10 Questions with ... BJ Murphy

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Career started at WSHA Shaw University Raleigh NC. I've been on air in small, medium, and major markets during my thirty-year career. Those cities have included WQOK/Raleigh-Durham, NC, WWDM-The BIG DM/Columbia SC, Mornings- WQMG/Greensboro, NC, Mornings-V103/Baltimore, MD, Mornings -KPRS/Kansas City, MO, Mornings-WPEG/Charlotte, NC, Mornings-KRNB/Dallas, TX, and WVAZ/Chicago, IL

1. What’s new with you?

I am doing some voice tracking and working on my podcast to relaunch my daily “The 20-Minute Morning Show” in 2022. You’ll be able to listen on all podcast platforms. I’m also working on my streaming syndication morning show too. We’re relaunching, “The Bomb Charlotte” at the first of the year as our flagship streaming station. Wait, there’s more, I am also doing the BJ Murphy Show for streaming only stations and any other audio platform that wants it. Right now, it’s on 29 stand-alone streaming stations and 3 low powered FM stations. It all adds up. I’m building my empire.

2. Why radio as a career?

I was fascinated by the DJs at my hometown radio station in Goldsboro NC. Beginning in the 10th grade in high school, I just could not help myself. College radio was my training ground at Shaw University. I worked at 3 stations while in college. I was the fly jock of college radio from 83-87. I would load my friends, who were from New York, Philly, and DC, down with blank cassette tapes and they would bring me back tapes of the stations and I would be in my room memorizing and practicing what I heard. I spent a lot of time in my dorm room practicing.

3. How about sharing one of your funnier moments in radio?

I was at WQMG in Greensboro, NC and my co-host, the late Jasmin James and I had a beef on a station trip with listeners on a boat cruise to the Bahamas. It got so deep that we had listeners choosing sides. Half the ship was with her, and the other half the ship was with me. It was the craziest thing. We finally made up before we got to the Bahamas, but the listeners thought we were crazy as hell . We laughed about that and how ridiculous it was. We were young in the 90s.

4. Are you satisfied with the career you’ve had so far?

Yes, I have some great experiences. One of the greatest highlights of my career was sitting in for my iconic hero Donnie Simpson at WPGC 95.5 in Washington DC. When Donnie and I both worked for CBS radio, the company would have me fill in for him while he was on vacation. I was in Charlotte at WPEG and I got to come to Washington and sit in his seat several times a year.

5. What things are important for a morning or entertainment show in audio media?

Show prep is my religion. I like being overly prepared for a daily show. I believe in writing for my show and taking as much time as needed to make sure I’m not ever without a road map. Then I have to decide what matters, what to focus on, and then I know what I'm going to talk about. I say what I want on the air and I say it how I want to say it. When I stopped caring a long time ago what people thought, I was free. Generic air talents don’t make millions of dollars. Know your material and be fearless in how you deliver it. I am not talking about being an A-hole on the air. I’m taking about being your authentic self and still follow the program directives of your PD. Learn how to edit yourself and know when it’s time to exit the break. I could teach a class on this one subject because it’s my passion. How long does it really take you to execute an entertaining break? Can you make your audience think laugh or chuckle every day? And do so in a timely fashion. It takes work but learn how to get your point across in the shortest time possible. It’s about being efficient and thorough. Plus, you must know when you’ve said all that needs to be said and move on to something else.

6. What people have influenced or mentored your career?

Cash Michaels back at WLLE, Cathis Hall, Andre Carson, and Sam Weaver (He taught me how to do mornings & entertainment radio), Tony Gray, Jerry Boulding, Mike Love, Vinny Brown, and countless others. I have learned so much from so many by listening and asking lots of questions. I’ve learned that you must pay attention to details. From the time I fell in love with radio in the 10th grade, I wanted to measure up to the best in the business and do big city radio, and I did that. But I still have unfinished business to attend to in radio.

7. Is there an origin story to how the “The Breakfast Brothers” name started?

The Breakfast Brothers morning show name was created in Kansas City Missouri at KPRS. My co-host Myron D (Myron Fears) and I came up with the concept and the show was born. At first someone said what about Burger Kings Breakfast buddies and Sam Weaver our PD said, "uh are you sure that won't cause some confusion and it sounds kind of strange for two men to call themselves the Breakfast Buddies." So, during a critique session with Sam, we came up with Breakfast Brothers. When I left KC for Charlotte and WPEG I took the show title with me. That was in 1995. Keith Richards and I launched the Breakfast Brothers at WPEG, and I had a 9-year run.

8. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

“Less is More.”

9. Is there a recipe for radio and audio media platforms to succeed?

I believe the ability to connect audio and visually is the future. Audio written and video all depends on your ability to capture the hearts and minds of your potential audience. Heart transmission is the connection. You have to fight against being a mediocre generic air personality. You must have an opinion and be able to express it in a way that attracts people to you. You have to be fearless to cut through the crowd and that means doing your show prep, researching, and being able to condense and give out facts in an entertaining way day after day. It takes more work than people think.

10. What are you most proud of?

I like connecting and building a relationship with people that normally you have to find at a conference and right now most conferences are being done virtually-it’s made it more difficult, but thank God for social media. I am proud of helping other people become better communicators and sharing what I have learned. I have taken people out of barbershops and helped them become six figure talents. Everyone who has come through my camp has been successful and gone on to be great performers.