 |
|
|
|
SJ.COM: Tell us the history of WEIB. CC: I moved to West Mass in 1969 fresh out of college. My husband's career brought us here... And the first thing I did was search for a radio station in the area that I could connect with. There was nothing that work for me. So, being young and full of energy, I decided that I would look into radio station ownership. Now mind you, I didn't have two nickles to rub together. But I just knew that the community was not being serviced by the radio stations in the area at the time and I wanted to try to fix that. Long story short, by the time I got through the red tape (and there was a lot of it), I applied for a frequency from the FCC in 1984. Years and patience led us to signing on WEIB in 1999. We signed on with "God's Got My Back", a bluesy thing from Denise LaSalle, and two tracks from Gerald Albright. The format we are playing is called "Cool Jazz, Smooth Sounds and Touch of Soul"). It fills a niche in this community that did not exsist and has become the most diverse radio station in Northhampton!
SJ.COM: As the owner and manager of WEIB, are you also involved with programming? CC: We are in an evolutionary process with programming at WEIB... my passion is the music, so I love to have my hands in it. BS: Carol is cool -- She allows an environment where we can do the things we feel good about doing on the air. We fight some times, but we strike a really good balance in the end.
SJ.COM: What are you doing in your market that you feel is unique to the format? CC: What is most unique is the way we include "Soul" with our Smooth Jazz". Artists that may or may not appear on the chart like Prince, Brandy, India.Arie. The goal is to bring more people to the format. We also are having great success with our "win it before you can buy it "promotion. This promotes interest in new music and helps introduce music to the community that isn't necessarily mainstream. BS: In addition to offering high quality promotions, we are big on artist interviews. These show the human side of the music. I just did an interview this morning with Michael Manson and he was so open and honest about his life and his loses. It really drew listeners close to the man who makes the music. We also like to toss in an Adult contemporary Urban vocal every once in awhile, like Jill Scott and India and we are receiving a very positive reception.
SJ.COM: Are you able to bring in and/or sponsor Smooth Jazz shows in Northhampton or nearby? CC: We work with the local clubs and Tanglewood. We hope to try our hand at producing our own shows. But I really feel that artists should be more accommodating in this regard since we're a new station. We're playing their music and promoting it and they should be willing to help us out. Dave Koz played the area and didn't mention us. It felt like we've done everything for him (we play his show and his music) and he didn't do anything for us.
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? CC: We are eager to add to new music for our listeners. We always have to have new music and new artists to keep the format interesting. We listen to all of the music that comes out and if it feels right for our community, we play it. Our market (community) includes Southern Vermont, New Hampshire, and even Hartford, CT. BS: This format needs more new music -- It's one of the keys to growing the format and getting the new listeners, the younger listeners. We're not playing the songs on the charts as heavy as other stations so that we can accommodate the new music and introduce the new stuff.
SJ.COM: What artist(s) do you think will be the next core artist(s) (the next Rick Braun, Boney James, or Sade)? CC: Victor Fields comes to mind, so does Sherry Winston, Phil Perry, and Mike Phillips. BS: Rhian Benson and a woman named Goaple will be huge. Will Downing and Phil Perry... These folks are going to become core artists for Smooth Jazz.
SJ.COM: The major markets seem to be pretty narrow in their necessary criteria for adding new artists and new music... Is there anything to this deal of having to keep the music just so, so that they don't lose their large audience? BS: The majors are buying listeners with their promotions and it as nothing to do with the music. They wouldn't lose listeners by playing new music. Take Acoustic Alchemy for example, they are sounding so fresh right now, and their new sax player,Eddie M, is off the hook, but a lot of the majors are neglecting their new music.
SJ.COM: What's the best way for a new Smooth Jazz artist to develop their career? CC: Oh my, it is so difficult to get radio airplay as radio station ownership becomes more and more corporate. I would suggest that new artists appeal to the smaller or independently owned stations that can help them get their foot in the door.
SJ.COM: How do you utilize Internet presence to further your radio station's image and your programming? CC: You can listen to WEIB on the Internet... We get listeners from all over the world.
SJ.COM: What was the last live show you caught? CC: Karrin Allyson @ the Iron Horse in Northhampton.
SJ.COM: What's in your CD player (home or car)? CC: Kirk Whalum - The Gospel According to Jazz - Chapter II
SJ.COM: Outside of radio, are you an enthusiast for anything else (wine, golf, movies, etc.)? CC: I love to cook when I find the time. I collect cook books. I also like to read motivational and spiritual books. I make it priority to get focused early in the morning (5 am) and to take some time for myself to meditate. |
