June 17, 2022
Who was your first or most memorable early record rep encounter and what were the circumstances?
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Brian Mack, iHeartMedia: I don’t recall who was first, but I do remember a string of first experiences. I worked with them all, attended their weddings, they attended my engagement parties, etc., most of them are friends for life.
Rich Davis, KDWB: The one record rep who left a lasting impression on me from the beginning was Bobbi Silver. She’s the penultimate record rep in my opinion. I remember being on the phone with her Allentown and I would need product for something, and the joke was always, “Bobbi I need 25 CD’s of this artist and I’d hang up the phone and the delivery guy would be there in minutes.” She was always so on top of everything. R Dub! Z90/Magic 92.5: Michael Lieberman with Red Ant. The song was “Lately” by Divine. Still a Sunday Night Slow Jams banger and Mike’s still a good dude! I also remember spending time quality time with Greg Marella in the 90s, however, I swore I would never divulge any details. Big Rob, KKPL/KMAX: Long before I was an MD, I was doing promo for Clear Channel in Denver. I can’t remember who I met first, but I loved Jeff Marks and Jesse Flohr right out of the gate. Was lucky enough to work with them as an MD a few years later. I still work with Jeff almost 20 years later, he’s one of the best! Fish, WKRZ: Bobbi Silver! She was one of those reps that truly “got it.” Bobbi understood that she was there to support the station. It was never about her, it was always about, “What do you need, what can I do for you?” It was all about fostering a positive relationship. To this day she still reaches out to OD and I every time the ratings come out. Unfortunately, they just don’t make reps like her anymore. Jonathan Shuford, WRVW: James Marsh and Nadia Canales at a Paramore show in Dallas. I remember about 30-minutes of that encounter!
Jana Sutter, WXXL: Hard to beat when Scot Finck of Hollywood Records takes you to Zia‘s home for homemade meatballs. When your work family becomes true family…it’s the best feeling. And still the best meatballs I’ve ever had! Lee Abrams, mediavisions: The most memorable one was as a gofer at WQAM, I got invited to a record company lunch and thought that was cool. Don’t remember who but was impressed by free lunch and free records. Terri Ray, WKLT: I don’t remember the first. But Brent Battles with Warner Brothers was one of my favorites! If you looked up “someone who is incredibly good at their job” in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Brent Battles. He now owns his own promotion and artist development company these days called further.music. Dom Theodore, Radio Animal Media Strategies: I remember Brenda Romano did my first promotion with me. It was for MTV Spring Break. I don’t remember exactly what song it was, but Brenda is still a friend all these years later, as is Chris Lopes. |
Randi West, WRMF: I’ve killed way too many brain cells for this question. However, my most memorable rep interaction in recent years was a giant map that Joe Daddio of RCA brought for his presentation when I was in Raleigh.
Mike O’Donnell, WKRZ: The earliest memories are when I was at WRZE in Cape Cod and with Rod Stevens of Interscope and Paul Barrette of Arista. Rod was great, he worked hard and played hard! Paul was just a great guy. We always used to play music trivia and had a blast competing. When I came to KRZ my favorite rep was Bobbi Silver. I always loved how she answered the phone, “Promotion!” The one thing I always loved about Bobbi, at the end of here pitch she’d always say, “Now what can I do for you?” Whether I needed anything or not, I always held that high in regard. Rick Vaughn, KENZ: When I was at KGGI in Riverside early on in my career, I had some pretty memorable record nights in LA. Valentine, WBHT: First cool encounter was a tag-team luncheon with Kesley Ditullio and Shama Patel. It was first my real industry encounter.
Bob Patrick, WXLK: Joe Daddio at a Britney Spears show in Atlantic City. He was supposed to send me my backstage pass and lanyard after the show was over so I could keep it in my box o’ memories. I’m still waiting for it. Toby Knapp, WASH: Due to the statute of limitations, I wish to invoke my Fifth Amendment Protections at this time.
Adam Rivers, WKCI: My first week at WKCI we had Ed Sheeran come in for a lounge with Lou Rizzo. Talk about a way to set high expectations. Jon Zellner, iHeartMedia: First record rep encounter was in 1990 with (Columbia rep) Jerry Blair and (Program Director) Stef Rybak at KC101 New Haven when I was interviewing for the job at KZZP Phoenix (Stef hadn’t started yet). Jerry ordered some deli and worked us both on “Step By Step” by New Kids On The Block. Elise, WPLW: Definitely Lindsey Martin from Atlantic. She’s very hands-on, always available, always taking care of business for us and visits quite frequently.
Buster Satterfield, WIOQ: I remember the first being our Interscope rep in Detroit coming in and playing us the new Eminem with 50 Cent & Dr. Dre “Crack a Bottle” which was a pretty big deal at the time in 2009. Max Volume, KOZZ: Rock Dibble, Atlantic Records. Ratt. |
Kobe, WURV: As an intern I met so many while having absolutely no clue what they really did or high how up they were. I recall meeting Erik Olesen when he was a national at Def Jam. I got his card when he visited, and I literally just called him up to talk about how I loved the new Jay-Z. Not knowing how high up he was, he took the call and we chatted for a bit and still are good friends today. I think he liked how innocent and pure my passion for music was, while being oblivious to his status.
Matt Johnson, WPLW: I was 21years-old in Jackson, Mississippi, and didn’t know my ass from my elbow. I met Phil Poulos and instead of taking me to dinner he took me to the grocery store and showed me how to eat better. He was a personal trainer as well at the time and that guy really put me on a better path. Java Joel, WHBC: Might have been Jeff Criden who was with Warner Brothers. Definitely my first “record lunch”. When I was APD/MD at the old Kiss 102 in Utica NY, early 1996. I THINK one of the songs he was pushing was the follow-up to the Goo Goo Dolls‘ “Name”. Maybe “Long Way Down?” I was super young and green. Jeff was great. Continued to service me when I left Utica and went to an even smaller market. Thanks Jeff!
 Bobbi Silver receives an FMQB Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 in recognition of her outstanding career. DMS salutes a legend!
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Jeremy Rice, WXXL: 1986, Atlantic Records at 98PXY Rochester, rep was Marc Nathan, and I was a young intern, but he gave me the time of day and MAILED me an album from a group called Frozen Ghost. I thought it was way cool that a record rep took the time to send me stuff.
Drew Heyman, WHYI: Johnny Promo (Atlantic) had B.O.B at WPYO in Orlando. BOB was cool but I left there thinking “if radio doesn’t work, I’d totally be a Johnny Promo.” 10 years later, got the MD/Afternoon gig at WHYI Miami and get to work with Johnny Promo weekly. Full circle.
Tommy Chuck, WFLZ
Guy Zapoleon, Zapoleon Consulting: I had two of the best for my introduction to the record community. The late great Moe Preskell and the multi-talented Bill Pfordresher (who produced Ambrosia). I was MD at KRLA in Los Angeles (1978) and they both represented TK Records. No one else cared about KRLA because it wasn’t a R & R reporter. But Moe and Bill knew other stations in LA looked at KRLA and we sold records. The records were “Dance With Me” by Peter Brown and “What You Won’t Do For Love” by Bobby Caldwell. Here’s my first gold record. Thank you Moe and Bill for caring what that young MD thought about music!Next Week’s Question Of The Week:
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to the other side during your career?
e-Mail your responses to: jodorisio@deanemediasolutions.com or bburke@deanemediasolutions.com
