The Infinite Dial

Name:
Romeo

Current Title/Position/Company:
Music Director/Nights
WHTZ New York
Clear Channel

How did you get your start in radio?
I started at age 15 at WKYN in St. Mary’s, PA running weekend overnight PSA's. I am very grateful for Bob Stevens who sprung me out of the record store I was working at to do radio. He would come in the store and buy the entire product for the station. It was an unrated market with no label service. Apparently he liked "my ear" as many of my recommendations made it on the air. I later became APD and mornings a few years later. From there I spent time in Erie, PA; Johnstown, PA; Nashville, TN; Salt Lake City, UT; Detroit, MI and 6 years now in New York, NY.

What are your career goals?
To stay at Z100 as long as I can! No, really, I'd love to own a small market station someday. Much like job Stevens did years ago in St. Mary’s, PA. I would be the GM/ PD /APD/ MD/ GSM/ LSM...and probably the morning guy. I would also love to consult radio and travel the country working with clients.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
The feeling I get when driving home every night past the Statue of Liberty. I love hearing records we just added for the first time in my car. I don't think I could be truly happy in any other industry. Radio is my life and I love life.

What are the biggest challenges ahead for radio, from your perspective?
Adapting to the technological advances of the user. We have done a fine job at Clear Channel implementing our own mobile service and social networking websites. We now have the ability to text message a listener exactly when their request will play- how cool is that?!?!? With our social networking sites listeners can be more involved with the station than ever before on a one on one level. As long as we continue to grow with the user, we should be fine.

What have you learned that you would most like to pass on to your fellow under-thirty-somethings?
Never stop learning. Absorb every piece of information that passes your way. Ask a lot of questions. Know who your audience is. Study them from head to toe and deliver them quality entertainment. You can never know enough about your target demo- spend time with them every day!