get this right.
3. How are the music meeting conducted?
Malayna Joy and I share an office, and we're constantly opening Play MPE and saying, "check this out." It's an ongoing process of lists and second listens. The mix of our Triple A and Indie Rock backgrounds sort of guide us from there. We are lucky to have Mike Henry as our lighthouse in a sea of truly incredible new music, and he helps us whittle it down.
4. What new acts are you most excited about?
Oooh. This is tough. Cherry Glazerr, Lowland Hum, Angie McMahon, Big Thief ... and there are a couple of Reno artists I think the world of. One is Nick Eng. He's very Paisley Underground, and I think the timing for that is excellent. The other is Silver, which has solid songwriting and live shows.
5. With your background in commercial radio, what of your experience translates to the public radio side?
It's been a while since I've been in commercial radio, but one thing I've brought with me from my KROQ and TV days -- that isn't so obvious where public radio is concerned -- is that sense of fun I've always had with the music and listeners. I am filled with stories and goofiness that I can't help but share, but it's always, always, always secondary to the music.
6. How much has Reno grown since you have lived there?
I moved here 20 years ago, when gaming was still the primary focus, which is no longer the case. I've seen a boom and a bust, and we're back to the boom now. With the growth of tech and the prominence of Burning Man, the entire cultural scene here has shifted in a way I'd never imagined. I'm friends with Reno's mayor, and she always says I should be a spokesperson for what Reno has become. Trust me when I say that wasn't the case when I first moved here.
7. What are some of the key venues the station ties in with?
We are this-close to having a venue that we're going to be working with to bring our Local 891 series back, and soon. As of now, I'd say our key venue tie-in is our new performance space here at the NV89 studios, which we're calling The Biggest Little Stage. Artist interviews, performances, and the ability for members and listeners to come in for these intimate experiences is as important as any commercial venue in town.
8. What do see as the most pressing challenge for Triple A public radio?
We have the beauty and the curse of blending genres -- especially at NV89 -- with Indie Rock, true Triple A artists, and some Indie Urban thrown in for a little extra flavor, and, of course, the ubiquitous Jeff Tweedy projects, so the sheer volume of excellent new music we have to select from is a challenge.
Our market has a purer Triple A station that leans older, and an Alternative station that leans more mainstream alternative, which puts us in the sweet spot of the best music, but it doesn't necessarily lend itself to being a station that gets the presents on a show. Being a Non-Comm, we play more songs each hour, which broadens the horizons for our listeners, and I think labels and promoters would do well to pay extra attention to the stations that have these playlists that are broad yet are hyper-focused on the right kind of music discovery for the markets in which they reside. For us at NV89, it's important to keep in mind we're now officially an NPR Music station, *and* the only station that is for ALL of Nevada.
9. What is the best advice you have been given over your career? The worst?
I've been so fortunate to work for some of the best people in music; I've been a Marketing Director and Tour Marketing Director at Capitol, Director of Video Promotion at Warner/Reprise. I was at KROQ during a time when the Alternative landscape became a THING. I have been by the sides and on the road with some of the biggest musicians in the world when true artist development mattered. I am sincere when I say the combination of good and bad advice has blurred, because I learned so very much from those I ultimately didn't end up respecting very much, who doled out crummy advice to the masses. As for my radio advice, Jed The Fish always told me to sound like I love what I do whenever I'm on the air, which frankly hasn't been difficult.
10. Fill in the blank. I can't make it through the day without ...
... coffee, kisses from my dog, Sid Not So Vicious, and some form of contact with my kids, both of whom are away at college.
Bonus Questions
Last non-industry job:
Director of Development for a private Montessori school.
First record ever purchased:
Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Schmilsson. I was in first grade and needed to hear "Coconut" on repeat during my every waking hour. My Mom was a saint.
First concert:
A 93 KHJ holiday show with Chicago, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tony Orlando & Dawn, and Sonny & Cher, and I was with my parents. The first concert I asked to attend was the Summer Blowout at the Los Angeles Coliseum: Black Sabbath, Cheap Trick, Journey, Molly Hatchet and The Babys played. I've always wanted the most bang for my buck.
Favorite band of all-time:
A true predicament! X, Beastie Boys, The Clash, Margot & The Nuclear So and So's, and anything involving Chip and Tony Kinman all fight for space in just about every playlist I make, yet that hardly scratches the surface.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
If it involves food, drink, friends and family at the same time, I'm one happy broad. I spend a fair amount of my spare time trying to make those special get-togethers happen regularly. And, naps. Naps are key.
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