The Infinite Dial

Name:
Tommy Chuck

Current title/position/company:
Program Director WFLZ Tampa, OM Clear Channel Format Lab CHR Channels

How did you get your start in radio?
I was one of the lucky ones born into the business. My dad and uncle operate WEMB and WXIS in Erwin, TN. I did my first board shift at age 7 pressing buttons for a Major League Baseball broadcast.

What are your career goals?
Director of Programming for a major radio broadcast company

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Coaching air talent and developing the game plan. In my second life, I'd love to be a high school basketball coach.

What are the biggest challenges ahead for radio, from your perspective?
STEP 1: Getting the entire Programming Department to ask for, listen to and actually ACT on feedback from the audience regarding content they are interested in listening to between the music.

STEP 2: Getting comfortable with the fact that doing so will probably mean making uncomfortable changes to historical "radio fundamentals."

What have you learned that you would most like to pass on to your fellow under-thirty-somethings?
When you are young and handed power, it's easy to get a big head. Remember, that we are lucky. Don't spoil it by being a jerk to people.