10 Questions with ... Randi Kirshbaum

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• KQRS/Minneapolis 1970-1975
• WKTK/Baltimore 1975-1976
• WHFS/Washington DC 1976-1978
• WBCN/Boston 1978-1983
• WMGX/Portland, ME 1982-2020
• WCLZ/Portland, ME 2011-2020
• WRNR/Baltimore 2021-2023
• WNCS/Burlington, VT 2022- present

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I've always loved the magic of radio, starting with AM Top-40, and then when progressive rock started in the late 60's I was hooked. When I was 16 years old, I called the program director at KQRS weekly, telling him he should hire me because a progressive station needed a woman on the air. Finally, he relented and let me come in for an audition. He put me in the studio and told me to speak extemporaneously for 5 minutes. I talked about the social relevance of Captain Beefheart, and guess what? He hired me.

2. You've had a long career, what are you doing these days?

I currently track middays on The Point network in Vermont. I just finished a 2-year stint at WRNR in Annapolis/Baltimore where I tracked middays and handled music director duties. Unfortunately, the station was sold to a religious broadcasting company. I am now looking for more opportunities, preferably within the Triple A or Non-Comm world. I'm a great air personality and can help with music or programming. (Have to sell myself, right?)

3. Why remote tracking?

Maine is my home. I am building my dream house on a lake and can't imagine living anywhere else at this point. But I love radio and don't want to give it up. I'm so fortunate that I'm still able to continue to connect with listeners without leaving Maine. I am a very good voice tracker (in all humility) and am able to astral project to the areas my where my stations are located. I bet I could tell you more about Annapolis or Vermont than people who live there. I defy anyone to listen to my shows and not think I am live and local.

4. Why Triple A?

My favorite format! While I programmed WCLZ I learned how engaged Triple A listeners are. They are so invested in the station, and that makes it possible to create a personal connection. It's the only format that is about music discovery, and that allows you to entertain and inform, while "curating" the music for your listeners. It's "all about the music", but it's also all about that one-to-one relationship that can only exist in a format that is not all about liners.

5. What is it like to be part of a station from so far away?

These days it's not that difficult to feel like family. Between Zoom and email and phone, it's possible to become close with the local staff. I mean, we all did it for two years during the pandemic, didn't we? (Well, maybe not all of us). I'm so lucky to work with great people. I like to visit my markets too, so I can meet everyone in person.

6. Who do you work with that inspires you?

At WRNR I got to work with the legendary Steve Kingston. He is a "big idea" guy, so I did a lot of the implementation. It wasn't hard to do once I created a bond with the rest of the staff, especially since I was a longtime fan of the station. In Vermont, I get to work with Dennis Constantine, who is a Triple A genius. One of my mentors, Steve Goldstein had an expression, "Be brilliant at the basics". Dennis personifies that philosophy. Even after a 50-year career there is still so much I am learning from him.

7. What has been your biggest career highlight?

I have two. I am proud to say that I was the first female with a regular DJ show (as opposed to a recipe feature) in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market. The other accomplishment of which I am very proud was being inducted into the Maine Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006.

8. How has radio changed over the years of your career?

When I started in 1970, it was free-form, and we were playing vinyl records on turntables. I'd think of a song I wanted to play and go get it in the music library and put it on. Once in a while, if I was too stoned (weren't we all back then?) I'd forget what song I wanted before I got to the library. I still have dreams about not being able to get the record cued up and having dead air. If someone had told me back than that not only would music be programmed by a computer, but I'd be doing my show from thousands of miles away, I would think THEY were high!

9. What's next for Randi?

I'd like to be the top Triple A tracker in the industry. I'll do the best "live and local" shows you've ever heard. And then I'll go float on my air mattress in the lake. Hey, I'm available. Email me at randi@kirshbaum.com

10. What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?

Aside from floating, you mean? I love the woods! That's why we are building a house in the woods of Maine. Hiking….kayaking….swimming…..picking blueberries, we have lots of blueberry bushes, last year we got 21 quarts! I spend time with my husband, Golden Retriever and shelter cat. My adult kids visit a lot, and we have fun. We're actually a family that likes each other. I try to get enough sleep, exercise, eat right, and practice mindfulness. I'm pretty much loving life these days and consider myself very lucky. Call me grateful.