10 Questions with ... Scotty Hart
TITLE: President/General
Manager
MARKET: Nassau-Suffolk
(#18)
COMPANY: Pine
Barrens Broadcasting, Inc.
BORN: August
1st, 1962
RAISED: Smithtown,
Long Island, NY
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LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Always worked in Radio or Television.
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Have always been very happy with my career choices.
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
"Watching Scotty Grow" by Bobby Goldsboro (Yikes!).
FIRST CONCERT:
Styx /Kansas double bill at Jones Beach.
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
Beatles
1. How did you become interested in radio?
Growing up to Musicradio 77 WABC! 'Nough said.
2. How did you start-up WLIX-LP?
Like all interested applicants, I applied for the license in 2000,
and after years of MX issues to resolve and other FCC paperwork to
be filed, received my Construction Permit in 2005, and began
broadcasting on August 15th, 2005.
3. You recently expanded the coverage of RadioX with a
second and third signal. What is the impact of each signal?
My original low power station's signal covers eastern Brookhaven
township and Western Riverhead township. The Translators increased
my signal to include the remaining western half of Brookhaven
township, all of Smithtown, Islip, and Babylon townships, and the
eastern half of Huntington township! Population potential went from
about 100,000 to 1,000,000 with the inclusion of the translators!
Nice!
4. How have you marketed the station?
With WLIR selling off its Alternative/New Wave station in Nassau
County, and WXRK in New York recently changing to a "FM
Talk" format, the choice seemed obvious. We are now Long
Island's only "Alternative Rock" outlet.
5. What was the reason behind your slogan "Radio For The
Rest Of Us?"
Honestly, I drive up and down the coast on I-95 frequently between
Long Island and Florida. In Charleston South Carolina, I heard an AM
talk station using the line "Talk Radio For The Rest Of
Charleston." They are part of the Air America Network. Anyway,
I liked the line so much, I figured why not change a few words
around and there ya go! It really simply says we are a radio station
for anyone that has been abandoned by the corporate radio machine.
Community Radio with an edge!
6. What is your biggest challenge?
Getting the radio audience back! Today's radio has gone so far over
the edge with super tight playlists and endless stop-sets; it has
driven many people away from the medium. RadioX's challenge is to
get the younger audience away from the I-Pods, and the older demos
off CDs and Satellite Radio. It's a radio re-build in progress. We
are here to also offer true community radio back to a rather large
and congested market. No easy task with easily over 100 stations to
choose from on the FM and AM dial. Long Island's location is very
unique with radio signals not only from Long Island, but New York
City, New Jersey, Upstate NY, and Connecticut.
7. What would surprise people most about RadioX?
Our huge playlist! Right now we have over 1300 songs in rotation,
and the list continues to grow! We feature predominantly 90's to
today, and since we never repeat a song till the list plays through
in its entirety, you could easily go four days before any song
repeats! As you can imagine, no need for "Selector" here.
Just set the PC based playlist in repeat mode and let 'em play. When
adding songs, we rely on our ears and listeners when deciding what
songs air or don't. We never look at a single chart, nor play that
silly "testing" game."
8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without
________?
CAFFEINE.
9. Biggest change that you'd like to see in the business?
More diversity in radio station ownership by cutting back the number
of stations a single corporation or group can own and operate. And,
really listening to your audience. I have found in my travels, many
stations do not take their audience very seriously when they offer
programming suggestions or song requests. I believe that is an
ultimately grave mistake.
10. What career path would you be following had it not been for
this industry?
Probably Meteorologist or Professional Mountain Biker!
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Extreme Sports (Mountain Biking, BMX, MX etc.), Storm Chaser,
Electronics, record/CD/DVD collecting.
©
Copyright 2006 The All Access Music Group
