You'd be hard pressed to find someone who understands the radio industry as well as today's guest: Jay Nachlis from the Class of 1994. Like many of us, this San Francisco native came to Syracuse with plans of being the next great sportscaster. But as luck would have it, he fell in love with the music at WJPZ, eventually becoming the station's program director. In fact, he's the PD that first brought Selector music scheduling software to the station!
Jay tells us about the CHR landscape in the early 90's, including a very awkward situation when the station brought Naughty By Nature to a Syracuse club for an all ages show!
Today's guest spent 25 years in commercial radio - staring at Y94 in Syracuse, then crisscrossing the country with stops in San Francisco, Buffalo, Detroit, and Raleigh. Jay tells us about the lessons he learned at Z89 that served him well in radio, and in his current role as VP, Consultant, and Marketing Director at Coleman Insights.
We spend a fair amount of time at the end of the episode on radio's future. Will the industry reinvest in itself? What can it learn from the compelling content that's now on YouTube, from creators like Rhett and Link, and Mr. Beast? If you don't know who they are, Jay will blow your mind with what they've accomplished. In many ways, they're doing what radio stations have always done!
Radio is still being done well in many places though. Jay tells us about Jumpin Jeff Walker on KRZ in Scranton. He's been the afternoon guy since the 80's, but his content resonates just as much now, as it did then. We'll hear about one break in particular.
Jay admits that he stepped away from the WJPZ family for a few years, but now he's back every year. Hear why he calls the station "the gift that keeps on giving."
Referenced in this episode:
Jay's blog on Mr. Beast: https://colemaninsights.com/coleman-insights-blog/brand-management-lessons-from-mrbeast
Rhett and Link YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/user/RHETTANDLINK
Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTickets
The WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts
Want to be on the show? Email JAG at jag@jagpodcastproductions.com
Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/
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