-
10 Questions with ... Tom Calderone
June 27, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
College Radio: WBNY/Buffalo 80’s
WGR: 80’s
WRCN: 90’s
WHFS: 90’s
Jacobs Media (The Edge): 90’s
MTV/Vh1: 90’s-2000’s
Spotify: 2000’s
1. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
WABC (Musicradio), WPIX (PIX 102) (NYC’s first Alt Station)
2. What got you interested in the radio business?
I wanted to be a DJ, and I was glued to the radio 24/7. I loved the connection of personality, music, and humor all in the same package. So many presenters were my reason for doing all of this.
3. You transitioned out of radio to MTV in 1997, tell us about your years there.
It was an amazing experience. The transition was a bit bumpy in the beginning, although having worked for great brands like The Edge with Jacobs Media, WHFS, and WRCN it gave me the confidence and comfort of working for and with smart intelligent media leaders that always put brand first, and always took risks. Then when my team and I, at MTV started developing long form series and specials it really made the 18-year ride even more exciting! The leadership that I joined with at MTV/Vh1 were truly the best. They made me a better leader and a smarter media executive.
4. What is the biggest challenge segueing into the NPR/PBS world?
There really hasn’t been many challenges. It really is about listening to the staff and audiences on both TV and radio to make sure we are delivering the best content. Like MTV and Vh1, NPR and PBS are strong brands with a lot of passion behind it. It is now about growing the audience in diversity and demo. Plus, we do so much local television production that helps feed PBS, as well as our own brands, so that is very exciting. Our digital studios are delivering some high touch content that our YouTube Channel keeps growing.
5. When you started at WNED/Buffalo in August 2021, what was the plan behind creating a hybrid AAA/Alt Station?
It really was an answer to “how to get a younger demo” into our eco-system. We have found that The Bridge (named after the Peace Bridge that connects Buffalo to Toronto) has been able to build awareness to the PBS and NPR programming that we offer, so that we are one of the top-of-mind points of consideration for entertainment. It is starting to work. We did a Prince/David Bowie concert night on WNED/PBS, and we had almost 50 percent new members based on the promotion we did on The Bridge. And there is more to come!
6. You worked at Jacobs media when Alternative radio was exploding. What did you learn that you are applying to programming the Bridge?
Audience first. Full stop. Then have fun, be self-deprecating. Take music risks. Support local/regional music in regular rotation. Listen to audience, Leverage great brands like “Tiny Desks” from NPR. Weekend stunts, like Brit Pop, 90’s, and Tailgating Music Blocks for the very popular pro sports teams here. Plus add a lot of short snackable videos to our offering. Video is a key here!
7. What are the long-term goals musically, and in the community for The Bridge?
We will start adding voice talent, and specialty shows from both sides of the border. We will also make sure that we are at many local events (not just music). We want to play with our audiences anywhere they are. We will also take the important topics and issues that land with this smart, educated audience. On our PBS station will be airing the show “Love and Respect” hosted by Killer Mike from Run the Jewels. So, on The Bridge we will not only cross promote it, but also use some great content from this important show, besides just playing RTJ. Plus, did I say video?!
8. You oversee both Toronto and Buffalo, two very diverse markets. What are differences between the two and what is the same?
The great thing about the two cities is that they truly do love each other. So many people from the GTA come to Buffalo for sports and entertainment and vice-versa. There so many great iconic music venues in both cities. Plus, it is an easy commute to both. And now that the border is back open post pandemic, we are in the GTA a lot!
9. If you were to leave the TV/radio business today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
Hmmm…honestly since I can remember I had no plan B…. 😊
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ...
Learning, Laughter, and Music
Bonus Questions
Last non-industry job:
Special Olympics
First record ever purchased:
Monty Python’s Previous Record and Talking Heads ’77 (same weekend)
First concert:
Squeeze with REM and The English Beat as openers (Steve Martin that same weekend)
Favorite band of all-time:
The Replacements
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
Bike Riding, playing soccer and hockey, and music festivals (like Glastonbury)
-
-