Terrie Carr
For the last year, Terrie Carr has been at the helm as Program Director of the legendary New Jersey Modern Rock outlet WHTG. Carr has a long lineage in New Jersey radio, getting her feet wet at a few AM stations before joining WPST/Trenton in 1986. In 1989 Carr left WPST for a gig at WDHA in North Jersey. She stayed there developing and perfecting her on-air and programming skills for 16 years until she left for a brief tenure at Sirius Satellite Radio. Realizing satellite radio wasn’t for her; she left and worked at WAXQ (Q104)/New York City until the gig at WHTG presented itself. FMQB caught up with Carr for a conversation about WHTG, or GROCK, as it is known today.
e-QB presents excerpts from the FMQB March Magazine Modern Rock Up Close featuring WHTG/Monmouth-Ocean PD Terrie Carr
On her biggest accomplishment since becoming PD… Obviously the only thing that really matters to me as a PD is what comes out of the speakers. With a more focused music mix and solid personalities that better fit our demographic… that’s truly the biggest accomplishment and the thing that matters the absolute most.
On revamping the WHTG website… Obviously a station’s website is their brand road map. Any radio station that is not moving forward with new technologies is doing their brand a huge disservice. We live and operate in a totally different technological climate than we did ten, or even five years ago. I want our listeners to continually be wowed by our site, use it and be entertained by its unique qualities. Obviously, as a PD, I want to maximize my station’s revenue generating opportunities for our sales staff. I would put GROCKradio.com up against any station in the country.
On the proximity of New York City, Philadelphia and Atlantic City radio stations… Obviously we need to be aware of our competition. When I started programming GROCK a year ago there were fewer stations in NY and Philly to share audience with! But consistency for GROCK is now the key. The station is now staying on course as the major markets continually change. My goal is to stand strong and brand strong. WHTG has amazing heritage.
On WHTG’s owner, Press Communications… The great thing about Press is they hire people to do jobs and allow them to do them! I have been incredibly lucky that Mike Fitzgerald our Director or Programming and Bob McAllan, our CEO, give me the autonomy to actually program a radio station! That is unheard of in today’s radio climate.
On maintaining WHTG’s legendary position as a new music outlet… GROCK must remain cutting edge. Finding new music that fits our brand is one of the best parts of my job and our music director, Matt Murray, is also super passionate and challenged by digging out those gems. Current music and breaking artists is a big part the station’s history and legacy. The key, however, is to maintain balance.
**QB Content by Michael Parrish**
Also in the March Issue:
Q&A with KPNT/St. Louis MD/Midday Host Scott Rizzuto
Scott Rizzuto, got his start in radio at WHTG/Monmouth-Ocean and WXRK/New York, and is part of a new breed of MD and airtalent that harkens back to an older age of radio – one of music ambassadorship and gut decisions. We recently caught up with him and got his take on the St. Louis Rock experience and what he’s learned in his travels thus far.
