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10 Questions with ... Tyler Laporte
March 27, 2023
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started as an intern at WTMD when I was a junior at Towson University. I was hosting a show at the student-run station that two of my supervisors heard, and that landed me some night hosting gigs on TMD. I became a full-time employee in January 2007 and by my fifth year at the station, I was promoted to MD and moved from the midday slot to afternoon drive. I left TMD in 2013 and quickly got a call to come down to do the morning show on Radio Bonnaroo, a gig I kept through the pandemic, and by Summer 2013, I was working in promo with Jessica Weber and the team at Co-Sign. I loved being part of that company - working from my home office and traveling to the offices in Brooklyn and Chicago. I worked a few non-industry jobs until I was asked to come back to TMD in March of 2022 to work as a programming assistant to PD Carrie Evans. I put my all into the job even though it was only part time which paid off because I was recently hired as the new APD.
1.) How does it feel to be back to where your career started?
I'm so happy to be back. I left abruptly in 2013 and always felt like there was some unfinished business. I tried a lot of different things in my time away from radio that just did not fit who I was as a person. It feels so good to have the support of the great team we have here at TMD. I feel like I'm home again and there's an endless supply of potential and experiences for me in this new position.
2.) How has the transition been from radio to the promotion side and back to radio?
The transition has been comfortable. It took a while to knock the rust off when I started back on the air but other than that I have really embraced being back at the station. My promo days were so long ago that it feels more like a fresh start than a transition.
3.) How has your perspective changed?
I was so young when I started at TMD and even still when I left in 2013. Seeing the world through a different lens, how much things have changed even over the past four years - let's just say my perspective and goals are different. The music business has also changed a lot and there is a lot of hard but rewarding work being done. I'm happy to be a part of change, but in an industry that really feeds people's souls.
4.) It's interesting that your former rival station employees are now part of the team who also hired you. How's that feeling?
It's funny how things work out. WRNR may have been our main competition in the market, but I feel like my relationship with the people who worked there was never weird when we'd run into each other at shows, festivals, or conferences. Getting to work with them on a daily basis is a treat. I used to listen to Carrie Evans, Rob Timm and Alex Cortright when they were on WRNR. Now I get to learn from and collaborate with them on a daily basis. Carrie and I spent time together at Bonnaroo, dinners with big wigs - it's great to be her partner in crime now!
5.) As APD, is there anything new you will bring to the table from what you learned doing both radio and promotion?
I think I'm just more patient and a better listener this time around. I'm more of a "go with the flow" person at work and just try to be helpful anywhere I can. Seeing it from both sides gives me more patience and understanding, but my greater confidence helps me focus on what is best for TMD.
6.) How do you feel about the current climate of radio?
There are a lot of choices these days, and people are consuming music on so many different platforms. It's been interesting to be back on the horse after the explosion of digital. The ChatGPT thing is pretty scary and so is the robot DJ on Spotify. But streaming services and robots can't match the local feel we have on TMD. How many bots can tell you about the time they interviewed Dan Auerbach and asked him what's in his fridge, and he responded that it was the best question he's gotten on tour?
7.) What stations do you like to keep track of?
I listen to WXPN a lot. They are simulcast on a high school station that's here in Maryland. Their midday host Mike Vasilikos was my first PD at TMD and he's still one of my favorite jocks out there. I met a lot of friends at Radio Bonnaroo who work at stations in Nashville, so I keep an ear on WNXP, WRLT, and Acme Radio. WWOZ means a lot to me as well.
8.) Where do you find new music?
When I was away from the industry, I relied heavily on Spotify to find new music. The Discover Weekly and Grade A playlists are pretty great. I still use it but not as much. Stereogum has always been one of my favorite blogs to find new and interesting music. I also follow a lot of music accounts on Instagram, so I'll find some stuff on there. But I rely heavily on Play MPE. It's so much more robust than it was 10 years ago.
9.) Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope I'll be in public radio, and I'd be happy if I'm still here at WTMD. I'm not too worried about climbing the ladder at the moment. I really want to soak up the opportunity. Hopefully one day I can be a PD, but I have a lot to learn before I get to that point. I'm so grateful to Carrie for believing in me and hope we're still kickin' it in five years!
10.) Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ...?
Some good coffee, a walk with my dog Otter, hang time with my wife Kristin (she's a pretty cool industry person!) and of course a lot of music. Pretty simple, but that's where I am and happy to be here. Oh, seeing the ocean every day would be great…we do get there a lot though.
Bonus Questions
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
I'm a terrible golfer but I love getting a round in here and there. I bring a speaker for the cart so I can jam in between bogies. I got back into video games during the pandemic, and I blow off steam playing a little Call of Duty with my high school buds. I try to see as much live music as possible even though that's not as easy for me as it was in my 20's.
Last non-industry job:
When I was asked to join the WTMD team again last year I was toiling away in retail at a medical cannabis dispensary. The discount was nice but that was about it.
What's #1 on your bucket list of things to do?
I know it's a long flight and there's a huge language barrier, but I would love to check out Japan for a week or two.
If you were to die today, how would you want to be remembered?
I hope I'm just remembered as a kind person, good friend, and caring, loving husband.
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