DJ Buck may be a quiet guy off air, but as PD/Morning host of CBS Radio’s WZMX, Buck and his staff are making some serious noise in the Hartford market. Under his leadership Hot 93.7 has become Hartford’s #1 choice for Hip-Hop and R&B!
DJ Buck
In 1998 DJ Buck caught the attention of former WWKX (Hot 106)/Providence PD Jerry McKenna while spinning in the clubs. He also hosted his own Hip-Hop show at Rhode Island College. Buck would become a mixer for HOT 106 and within two years he was promoted to Program Director and hosting afternoon drive on his home town radio station. By 2003 CBS Radio execs took notice of Bucks success and recruited him for an APD opportunity at a new Hip-Hop and R&B station in Hartford. By 2004 Buck was named Program Director at WZMX (Hot 93.7) and has been the driving force and face behind the success of “Hartford’s #1 for Hip-Hop and R&B” ever since!
eQB presents excerpts from the November FMQB magazine
Rhythm Up Close: WZMX (Hot 93.7)/Hartford PD DJ Buck
“Funny thing is I started out just spinning at friend’s house parties and trying to make it in the rap game when Boogie Down Productions and Eric B & Rakim ruled the streets. I remember as a kid asking myself what the radio would sound like in the future. Not knowing that radio was my future.“
“The hardest part about being a morning show host and programming a station is knowing that from 6 to 10a.m. you’re a jock and not the Program Director.“
“I think Hip-Hop has an identity crises. This music has been used and abused by so many people and now it’s hard to define Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop has sold cars. Hip-Hop has sold Burgers. Hip-Hop has been used so much to do so many things because it became popular music. It was never meant to be the popular music.“
“There are still good Hip-Hop songs out there and it will evolve into many types of Hip-Hop just like rock did. Hip-Hop may have peaked but the elements of Hip-Hop will take different genres of music to the top.“
“Our mix shows add the spice to the station. It picks you up and breaks up the day. We still understand we need to play the hits, but when it’s mixed up with the future hits and the classics with a little personality. People will talk about what you did in that mix show the next day.“I want to do something that stays with you and leaves a lasting impression. Same thing with my Reggae mix show. I understand I have the third largest West Indian Community in the country so we have a reggae mix show. “
“Some of the artists that excite me are Nicki Manaj, Wiz Khalifa, J.Cole and Miguel. These artists have a lot of potential and could be the next generation of stars if they are fully developed and taught about what it takes to be a star. A few of them took the Internet by storm and had a fan base before they came to the label. With that being said, they still need good artist development.“
“Our ratings reflect a strong connection with our listeners. It’s not just the music and the free tickets or shows. It goes beyond that. It’s the listeners feeling like they really know the personalities. We do the same things they do. We go through the same problems they do. It’s that connection that makes us seem like we are part of that community that listens.“
“Always be willing to learn and understanding that there’s more than one way to get something done. Learn as much as you can about what makes your station run. Be willing to adapt to new technology and methodology. Winning radio changes every day and they need to be on top of it.“
“The best advice was from Steve Salhany who stole it from Jay Stevens (laughs). ‘You can’t fake it. Always be you and never fake the funk. Listeners can see right through it.”
** QB Content by Bob Burke **
