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10 Questions with ... Tawala Sharp
January 3, 2006
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NAME:Tawala SharpTITLE:APD/MDSTATIONS:KKBT FMMARKET:Los AngelesCOMPANY:Radio OneBORN:Tanzania, in the 70'sRAISED:Pasadena, CA
Please outline your career so far:
*I started at KKBT FM Los Angeles when it was 92.3 the Beat in June of '96 and I'm still at KKBT FM Los Angeles now 100.3 the Beat today.
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
*Interning for night jock Julio G. from 6-10pm and at that time my only influence was the AMD Mariama Snyder.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
*I was in a Rap Group in 1993 - 95 called Base All Mighty that had a single called "Ain't No Party". After performing at the movie premier party for the "The Inkwell" I met then AMD Mariama Snyder who told me that she was feeling our single. I got her information and got our single to her. When she started playing it in the mix I discovered the power of radio and knew that I wanted to one day work at a radio station. I kept in contact with Mariama and after taking the necessary telecommunication classes I approached her and asked if she could help me get my foot in the door, which she did by offering me an internship. My first day there I fell in love with radio.
3) If you were just starting out in radio, knowing now, what you didn't then, would you still do it?
*Definitely...
4) Where do you see yourself and the industry five years from now.
*With all that's happening in the industry today I hope that it exists in five years.
5) What's your take on radio currently? Is it as good as six months ago, better, or about the same? Elaborate.
*I plead the 5th.
6) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
* "Work smarter, not harder".
7) What was the transition you had to make in your new position at KKBT?
*From my humble beginnings as an intern to my current position as the Assistant Program Director / Music Director.
8) Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?
*Calling people back...Although I'm pretty good at it there are times when I get caught up and it takes me a minute to get back at people.
9) How well do you think today's urban broadcasters really understand Arbitron?
*For urban stations like ours who understand that the major agencies all buy ratings we really understand it.
10) As you look back over your career ... any regrets? Missed opportunities?
*I don't have any regrets and I've seized every opportunity that has come before me.
Bonus Questions
What do you do with a song you don't like?
*Wait for it to develop a story that proves that it's a hit.
What's the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you? The worst?
*When I first started in radio I met Kevin Liles and he told me "work smarter not harder", and that's stuck with me my whole career.
Do you read.....everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What's your favorite reading material?
*I collect and read comic books weekly.
You just won the lotto and you have your boss on the line. What's the first thing that you would say?
*Now you know that I really love my job, because I'm only coming in because I want to.
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