Dr. John Cooper, as he is known on the airwaves at WPYX/Albany, was born in Latvia and joined the Clear Channel Classic Rock outlet after a short stint on Broadway in Michael Jackson’s The Wiz. Well, that’s what it says on his bio page at pyx106.com. The reality is that Cooper has been working in the Albany market since 1977, arriving from just down the New York State Thruway where he started his radio career a year earlier at WOUR/Utica. Cooper’s 30+ years of experience in the market have led him to the OM slot for Clear Channel Albany where he oversees not only WPYX, but also Oldies WTRY, Talk WGY, Rock AC WRVE, CHR WKKF and Sports WOFX. Almost any programmer can discuss changes in radio over the past three decades, but only a handful can put it in perspective with one market as a frame of reference. FMQB caught up with Cooper for a one-one-one about WPYX and Albany
eQB presents excerpts from the October FMQB magazine
Rock Up Close with Clear Channel Albany Operations Manager John Cooper
John Cooper
“The actual 30th Anniversary was at the beginning of September. Over the course of the summer we tied in with several concerts…Rush, Kiss, and even Doobie Brothers/Chicago…and branded some of them 30th Anniversary Concerts. We have not done any special 30th Anniversary liners, but our Sales Department has actually sold many clients, who have spots running, on additional messages congratulating the station on 30 years of Rockin’ Capitaland…those sound very cool.”
“[The reason for success in PYX’s longevity] on the surface is very simple: A high profile entertaining Morning Show (Waking Up With the Wolf) and the best Classic Rock all day with engaging personalities. Our PMD host, Uncle Vito has been with the station for almost all of the past 30 years and is extremely well liked by the listeners. And I think the new guy on the station, Nikki Sixx, is familiar to all.”
“Another reason for the station’s success has been its ability to counter and overcome any competition that has been thrown our way. We have had terrific local management and staff throughout the years and over the last 10 plus years the resources that Clear Channel provides are unparalleled.”
“Our research has shown, over the course of time, that Capitaland listeners love a variety of classic rock but like everywhere else they want a steady diet of the upper echelon: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, ACDC, Skynyrd, Stones, Who, etc…so there are many titles from them in rotation.”
“If a core artist has something new out that fits, we will feature it, usually with a front sell or back sell or both, or utilize one of the many syndicated specials that folks like you guys put together. To run promos throughout the week for a Sunday evening album premiere special from one of our core artists is pretty powerful as is our web site. Clear Channel provides us with many album previews, sneak peeks, and more features that we can talk about on air and listeners can check out.”
“When you ask about the station’s success, community involvement is a key ingredient. Over 30 years we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for community organizations. We always attempt to have these fund raising activities entertaining in some way.”
“WGY and now WGY AM and FM features, hands down, the best talent in Talk Radio and when you couple that with the best news department in the market the content demands to be heard by as many listeners as possible. Making the move to simulcast was a natural.”
**QB content by Michael Parrish**
