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Charese Fruge’ (@MCMediaonline) Talks To Maddie Reis
September 6, 2022
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She is the next generation of radio! Maddie Reis proved that when I asked her last minute to fill in for someone on our “Talent to Watch” panel at Morning Show Boot Camp this year. She literally had no prep time and didn’t know me from Adam. But she rose to the challenge without any questions, and quite frankly ended up be a “star” on that panel. And truthfully, when I realized she could handle the tough questions, I pushed her a little and she knocked it out of the park.
Maddie Reis is the executive producer for “The Chet Buchanan Show,” which comes with a few different sub-hats. “I edit our podcast every day, but we chunk our podcast per bit,” she says. “The best bits of the day get an individual clip, and then we have an entire show version that gets posted as well. We average about 8-10 clips a day which has brought our downloads up since I came to Vegas.”
“I have been interested in radio since the time I could talk,” says Reis. “Starting back in middle school, we did this job shadow day, and for all 3 years I went to my local morning show “Giovanni and Kim” in the Morning and was hooked ever since. I moved into street teaming for WEEI in Providence and Boston around the age of sixteen and then had an internship at 103.3 AMP radio in Boston with The TJ Show. I graduated in 2020 and got the job working with “The Chet Buchanan Show” in 2021 which has taught me so much in just the year that I have been doing it.”
Despite having grown up in radio (Kim Reis, a near 30-year industry vet, is Maddie’s mom), Maddie has done the work to earn her place so far. Which is how she ended up being on the panel at Morning Show Boot Camp so last minute. I knew after just a few minutes of talking to her, she was going to move the needle on that panel. “My biggest accomplishment in radio so far was being asked to join the ‘Talent to Watch’ panel at MSBC!” she says. “Before that it was just getting the job in Vegas working for a solid heritage show. It has always been my dream to work in morning radio, so to get an opportunity like this in the beginning of my career has been a dream come true. Sometimes I literally have to pinch myself on my way in just to make sure it’s all real. Like…how did I end up in VEGAS!?”
Maddie’s quick rise to success didn’t come without challenges. “My biggest so far was coming into a producer role with only a 3-month internship under my belt. I sat down on day one and said ‘all right…you were born for this. Make it happen.’ And I have done just that. Some days are better than others, and like everyone else, I learn something new every day. I take each day as it comes, and handle what I can, and I ask questions when I need help. I am not afraid to ask questions because I know it is the only way I can grow and be the best that I can be. Every day brings a new challenge for me, but I face it head on and work on it until it’s done right.”
Maddie has great advice for other young women who want to make it in the industry. “Be confident and network. I knew that the passion I had for radio would drive me to the right places. I continue to work on making myself better by meeting people who can teach me new skills,” she says. “I will take every ounce of information given to me, and really focus on how it pertains to me and how I can execute what I was taught. Know that you are good enough and prove that. Do everything you can to make yourself valuable and it will come! Just don’t give up!”
During the Boot Camp panel Maddie made a comment that I think took a lot of seasoned programmers and talent by surprise, myself included. We all take for granted that “Cancel Culture” is just a pain in the ass political phrase used to manipulate people. But to Maddie’s generation, it’s a REAL thing, right? “Cancel culture is very real with Gen Z and a large portion of Millennials. I know a lot of people hate the idea, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” she says. “You need to realize that people are being held accountable for their actions more and more every day. There is more social media out there to capture those ‘bad’ moments and when someone like me sees someone being homophobic, racist, or just straight rude and inconsiderate, we don’t really give you a chance to gain that back,” says Reis. “Cancel culture has become a thing because it is like letting your true colors out. We see you for who you are, and a half-assed apology on IG isn’t going to change our opinions on you. We want to see active change and growth in people and if you’re not willing to do that, then we aren’t willing to care about you.”
So, I asked Maddie the million-dollar question. How can we capture loyalty, engagement and growth among Millennials and Gen Z? Especially in an industry in which survival depends on the growth of a younger audience? “HAVE FUN! BE SILLY! Don’t be afraid of looking stupid,” says Reis. “Make that TikTok with the viral sound. Jump around and act goofy a little. It’s ok to be silly! Just like our parents told us growing up…’it’s ok to get messy!’ We work in a FUN industry, so why make yourself this stiff person who never has any fun? Gen Z and Millennials like to see people having fun,” she says. “We live in a turbulent world right now, so we are always looking for a little fun in this world to crack a smile. And also, be active on your socials. Not just one post every few weeks. Go out as a show, run around your city, interview people, get engaged with them! We love seeing good people having a good time!”
Another big issue we face in the industry is the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion. I asked Maddie, “Have we moved the needle at all?” “I think the needle is moving. Speaking as an openly gay woman, I am a part of great team that has welcomed me with open arms,” she says. “By allowing people to be themselves, you open the doors to great opportunities, thought processes, and ideas. If we keep the same people in their position’s day in and day out, the world will grow without us, and we will be left behind stuck in our ways. Diversity and inclusion add a brand new way of thinking to each and every position in this world, not just radio. We were all made different, and we were all made special, so we need to use that to our advantage. Don’t be afraid of change! It’s a good thing!”
So how do we bridge the generation gap in the industry? “That’s a hard question for me because I have always been interested in radio,” says Reis. “I would say referencing things that pertain to other generations is the best way to do so, but also bringing someone on your show that is younger is a great way to do that. They are already surrounded by what their generation likes, so those who are older don’t have to completely keep up with all generational trends,” she says. “Your younger show member can teach you and keep you in the know, so you hardly have to lift a finger to obtain these current trends and events.”
So, what keeps Maddie up at night? “How am I going to afford things like a wedding, a house, and a future? I love my job, but I need to take care of myself and grow,” she says. “Everything is so expensive, and I work hard, but I don’t feel like I will have the same things my parents have had and everyone before them all because of money.”
“Also…aliens are 100% real, and I am always terrified that one day they are going to come here, and our government is going to show up with guns and bazookas, so they are going to go into defense mode as well,” says Maddie. “You’re going to tell me the pyramids were built just by human hands? I think something gave us the instructions on how to do so, but I don’t think we figured that out on our own.”
So how does she find balance? “I rely a lot on my fiancé Mae,” says Reis. “She makes sure I make time for me, and that we make time for each other. Working two jobs can be tiring, and sometimes I just want to stay in on the weekends, but she makes sure that we go out and enjoy ourselves. I live in frickin Vegas at 24 years old! I have to make the most of it,” she says. “But sometimes we just stay home, and binge watch any streaming service. We have made it through more than a fair share of series. Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Orange is the New Black (of course), Parks and Rec, Shameless…the list continues. But she helps me remember what’s important in this life, and that’s enjoying the time that we are given.”
As for what’s ahead for Maddie, she’s gonna stay busy. “I plan on taking a standup comedy class. I have a whole lot of content, but am struggling to put it together, so I am hoping to build with that,” she says. “I also want to grow more on social media and have a higher presence. I have a laundry list of opportunities here in Vegas when it comes to social media. I just need to make the time to execute them which I plan on doing since being back from Morning Show Boot Camp.”
Follow Maddie Reis @Producermaddie on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter
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