10 Questions with ... Brad Savage

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started as an intern at KJ-104 and later REV 105/KLBB in Minneapolis. I eventually got on-air for weekend overnights. Full-time at legendary rock station WHMH/St. Cloud, MN and part-time at KTCZ (Cities 97)/Minneapolis led to working at The Conclave office for Tom Kay. Then off to Columbia, MO (KBBM/KBXR), then Madison, WI (WMAD), then Ann Arbor, MI (WQKL) and then to new sign-on WCNR/Charlottesville, VA about three-and-a-half years ago. I also work with my mentor and former GM Bob Bolak with some oversight and guidance to sister station WOXL (98.1 The River) in Asheville, NC.

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I grew up listening to great stations in the Twin Cities area, such as Cities 97, KJ-104, REV 105, WLOL/KDWB, KQRS, Z-Rock, etc. I always had a strong interest in music from a young age, as my Dad is a music geek, too. The medium of radio has fascinated me since I was four years old. It is literally the only thing I have ever wanted to do.

2. Who are your mentors?

I am so lucky to have been able to learn and watch many great mentors. It is important to respect the history and elders in the industry. I've learned valuable lessons and theories from Tom Kay, Jack Lawson, Kevin Cole, Lauren MacLeash, B.T., Gary Hoppe, Tony Powers, Charley Stroud, Mike Ferris, Bob Bolak, Dennis Mockler, Steve Goldstein, Jim Principi, Kyle Smith, Renee Quesenberry, Mark Abuzzahab and so many others. I have built friendships with people I idolize, such as Jay Philpott, John Bradley and Tom Teuber, thanks to The Conclave and the value of networking, respect and listening to the stories from the good ol' days!

3. For those that have never heard The Corner, how would you describe the sound of the station?

It's a wide, but hit-driven, younger-skewing Triple A. We are almost a hybrid of the best of Hot AC/Modern AC, Triple A and Alternative/Indie. The bulk of the library is around 1984-forward, but we will dip into a Bob Dylan or Van Morrison song for perspective now and again. We're much less classic-based than heritage Triple As. It's a nice mix centered on 21-38-year-olds (REM/U2/DMB/Marley/Coldplay) and perfect for a smart, funky college town ... and we are not afraid to place some value on new music! We're also a cultural townhall for the smart, funky, active, green, socially-conscious listeners of Charlottesville. I want to be a musical and cultural filter; a curator of the best music and happenings around town. If they miss a day, I want them to feel like they missed something of value to them -- and then have them be able to access that content on-demand via a web platform.

4. What would surprise people most about the station?

Due to Charlottesville's status as a key touring city (thanks to DMB/UVA/ATO/Red Light/John Paul Jones Arena and many other awesome venues), we get the opportunity to host concerts and even in-studios with many of the same top-level acts that the large market stations are getting. We've had shows with U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, CSN, Taylor Swift, Springsteen (twice!), Eric Clapton, Feist, Elton John, The Police, Metallica, Ziggy Marley, and tons more since we've been on the air! But we're not all about just the superstars; we love discovering new acts thanks to club venues booking people like Joe Purdy, Sonos, Ernie Halter or Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers. The Corner Lounge is a busy place!

5. Recognizing that the station has only been on the air a few of years, what have been the station's biggest accomplishments?

First, making a big splash in the market since day one, and creating a new brand with excitement from listeners about the medium of radio again. We've brought back people who had turned away from commercial radio. There's a great passion for what we do from our audience and it's a labor of love for our small-but-fiercely-hard-working staff. Second ... we just realized that we've hosted well over 150 Corner Lounge sessions since we launched. The caliber of touring artists (and number of them) in this little town is astounding!

6. What has been the best performing record on the station so far this year?

I would say "Kandi" by One Eskimo, or possibly Avett Brothers "I And Love And You" -- both are huge reaction songs and are the real deal!

7. Do you treat your nights differently than during the day?

Yes, we have a local music feature each night with a local act followed by "Daily DMB" (Live Trax deep cuts), and also a Corner Lounge recycling feature. We also have specialty shows at 10p the first part of the week including MD Jeff Sweatman's awesome "Brighten The Corners" new music show on Tuesday nights. But we don't increase the number of currents in regular programming at night, and we don't really daypart new currents too often.

8. What stations do you like to keep track of?

In the Triple A world I always watch KTCZ, KBCO, KINK, KWMT, KPTL, KENZ, KRVB, WXRT, WTMD, WRNR, and our Saga sisters WCLZ, WRSI, WYXL and WOXL/Asheville, NC. I like to keep an eye on Alternative/indie trendsetters like KBZT, WFNX, KNRK, KXRK, KCMP, etc. But I'll also watch some key Hot AC/Modern ACs like KQKQ, KSTZ, KALC, WBMX, and KLLC. We have a large music pool to draw from, and plus I'm a music geek so I like to make sure I'm aware of all the new stuff coming out.

9. Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?

Either NPR talk or Jammin' Oldies!

10. What do you like best about your job?

Most of it ... Interviewing artists in The Corner Lounge; connecting with peers in radio, management and promotion; and being a trusted filter for music/entertainment for our listeners. It is fantastic that our job every day is something that can be used for fun ... as an escape ... by our listeners.

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

I'll let you know when that happens. Little bit of a workaholic here! Actually, I'm a crazy music collector. I have a music library of 15,000+ CDs and memorabilia. So I like to travel and always find and support indie record stores (wherever they still exist).

Last Non-Industry Job:

I worked at Naturalizer women's shoe store -- oh yes!

First Record Ever Purchased:

I think it was a green vinyl 7" of Kraftwerk "Pocket Calculator" or maybe a Peter Gabriel import 45/

First Concert:

Scorpions and Trixter (!!!) - Met Center, Minneapolis in 1990

Favorite Band Of All-Time:

I hate this question. Probably the Replacements. Maybe The Clash. Well, it might be Tom Petty. No maybe Possum Dixon or The Pooh Sticks or Too Much Joy ...