10 Questions with ... Terry Styles

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Twenty-eight years in the business; my career started in 1998 at heritage Urban WJTT (Power 94)/Chattanooga, TN. Then to crosstown heritage Urban AM 1260 WNOO as News Dir. and morning sidekick. From there I got my first Top 40 gig at WBDX (B103), which was a mirror image of Top 40 WYHY (Y107)/Nashville. Then I moved to Knoxville, TN to work at heritage Urban WKGN-A, doing mornings/MD/production. In 1993, I came back to Chattanooga and worked swing-shift nights for heritage Country and seven-time CMA Station of the Year, WUSY (US 101). While working with Cumulus, I was given an opportunity to cross the hall for my first programming job at Urban AC WLOV. Later in 2004, I moved to Pensacola, FL as PD for Urban AC WRRX (Magic 106.1). After leaving Magic 106.1, I came back to Chattanooga, TN as Asst. Production Dir. and on-air personality for Bahakel Broadcasting AC WDEF (Sunny 92.3) and currently at Top 40 WDOD (Hits 96). I'm also a Master Control Operator at WTVC-TV News Channel 9 here in Chattanooga.

1) How did you start a career in radio?

As a child, I always knew this was the business I wanted to be in. I used to listen to various radio stations, and at the time I knew when a jock was going to do a break, when a sweeper would play at a certain time, so I started designing clocks in my mind. One day I grabbed a tape recorder and started mimicking and playing around, pretending I was a radio personality. I took the tape to let my father listen to it, he said, "That's not you" and I said "Yes, it is." So, throughout the years, until I graduated high school I kept perfecting my craft as a radio personality and landed my first gig a year after high school.

2) What keys lead to success in radio?

Never stop learning, ask questions. Try to be available and learn all aspects of the business, such as sales, production, on-air and promotions. Try to find someone you are comfortable with to be a mentor whether inside or outside the business. Eat, sleep and breathe the business.

3) How did you gain so much knowledge about this business?

From various managers throughout the years. I learned programming and sales from current WNFZ/Knoxville, TN owner Johnny Pirkle, who taught me the ins and outs of radio, including sales, promotions and owning a radio station. More of my programming came from Ken Johnson, current VP/ Urban Programming of Cumulus Media, who taught me the ins and outs of corporate radio. Bobby Wonder, current OM of WUFO (Mix 1080)/Buffalo, NY on the proper way of doing a radio resume and approaching a correct way of being an on-air personality.

4) What do you think makes a good morning show.

In doing mornings, or whatever format I was working, I always made it a point to research topics that pertained to that targeted audience, from music, social media, to current events that affected that audience. Cross-promotion pertaining to events outside of radio, such as health fairs, different charity events and community events, along with music and contesting.

5) What people have either mentored or influenced your career?

• Ken Johnson, he helped me learn brand managing in corporate radio.
• James Alexander, he instilled wisdom and knowledge in programming.
• Bobby Wonder, who is a mentor who helped me hone my programming and on-air skills.
• Liz Hanlon, who taught me the different aspects on being a market manager.
• Johnny Pirkle, he taught me the ins and outs of being a station owner.
• Danny Howard, OM of my current station, who instilled in me the knowledge of programming multiple formatted stations.
• Chris Adams, Production Dir. of my current station, who taught me the different aspects of production from barter, to national, to local and co-op.
• Sam Weaver, who is a mentor and guide in this wild broadcasting business.

6) How have you managed to work in so many formats?

I am a true lover and very versatile person when it comes to music. I guess you would say I'm an '80s baby. With the love and passion, I have for music, I have been able to work various formats from Classic Hits to Today's music, which includes, Urban, Urban AC, Top 40, Country, and Classic Hits.

7) Why radio?

It is a passion that is been instilled in me since my childhood. I am a people person; I love to interact with people on and off the mic.

8) Would you share your likes and dislikes about radio these days?

Today radio is more social savvy; we have more networking to get the brand out in the community through blogging, Internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc. These platforms are great for reaching your average listener. Voicetracking, when necessary, can be effective in certain markets.

Don't likes. I'm from the old school and more of a hands-on type person. I miss the roll your sleeve up and get down and dirty, such as queuing up records, splicing phone calls, playing carts and CDs. Today everything is automated. I would like for some of the new upcoming talent to experience what radio was like from days gone by.

9) What challenges did you use to face when you programmed?

My first challenge was WLOV. It was my first programming gig, I was green around the collar and I was going up against a heritage station that had been in the market for many years. My challenge was letting the community know my station existed. So, I became very street savvy. I was at every community event and every function, from a state fair, to Relay for Life, and all other events, even non-paid. My second challenge was coming into a market, Pensacola, FL, and taking a station that was dead last, Classic Rock, with the help of Ken Johnson and flipping it to Urban AC, taking it to #2 in the market against heritage 100,000-watt stations in the region. My station was a Class A 2,959-watt stick. I caught the eye of several other programmers in the area; one was a Country station that ended up doing a contest with the FL lottery, very much like a spring promotion I did the year before which was a huge success.

10) How do you see the future for radio?

Continued consolidation, having one person responsible for many jobs. More voicetracking.

Is there a question you've always wanted to answer but have never been asked?

Yes, why and where are the new mentors in the business today to train and prepare for this business?