Every young programmer dreams of moving to a major market to get his or her shot at programming a radio station. Jill Strada is doing just that, as part of two radio stations in New York City! As APD/MD of legendary Hip-Hop station HOT 97 and PD of heritage R&B sister 98.7 KISS-FM, Jill is lovin’ life and livin’ the dream!
Jill Strada
Becoming a successful woman in a male dominated business is by no means easy, but Jill Strada has proven that by treating others with respect, having integrity and working hard, success is an achievable goal. Jill started as an intern in the promotions department at WJHM (102 Jamz)/Orlando in 1996. That gig turned into a part time job as a Promotion Assistant. She then expanded her duties working on-air and as producer on the morning show. In 1999, COX Radio signed on a new Rhythmic station WPYO (95.3 Party) in which Jill was hired as the Marketing Director while hosting the midday shift. She would eventually move into the programming department.
By 2001 Jill had become the MD then later gained APD stripes. In 2004 as Acting Program Director she helped flip WPYO to a Hip-Hop station, Power 95.3, which would debut #2 18-34 in the Winter book earning her official PD stripes. By the Winter of 2006 she had taken the station to #1. Then in 2007 the call came from the Big City, to borrow a lyric from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, “concrete jungle where dreams are made of!” Ebro Darden, PD at Emmis’ WQHT (HOT 97) recruited Jill to New York City and named her MD and APD of the legendary Hip-Hop station. In March 2009, Jill was also named PD at legendary R&B sister station WRKS (98.7 KISS-FM). To say Jill Strada is lovin’ life would be a huge understatement…she’s just “livin’ the dream!”
eQB presents excerpts from the September FMQB magazine
Up Close: WQHT/New York APD/MD & WRKS/New York PD Jill Strada
“My challenges are similar, if not the same, as any Music Director, find the hits and play the hits. The biggest difference at HOT 97 is we start the hits. Many artist careers begin on HOT 97.”
“I have to keep an ear to the streets and have continuous conversations with my mixers to find out who and what is poppin’ out there and then strategically develop a plan to develop and support that new artist and/or sound.”
“Hip-Hop has evolved, it never died. It became Pop culture. It IS Pop culture. It dominates Pop culture right now. I loved Hip-Hop before it was played on FM radio. I loved the underground grimy Hip-Hop sh*t from back in the day, but the bottom line is, it will never be like that again. It doesn’t mean that it’s still not dope, it’s just different now. Hip-Hop became a business.”
“Hip-Hop has expanded and we just need to embrace its expansion. It’s all about change and accepting that nothing will stay the same forever.”
“We are going to celebrate our 30th anniversary next year on 98.7 KISS-FM! I am super excited! KISS is so legendary. It was actually the first radio station to ever play Hip-Hop music. We didn’t become the Hip-Hop station, obviously that was HOT, but we were the first to put Hip-Hop on the airwaves.”
”KISS-FM is moving into the next stage of the Urban AC radio sound. We are embracing those R&B jams from the 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s along with some old school Hip-Hop hits that my listeners grew up on.”
“Moving the station into the next generation of Urban AC radio is the stamp I am putting on KISS-FM. As a station, we cannot grow old with our listeners, we need to always remain relevant with our 25-54 demographic. KISS-FM is no longer talking to core listeners who grew up in the 70’s. We are talking to 80’s babies!”
“We can all play the same music, but how we present that music is what is going to determine the winner and the loser.”
“Meet and exceed your programming goals at your current station, work hard, and learn as many lessons as you can while programming in a smaller market. Be open to learning as much as you can about the other departments at your station. Also read books, go to seminars, conventions – whatever to continue to develop you as a manager and leader.”
“Your character will speak for itself, so maintain a well respected reputation. Treat others well because you never know who you will be working with, or for, next.”
** QB Content by Bob Burke **
