How long have you been working here?
I've been here for about two years now.
Have you worked at any other radio stations?
Yes, I was at KSFM also here in Sacramento, I was at KKXX in Bakersfield and I've also been to KHZZ in Sacramento.
What made you decide to move to 107.9 or was that position just made available to you?
It was a culmination of things. I was actually going to school full-time and they had an opening for part-timers, so I applied for the part time position and got accepted over here. I worked my way up from part-time to full-time.
Who was open to?
They're open to anyone who's qualified.
This is a way to keep your skills fresh and be creative.
Did you start an internship at a local station?
Yes, I was morning producer for Mark S. Allen at KSFM.
Most enjoyable part?
There are lots of perks to this job. Your shift is only 4 hours, you play music, you get to talk to people on the phone, you get free CDs, you get concerts tickets, so there are lots of perks.
Is there a specific time period – shifts?
Depends on the station manager and how he schedules everyone.
And what does the station manager do?
He's my boss. He's in charge of hiring and firing the people who are on the air. He oversees a lot of the music that we play. He's pretty much the head of all the departments. Everything has to go through him, and get his okay. He's like, the radio station.
How did 107.9 The End get started?
It's a Top 40 Station. Stations are just born and they grow. Sometimes they wither up and die and sometimes they flourish. This is the way all stations get started.
Most memorable experience?
Most memorable experience? Well, the funniest experience was being backstage at Arco Arena and I was in the bathroom and someone saying, "Hey dude! I know you I know you!" And I had NO idea who it was and it was Dan from O-Town. He totally scared me. That was the funniest experience, but I think that the most memorable was meeting Britney Spears.
Most awful experience?
I don't think that there's awful experiences here. Sometimes you have to work seven days a week, so that's kind of a bummer. The job's really awesome, so it doesn't even seem like work. There really hasn't been an awful incident.
Who have you met through the station that you never thought you would meet?
Britney. I mean all kinds of celebrities, because you wouldn't normally run into those people on the street. There are lots of good hook ups for record companies, things like that. A couple of people that used to work here, now in charge of the San Francisco Demons for the XFL, so it's good networking. Lots of people, lots of things going on.
Who would you like to meet?
I'd really like to meet Tommy Motola, who's in charge of Sony. I would also like to hang out with The Backstreet Boys.
Do you ever get nervous anymore meeting celebrities?
No, I'm over it now. It's their job.
Disadvantages to working in this position?
I don't think that there are any real disadvantages. This is great exposure. This is a way to keep your skills fresh and be creative. I don't think that there are any disadvantages to working in this field.
Would you, personally, like to pursue anything other than this?
Probably thinking about...I'm looking into becoming a record representative.
Now to be an intern, do you have to be in college?
It depends on who you're interning for, what their policy is.
Everyone has their off days, so how do you handle that?
Just go with it. My whole philosophy is "Go with the flow." It's human nature. I mean, if you mess up on the air, you're like "Oh God, a hundred thousand people were just listening", but after a while, you just get used to it. You get used to the little things.
You can't give your friends, or anyone you know, connections?
No, and that's the number one question all the time: "Can you hook me up? Can you hook me up?" And I mean, contests are contests and those are really strict. If I get two of something for a movie premiere, then yeah, I'll let a friend go.
Random Questions
What kind of music are you into?Any specific genre?
I kinda like Matchbox Twenty, and boyband kinda stuff. Not so much 98°, but more like The Backstreet Boys.
Rod Stewart or Sting?
Sting all the way.
Bryan Adams or Don Henley?
Bryan Adams.
Bon Jovi – now or then?
Then.
Were you a child of the '80s?
Oh yeah. Not so much the hair bands though.
Making The Band or Popstars?
Making The Band all the way.
Survivor or Temptation Island?
Temptation Island. It's all about Mandy!
The Real World or Road Rules?
The Real World because Road Rules is lame.
MTV or VH1?
MTV.
|
BRUCE
ALLEN Owns Bruce Allen Talent and Management Agency based in Vancouver, BC, Canada; also has a music talk show called "Sound Off" in Vancouver that can be heard on The Fox.
| JULY 2000
|
How did your interest in music arise?
Bruce Allen: I was always a fan of music, but I was really catapulted forward in my awareness of music with the ascension of Elvis.
What interested you about the music business?
The phenomenon of music being able to excite an audience and allow people to release all of their emotions. To be able to develop artists who could elicit this type of response was very appealing.
Do you believe that you still have the same passion that drove you when you first started out?
My passion for a good song is the same. The business, however, is not as all-emcompassing as it once was.
What were some previous jobs that you held before this?
I was a sheet-metal worker, marine service attendant and a car jockey.
What personality traits must you have to be in this profession?
You must be agressive, compassionate and patient.
The music industry today is not about developing talent. It is about getting in and out quick.
How does it make you feel to be acknowleded as a legendary manager?
When it comes from my peers, very satisfying.
How do you discover, or make the decision to manage an artist?
I like to hear their songs, listen to their voice and see if they can handle themselves on stage.
How did the A&F company develop into what it is today?
It began as a booking agency only. However, when I was asked by Bachman Turner Overdrive to manage them, it became apparent that I needed a partner if I was going to hang onto the agency. I met Sam Feldman, who had a small agency in town, and I brought him in as a partner, while I concentrated on management almost entirely from that point on. Sam developed the agency into what it is today. The partnership is 30 years old.
Over the years, you've guided the careers of several successful artists such as Bachman Turner Overdrive, Loverboy, Bryan Adams, etc. Among the artists you represent, or have represented in the past, whose career are you most proud or most pleased with?
Bryan Adams, by far. Mainly due to the fact that he has achieved truly international success. He is one of the only artists in the world to really accomplish that. However, there were other reasons why I am also proud of what I did for others. BTO because they were first. And Loverboy because they proved it was no fluke.
Are there truly methods or stepping stones to success?
There are many ways to make it, but it all comes back to hard work.
Is there a genre of music you prefer over others?
I like traditional rock and roll, soul and rhythm and blues.
What are your top 5 albums?
They keep changing. Today they are: Astral Weeks - Van Morrison; Elvis - Elvis Presley; Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits; Live At the House of Blues - Solomon Burke; Soul Deep - Jimmy Barnes.
Top bands: Rolling Stones, Eagles, George Thorogood and The Destroyers, ZZ Top, Loverboy, Spinners, Isley Brothers, Drifters, Police and Aerosmith.
Top singers: Elvis, Van Morrison, Dwight Yoakam, Bryan Adams and Elton John.
Are you open to another person's opinion about music? For example, I was listening to your Sound Off show on CFOX in Vancouver and it seemed like you would need a lot of patience to hear other people's opinions on certain music issues
I enjoy musical discussions more than anything. They are enlightening and really have no solution. You like what you like.
What is your definition of music?
Words and melody.
What is your definition of talent?
The ability to possess a gift and elevate that gift above what others with the same gift have done with theirs.
A lot of new artists emerging in the music industry do not write/compose their own songs or even play their own instruments. Do you think this could be taken as an advantage/disadvantage/both/ neither?
I believe they are not true musicians or artists in the traditiional sense. Technology has elevated some artists further than their talent could have ever taken them.
What are your thoughts about the music industry today?
The music industry today is not about developing talent. It is about getting in and out quick. Acts are not nurtured – just exploited then discarded. It is not a musical exercise anymore, just a marketing one.
What does someone need to possess in order to achieve your status?
The belief that they can do it. That this belief will carry them through and people will eventually buy into what they are trying to achieve. However, one must also have the ability to change horses in the middle of the stream if something is obviously not connecting. You have to be a populist and a bit of a futurist. Vison is critical. Have your finger on the pulse. Don't get too far from the street.
|
KIM
BLAKE Currently works as a publicist at Bruce Allen Talent and Management Agency based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| JULY 2000
|
What interested you about the music business?
Mostly by how people that did something they loved could make a really good living. Plus, the process has always intrigued me.
Do you believe that you still have the same passion that drove you when you first started out?
Yes I do, but I've learned where to focus it! I know it because I still get goose bumps when I hear a great song or a great singer
What were some previous jobs you held before this?
Waitress, record store clerk, secretary, house painter, janitor and receptionist.
What personality traits must you have to be in this profession?
Infinite patience, a good sense of humor and the ability to function, at times, on very little sleep.
Technology has allowed talentless artists to make records that should never have been made.
As a publicist, what are your duties comprised of?Are there truly methods or stepping stones to success?
Absolutely. I think that anyone that believes in themselves and dedicates their time and energy into making something happen will be successful. You have to start small and appreciate all the effort it takes to get further along the road. Celebrate every step.
Is there a genre of music that you prefer over others?
I love a great singer, therefore, rap doesn't make me very happy. I tend to lean towards female vocalists, but great songwriting rules.
What are your top albums, top bands and top singers?
Court & Spark -- Joni Mitchell; Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboys -- Elton John; Lyle Lovett, Al Green's Greatest Hits.
Top bands: AC/DC, The Eagles and U2.
Top singers: Al Green, Bobby Darin, Bryan Adams, Martina McBride, Lucinda Williams, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.
What is your definition of music?
Words and/or a tune that can transport you away from wherever you are in a moment.
What is your definition of talent?
A voice or a song that is completely moving and unique.
A lot of new artists emerging in the music industry do not write/compose their own songs or even play their own instruments. Do you think this could be taken as an advantage/disadvantage/both/neither?
I think, through history, many great artists only performed songs -- they never wrote/composed them That didn't affect their appeal because they are/were truly talented. I don't think it's any different today. There's just more to choose from.
What are your thoughts about the music industry today?
I think that the technology that is driving our business to make it bigger and more accessible is also hurting it. Technology has allowed talentless artists to make records that should never have been made and saturated the market with a lot of crap -- it's tough to wade through and find the good stuff!
What does someone need to posses in order to achieve your status?
I don't necessarily look at my present situation as one that has status, but I think a positive attitude is an absolute essential.
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