NAME: Dude
TITLE: MUSIC DIRECTOR
STATIONS: WEBN/CINCINNATI
MARKET: CINCINNATI - rank #26
COMPANY: Clear Channel
BORN: CINCINNATI - 10-01-1977
RAISED: CINCINNATI
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS: 1) Start as a morning show intern 2) P.T.
promotions 3) Programming ass. 4) A.M.D. 5) M.D.
1. What made you want to get into radio? Early influences? First
job?
I didn't want to bartend for the rest of my life, and I loved the
attitude of WEBN and the jocks. I knew that I would fit the bill if I
could just get my foot in the door. Once I got an internship I just kept
plugging away, re-alphabetizing the record library etc. Anything to just
be in the building.
My early influence was our morning show, the DAWN PATROL, EDDIE FINGERS
and BOB the producer. These guys are the best!
2. Who/what has given you your edge in your specific market?
The fact that we have been the Rock station in CINCINNATI for 34 years
means there's a lot of built up passion for the station in this town.
We just continue to build on that and keep ourselves fresh. We re-invent
the wheel every day!!!
3. What do you find is the most effective and interesting way to
reach your listeners while on the air?
Be in the studio, cut down on voicetracking, and have as many giveaways
as possible. Pre-sell a reason to listen to your show, air phone calls,
and interject anything that makes the listener feel like you are working
to entertain them.
4. Biggest changes in the industry you would like to see happen?
Closer relationships with the labels, cut back on voicetracking, and have
radio remember what fun is!!!!
Things are very competitive these days, but the best way to get ahead
is to stop worrying about things you have no control over and have fun
with the things that you do.
5. Any advice you could give to any less experienced up-and-coming
PD/APD/MD's out there?
Shut the fuck up and try to learn from those who know.
6. With web-based Internet radio becoming more popular, will these
stations have any affect on your listeners now or in the future?
Tough to tell. We will stay competitive with anything that comes into
our market -- it's not radio, it's EBN.
7. How do you feel about the current climate of music and what new
bands are you most excited about?
Rock is not dead, it just got easier.
I have my eye on DRY CELL, DEFAULT, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, HOME TOWN HERO,
TRUST COMPANY … there's a lot of good rock out there.
8. Does your stations website have any sort of "attention grabbing"
qualities to its homepage? If so, what is it, and how effective has it
been driving traffic to the site?
We have a separate domain for New Rock and our New Rock Program -- THE
RUBBER ROOM. There's a lot of good new rock news, and we work it into
the industry with a "RATE THE RUBBERBAND" feature. We also drive
traffic to our site with the in studio webcam, streaming audio, and all
the details for every contest that might be on-air.
9. Any advice for young up-and-coming label promoters new to radio
promotion?
Shut the fuck up and learn from those who know. Every radio station is
not the same.
10. Who are some of the superstar Record promotion people that you
work with?
JOEY SCOLARI -- HOLLYWOOD
JIM CROWE -- ATLANTIC
DAVE WATSON -- COLUMBIA
HOWARD LESNICK -- ELEKTRA
CHERYL VALENTINE -- EPIC
SUZANNE PERL -- UNIVERSAL
ROB TARANTINO -- INTERSCOPE
JOHN KULIAK -- SANCTUARY
AND A LOT MORE….
BONUS QUESTIONS: You are the remaining survivor on a remote tropical island with no chance for rescue. You have a CD/DVD player with endless power. What five CD's are a "must" to have with you? What five movies?
CD'S
LED ZEPPELIN - IV
PINK FLOYD - DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - MOTHERS MILK
G-LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE - YEAH IT'S THAT EASY
MOTLEY CRUE - GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS
THE DOORS - BEST OF
MOVIES
PULP FICTION
CAST AWAY
HAPPY GILMORE
BASIC INSINCT
ANYTHING WITH JENNA JAMESON