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SJ.COM: How long have you been affiliated with the programming of WZMR? TD: Since April of this year. Prior to that I worked with Hot AC, Soft AC, Country... I did just about everything including sales, promotions, an assistant programming. SJ.COM: How long has WZMR been playing Smooth Jazz and how is it doing? TD: WZMR has been on the air for three years... All expectations are being met. Our challenges with the format are not unique to Albany. We are valued by ratings, yet our audience is a busy, on the go audience and just are not tempted by the $5 that they are compensated for answering Arbitron's phone survey. And I believe that the phone survey itself may be perceived as phone solicitation which is a big turn-off for our demo. My advice to programmers of Smooth Jazz in markets of our size is, don't get caught up on the ratings... A book comes out on a Thursday and you did so-so, but that weekend you fill a concert hall. My big thing around here is that we are targeting an audience that isn't interested in coupons, discounts or the traditional radio gimmicks. But they are listening and they are supportive of the station and our events. We worked with the city of Albany to produce the first Albany River Front Jazz Festival in September and between 6000 and 7000 people attended. We have Boney James coming this weekend and he's already sold out most of the venue (900 seats). SJ.COM: In your opinion, what's the deal with new music? Are you happy with the direction that the format is heading and what would you personally like to hear more of from the new stuff? TD: I was the first one to add Joan Osborne. I think it's good for artists to be universal in their music because it's good for business. The more formats that they appeal to the more records they sell. I think there are too many covers out there right now... "Groovin'", "Roll With It", "When The Morning Comes", "Who's That Lady"... I'm OK with playing a good balance of covers because it's my hope that when songs like, "When The Morning Comes" plays it will attract the younger audience. I try to follow up with a recognizable vocal behind it so that those listeners stay longer and maybe we'll hook 'em into the format. SJ.COM: What artist(s) do you think will be the next core artist(s) (the next Boney James, or Sade)? TD: Euge Groove; he's hip, classy, and cool. This format needs a shot of that kind of energy. I also really like Michael Lington and Jimmy Sommers. I was really hoping that "Fallin' 4 You", the follow up to Jimmy's "Lowdown" would have done well -- But not many stations played it. SJ.COM: If you could cross over any sound or artist into the format without concern of risking ratings, who or what would you introduce to Smooth Jazz? Why? TD: I would lean towards Triple A I guess. Some of the cool vocals like Julia Fordham ("Concrete Love") work very well in our Format. In our Sunday Brunch program we play artists like Bela Fleck, Everthing But The Girl, Bobby McFerrin... SJ.COM: What's the best way for a new Smooth Jazz artist to develop their career? TD: On Sunday nights at 10:00 PM we have a show that features a lot of local musicians and new artists. The show is hosted by Jim Barett, who was voted 'Best Local DJ' in Metroland (our local weekly). I would recommend that new artists find radio stations like ours that have special programming and submit their CDs to these stations. SJ.COM: How do you utilize Internet presence to further your radio station's image and your programming? TD: We send out personalize email each week inviting our listeners to enter to win our contests. We have a data base program that uses each recipient's name at the top of each not (i.e., "Hi Joe"...) I also include my return email address incase they want to respond I will answer each reply. For that matter, after 4 PM, when we go to tracking the station, I forward the studio line to ring to my phone so that I can personally get back to people with song information. On our Website, we have links to local events and venues so that our listeners can obtain information about upcoming shows and purchase tickets. SJ.COM: What was the last live show you caught? TD: Will Downing at the Egg (the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in downtown Albany). SJ.COM: What's in your CD player (home or car)? TD: The new Michael Lington. SJ.COM: Outside of radio, are you an enthusiast for anything else (wine, golf, movies, etc.)? TD: I have a thing for really bad television... I've got to give a lot of credit to the kids around here who have shows on the public access channel. SJ.COM: Anything else you'd like to tell us: TD: Just that WJMZ is the only outlet for this kind of music in our area -- when I try to get an artist to come to town and they won't work within our budget it's very frustrating. I continue to support their music but they don't support the station. I think the unwritten rule, 'take care of your own', should apply in this case. |
