Alex Tear was made for radio programming. His natural propensity to program is surpassed only by the diligence he applies to his craft. After several teeth-cutting years of Midwest radio, Clear Channel rewarded Tear with a cluster OM post in 2009, where he currently oversees seven Miami brands, as well as dabbling in a few CC national initiatives.
By Fred Deane
Alex Tear
Alex Tear spent his early programming years navigating around the Michigan secondary markets until his first major break in 1995 landing his dream gig as PD of WHYT/Detroit, the station he grew up listening to. After HYT became WPLT, Tear shifted to sister CHR WDRQ as PD. Clear Channel would eventually hire Alex to run its six station cluster in Pittsburgh including building 96.1 Kiss into the powerhouse CHR it is today.
In 2009, CC exercised its executive privilege and enlisted Tear to assume the position of OM of seven brands in Miami, a market that just might be the cultural opposite of the Midwest cities Alex was accustomed to. In addition to his Miami cluster duties, Tear is also involved with CC national initiatives like iheart Radio and Premium Choice.
eQB presents excerpts from the October FMQB magazine
Cover Story: Alex Tear, OM, Clear Channel Miami
“It’s just a matter of fully understanding the market needs just like every other market I’ve been a part of. There’s nothing like getting out and becoming a part of it. Learn from programmers past and listen to what everybody has to say, then digest that information and develop a strategy to provide amazing content that will compel, entertain and fit the market.”
“It’s important to take the time to understand each person and how they fit into the success of CC Miami. Once we understand each person’s strength we can maximize our strength as a team. I believe to be a ‘same page’ type of leader. There’s no time or tolerance for anything else.”
“I want to help create a great environment with our team leaders where the hallways are alive and people feel energized. CC Miami is a very prideful and passionate cluster with an amazing energy.”
“Leadership comes in many different forms and I believe it’s something you can’t teach. If you have that gene, it’s your obligation to grow and improve it every day. I aspire to have that skill. I’m surrounded by strong leaders who are accountable problem solvers. That’s simply a part of our DNA.”
“The future is bright for the programmers of tomorrow. What a diverse palate they’ll have to work with. Keep in mind we are no longer ‘radio programmers,’ we are content providers. If the programmers of tomorrow are mindful of using all mediums to provide something the people want, they will flourish.”
“I believe all of us got into this industry because we were creative, loved music and liked to entertain. The need for those attributes will never go away. I also believe it’s our obligation to give back, teach and assist with shaping our next generation. We need to listen and learn from the next gen. If we do a 50/50 mind share, we’ll all be just fine.”
“We are in the content creation and development business, and we really need to think through the monetization or exploitation of these platforms first. These platforms need to be respected for what they are. We can’t intrude in on the consumers or we will fail. Traditional sales methods may not be accepted in this digital world.”
“Primarily, let’s make sure we’re providing something people want, and then let’s be smart about selling it. Monetizing the social network avenue is fascinating to me. It’s a social network so people are looking to connect with other people and other peoples’ experiences, or share their own. It’s not necessarily an advertising forum.”
“Contemporary Hit Radio is very much alive. At this point in time we must cast a wide net and play a variety of hits to flourish in the PPM world. The more mass appeal you are, the more opportunities you create to capture a meter. However, you still need to focus on a specific demo and life group with common interests to really dominate.”
“I’ve been so very fortunate to date. It’s been a very passionate pursuit. So many great experiences and smart programmers I’ve been able to work with. I just want it to keep going. Every day I learn something new and am often reminded of something old. My goal is to continue growing with CC as long as they will have me. My full attention needs to be on the immediate task at hand and that’s making sure CC Miami rises above the rest.”
** QB Content by Fred Deane **
