Tom Naylor known to most simply as “Jammer,” is loving life on the Bayou as he oversees programming for Entercom’s Top 40 WEZB (B97) in New Orleans, a city that’s finally come back to life after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. His passion for great radio has helped to keep B97 as the market’s #1 choice for “All The Hits!”
Tom Naylor known to most nowadays as “Jammer,” is one of the industry’s most fervent radio guys. So much so that he once went by the nickname “Mr. Radio” while working in the promotions department at his very first radio station, WIOQ (Q102) in Philly. He learned a lot at Q working under some great programmers and a staff that was committed to delivering winning renegade radio. So it would come as no surprise that Jammer would eventually end venturing into the programming side of radio. His stops along the way have included WWKX/Providence, WEDJ/Charlotte, KWWV/San Luis Obispo, KYLZ/KKSS/Albuquerque, KWID/Las Vegas, WABB/Mobile and WZOK/Rockford.
These days, Jammer finds himself back in Bayou. He had spent time during the mid-90s at KHOM (Mix 104.1) and is now overseeing programming at Entercom’s Top 40 WEZB (B97)/New Orleans, a city that’s finally come back to life after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, and he’s programming with the same passion he’s had since day one.
eQB presents excerpts from the November FMQB magazine
CHR Up Close with WEZB/New Orleans Tom “Jammer” Naylor
“If you were to come visit New Orleans and take a taxi or shuttle from the airport to a hotel in the French Quarter you would never know Katrina happened. The effected parts of the city are off the Highways and tucked away in the many neighborhoods like New Orleans East, 9th Ward and many other areas which are still struggling to rebuild and re-populate.”
“Entercom has been great, you create your plan, set it in motion, follow the rules and everything works out great. Entercom has been nothing less than amazing! From top down this is a very well run company.”
“It’s great when you can’t find room for many songs that you know will be hits instead of searching for songs that are very questionable. Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and a few others have done wonders for Top 40 in 2009!”
“I am always out at different spots in New Orleans checking out what songs are hitting the emotional button with people. It’s kind of like non scientific music testing.”
“I can’t speak for any other radio stations, but I will tell you we at B97 use our research as a tool and not a rule for the most part.”
“We have to make our product even more compelling and give the audience reasons to (1) Turn us on and (2) Remember us!”
“You should always remember this is a business. Respect for your staff and other employees are a must. Communicate with your SVP, GM, Sales Manager and staff. And most of all GET A LIFE! You need a balance of work and home.”
”PPM is showing us market by market that radio is still dominant. Top 40 was built upon playing the hottest hits over and over again. As long as we do what’s expected from us by the audience and not make it complicated we will be fine.”
** QB Content by Bob Burke **
”These days, people want to find an escape any way they can, and if you’re running with zero local talent, then you truly are the only one listening.” Hot Shots
Sean Kingston, Colbie Callait, We The Kings, Kaci Battaglia, Bon Jovi
