10 Questions with ... Brad Hanson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Broke into radio in 1985 in Toledo at Hot AC WMHE (now Kiss), then onto crosstown Top 40 WRQN (93Q). I got the call to join the crew at The Home of the Buzzard in Cleveland -- worked at WMMS for six years as MD. Then I took on the PD duties at Classic AOR WIBA and Alternative rocker WMAD, both in Madison, WI. My family brought me back to Cleveland, where I opted out of radio for a few years and then made my way back in here at V107.3 Cleveland.

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I love, love, love music and broadcasting, in general. As a kid, I used to stay up late at night and pick up AM signals from all over the country. It was the next best thing to traveling to the various cities.

2. How did you get involved with WNWV?

I had heard the station flipped from Smooth Jazz and was doing a Triple A format. I took a shot and sent an e-mail to PD Ric Bennett, who I worked with at WMMS. A few months later he replied ... we had a meeting with GM Lonnie Grone and I was in.

3. This is your first shot at Triple A, right? Tell how you like it?

Love it. For the most part, it's the format that is most like what I grew up listening to during the '70s.

4. Being relatively new on the air, what is your biggest challenge at the station?

Getting the word out; our listeners love us and everyday someone new finds us. Then they love us, too.

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

Singer-songwriter stuff and smart new music mixed in with great pop and the right classics -- it's really great. Being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame city with great musical heritage, we can go a bit deeper than most markets. We cover five decades of music.

6. What would surprise people most about the station?

The amount of Motown and Cleveland-ONLY music we play. We program it all in-house. No consultant, no national PD.

7. What will convince you to add a song that you feel isn't right for the station?

If it's not right ... why bother?

8. What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

Revenue and living within our means.

9. Biggest change that you'd like to see in the business?

More independent stations targeted at serving communities locally.

10. Best advice for young programmers/promotion people?

Love what you do or get out. Be happy.

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

Hanging with family and friends finding the best jukeboxes all over town.

Last non-industry job:

Operations/Sales Manager for a Landscape Management firm

First record ever purchased:

The Who "Sell Out" from Kenwood Drugstore in Toledo

First concert:

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band at the Toledo Sports Arena

Favorite band of all-time:

The Beatles