10 Questions with ... Maurice Wilkey

1. Why radio?

Radio kind of decided I would go into the industry. I was always gravitating to either my radio, car, or home. Whether taking trips with family in the car or falling asleep to it, radio was my constant companion. On short or long road trips, the radio kept us company. I remember listening to local icons on stations such as WILD-AM 1090, 68RKO and KISS 108. I admired the on-air talent's gifts for connecting with their audience and the station production. The whys are probably locked in the need to express myself, my love of music and curiosity of media. I needed an outlet to jump into. I wasn't terribly gifted as an athlete, I loved music. Funk and hip-hop were blanketing the airwaves and the MCs were the coolest people. Who doesn't want to be cool? I liked performing and the response from an audience, home, church, or school. I was kind of a radio-rat. I didn't have a road map to go from radio job to radio job, but a desire to be in front of a mic along with no fear.

2. Would you share one of your funnier personal moments?

A somewhat funny moment, I remember working at WILD on my birthday and pausing and thinking to myself, "Yeah, you're work on your birthday, but woah you're working on your birthday at a job you've always wanted." It gave me a chuckle, not to mention an amazing proud feeling at the same time.

3. What's your advice for up-and-coming talent and program directors?

My advice to would be air personalities is diversifying your abilities and always, always strengthen your abilities to write and/or convey your passions and ideas. Constantly update your resume and social networks, I should take my own advice more. I can remember a time when all you had to do was just concentrate on just radio and had have a strong voice. Today, you have to be able to do more, blog, vlog, podcasting, host, create online content, generate a following, be video savvy - in front of and behind the scenes. Create your unique brand personality. Be flexible with where you live and musical genres you consume. My good fortune allowed me to find most of my jobs close to where I grew up, but today that's generally not the case. Understand the beauty of seeing other parts of the country and world to build your resume and work network. Lastly, create a portfolio of jobs along with your radio job. Be aware radio as an industry has changed economically and may not always sustain your lifestyle. Stimulate your other passions along with radio.

4. What Inspires You?

Hearing the young broadcasters of today inspires me. WERS has a number of student hosts, and we hope to expand our hosts on ERS+ in the fall. Hearing new personalities on new media on podcasts inspire me. Knowing there is a movement of media going on to inform, entertain and combat all the negativity going on is very inspiring.  

5. Would you please share names of some air personalities you grew up listening to?

I grew up listening to JJ Wright and Dale Dorman on WRKO. This was when music radio was still on AM. I would later work with them both on WODS-FM in Boston, MA. Hearing personalities like Kandi Eastman, Elroy RC Smith, and Stephen Hill on legendary Urban Contemporary WILD 1090AM, Lastly, I had the pleasure of hearing the late-night radio legend in Preston "P.J. Porter" on WMBR.

6. And you're most proud of?

I am proud of myself for never giving up on myself and leaning into taking on positions and situations even when I may have self-doubt.

7. Who have been some of your influencers and mentors?

My two friends and contemporaries - Hot 96.9's Deirdre Dagata and Atlanta's Kiss 104.1 personality Reggie Beas - are influencers and mentors. Deirdre is the fulltime midday host and Reggie used to be a regular weekend on-air talent/dj at WBQT Hot 96.9. I've learned the inner workings from a different perspective of what a programming professional thinks and how they think. I've also had the pleasure to see their dedication to the craft of radio and discipline. Other influencers include Ken Johnson and Dana Hall fellow Emersonians like myself, who helped launch my career into radio. They not only took a chance on me as an intern but helped me learn the importance of flexibility in the radio world. They also influenced me indirectly through their consistent growth in the industry. People always supportive and believing in me, even when I didn't always believe in myself like include Nik Carter, morning host for Sirius XM. He helped me learn the importance of being revolutionary and following your dreams when others won't. Mentors also include local radio personalities such as Coach Willie Maye instilling the art of persistence in me. There are numerous others. Podcast innovative influencers such as Bomani Jones and Jemele Hill are two influencers who are unapologetically themselves in their authenticity. I admire those traits greatly.

8. How do you see the future of radio and radio syndication?

Radio's future on a terrestrial level in many large markets is questionable in terms of its lifespan. Right now, I see corporate entities or large investors in control only of major market radio. That's not good as shrinking staffs and consolidation and underinvestment continue. You basically get stale recycled boring radio. Radio can be effective and has a brighter future in smaller local markets which recognize the voices of their audiences. The tide and advantages are with the listener along with all the listening and viewing alternatives. If radio is flexible with on-demand offerings, i.e. podcasting, and different lifestyle offerings, it has a chance to thrive. Live and local philosophies still hold true with radio. The future in listening is in the palm of the listeners hands today through smart phone and digital technology. However, their attention spans are shorter and their desire to change platforms is frequent. If radio maintains the status quo for the shareholders and not the audience, it will go the way of Napster and fail sooner than later. Radio's future must morph into some online and social media, but also offer a solid oasis and alternative from all the online noise as well. Commercially, radio's future is tied up in how to generate income via social media and stay relevant at the same time.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _______?

Hearing music or NPR.

10. And the best advice you've ever been given?

When I was working at a radio station but wasn't sure about growing my hair for dread locs because of the image I thought it would set, a co-worker said, "Don't care about what somebody else thinks." That has stuck with me to this day.

How do you see your future?

I see myself in the mode of continuous discovery. I love learning about myself and those around me. I see myself passing along what skills I've been able to acquire while in the communications industry as well as learning today's communication styles from those students I'll be responsible for.