10 Questions with ... Jeff White

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• NC Aquariums on Roanoke Island - Education Curator
• WVOD, 99.1 The Sound - MD
• Paradigm Agency, Music Department - Contracts Administrator
• KRML - PD

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I was always a passionate fan of radio, for both music and sports. In college, I would hop on late night with some friends that had shifts on WKNC, but I began to think of it professionally when I started doing The Coyote Morning Cafe on WVOD. As luck would have it, after a few years, a full-time gig as MD opened up with new ownership.

2. Who were/are your mentors?

John Matthews and Matt Cooper formerly of WVOD, are at the top of the list for giving me my break and showing immense patience with a greenhorn, but there are a slew of others that I am indebted to such as Garett Michaels of 91X.

3. How would you describe the music on the station?

Inclusive. The mix is wide with a fair amount of depth, focusing on artists of substance and songs of merit. We like to give a solid nod to the music that has brought us here, as well as being a trusted source for new music discovery.

4. What other special programming does the station offer?

In-house, we produce "Pub Talk," a weekly live event at Alvarado Street Brewery that features people in the community that are doing great things. Guests can include non-profits, musicians, politicians to just name a few. We also feature the Live in the Vines Music Hour showcasing our Live in the Vines Concert Series at Folktale Winery, Mornings with Marley & Friends with the California Roots Festival, the KRML Concert Calendar coordinated with local venues, the District 7 New Music Tasting Flight, named after a local wine, What’s On Tap at Peter B’s (another local brewery), the Vintner’s Minute with Monterey Wines showcasing local wines and winemakers, the Sports Fix with our local sports writer, the Canna Conversation with a local dispensary, Big Sur Cannabotanicals, the Bixby Bridge Blues Hour and Friday Found Treasures with Edible Monterey Bay to highlight local food trends. We also carry some great syndicated shows like Sheroes Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Passport Approved, Acoustic Cafe, Putumayo World Music Hour, eTown and the Grateful Dead Hour.

5. How do you position the station?

Our taglines are “The Local’s Radio Station for the Monterey Bay” and “Local Radio Works,” and our mantra is pretty simple: Broadcast the most eclectic, yet curated, mix of music in the area and to invest in this community by what we report, who we align ourselves with, and promote causes and events that we believe in. We hope to fill that gap between public and commercial radio for intelligent listeners.

6. Tell us about the Monterey/Carmel market.

It is a very unique market; it's fairly active and intelligent, spanning the spectrum of wealth from Pebble Beach to the blue-collar culture of "America's salad bowl" in the Salinas Valley to the incredibly unique town of Santa Cruz. There is a strong hospitality and tourism presence, as the area is definitely a destination, and a healthy ocean culture with the presence of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and world-renown marine labs researching one of the most active ecosystems in the world.

7. What is your typical day like?

I am on air from 7am to 1pm and the hand the reigns over to my right-hand man, Steb Montez. In lieu of us being a locally owned, stand-alone station, we have to wear a lot of hats. Days can involve anything from sales, logs, production, promotion, social media and whatever else needs to be done. It keeps things interesting but is also cumbersome. Fortunately, as we come out of the pandemic, we are looking to grow and share in those responsibilities.

8. How much interaction do you have with record labels?

Not enough! It’s honestly one of my favorite parts of the job as we have so many amazing people in our format that have become great friends over the years. Unfortunately, since assuming the GM role, there’s just not enough time to speak with everyone as much as I’d like.

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

Well, if I wanted to change careers, I'd probably become a National Park Ranger or work on the water ... somewhere warm.

10. You mentioned your love for surfing – share how this sport influences how you navigate life.

For one, it’s pretty much dictated where I live since I made it a priority. For me, it’s one of the few times that I can just be myself with no exterior pressures or agendas. The magnitude of the ocean is so humbling that it will put your struggles and triumphs in appropriate perspective by just being in it. There is no imposing your will. You must practice patience and allow the wave to direct you to where you need to be. The peace and/or rush that I experience in the lineup, be it from a small longboard day to a challenging double-overhead session will last the entire day, if not longer.

Last Non-Industry Job:

Education Curator for the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island

First record ever purchased:

Led Zeppelin IV

First concert:

Steve Miller Band

Favorite artist of all-Time:

Johnny Cash.

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

Surfing, playing guitar and piano, watching sports, and hanging on the beach with my wife and dog.

What’s your favorite song you never played and why?

Helmet-Unsung. Just a little too raw for KRML.