How I Transitioned From College Radio to Commercial Radio

Story timeeeeee!

A lot of younger women (college girls) who follow my personal accounts always reach out to me for advice on how I did "it". The "it" they refer to, is how I made the leap from college to commercial radio. So, I decided to sit down and write out my journey, plus, add-in lessons and tips that I wish I would've known back then.

I started radio on a whim. I originally went to school to become a television reporter. At my school, you can't even get on the television without taking required classes. I was impatient.

So, after taking some tests, I began a shift at my college radio station.

The radio station is a big deal at my college, especially if you're in J-school.  So having my shift was amazing. I loved music first, and then fell in love with the art of radio. It got to the point where I would base my school classes around my radio schedule ( it's silly - don't do that) 

My friend (Champ) would tell me all the time, "Nobody outside of college radio, cares about college radio." At this time, my show was doing really well and I just thought he was being rude. But I should've listened.

In Fall 2014, I was set to graduate in December (finally). In September, I went to talk to my professor at the time and he told me I should start applying to radio stations. So, I looked at a map of southern states, and for each state I would google small towns and then the hip-hop stations in the small town. I would find out who their Program Director was and e-mail them my resume and air-check. I probably e-mailed over 50 Program Directors and I got ALL no's back. I was shook. They either told me I had no experience or they were not hiring at the time.

December comes and everyone in school was like "What're you doing after graduation, I know you have BIG plans." Ha! If they only knew. I graduated and continued to work at the wing spot in Tallahassee. I was depressed. People were moving on and starting their careers. My family would ask how the job search was going and I couldn't say anything, because it wasn't going anywhere.

I decided to HUMBLE myself.

I went back home to try and intern at a station in a nearby town. I went in for the internship interview and it lasted six hours.No lie. It was an Urban AC station, but it skewed higher (think of the music your grandparents may enjoy). The owner, Alice Lee, asked me who my favorite artist was. In my head,I'm thinking Gucci Mane, but I say, Earth,Wind,and Fire. 

She then told me she didn't want me to intern for her, but she wanted to hire me as her assistant.

Sidenote: Mrs.Alice Lee, is the only African-American woman in the state of Florida who owns a radio station. She's the epitome of a girl boss.

Not only did she hire me, she gave me my first shift that same night. A guy had called out sick, so I filled in - talk about FREAKING OUT. But I did it, nervous, shaky hip-hop voice (know your audience) and all. She even came in the room and told me to be 'cool'.

When she was away, I was the person in charge, which was intimidating because everyone was so much older than me.

Mrs.Lee was confident, which made me confident about my work and leadership abilities.

I later left and went to a new hip-hop station in West Palm Beach, Fl & then I took a job in Tuscaloosa,AL doing Urban AC as an on-air talent/Assistant Program Director - those are stories for another day.

But, I want to let you in on some lessons you need to learn quickly:

1. That period of time between graduation and getting a radio job will make a warrior out of you. You can either live up to the challenge and get creative, or get another career. No choice is wrong, but it comes down to passion.

2. Taking pictures with celebrities that come to campus and interview with you is cool, but don't put so much emphasis on that, they CAN'T help you get a job.

3. Get an internship in your college town or when you go home for the summer. Even if it's not in the genre you "like", it still counts as commercial radio experience.

4. Make genuine connections with people who are in the job that you want. You never know who other people know, and how they can help you when your time comes. 

5. You're going to lose sleep,money, and friends - it's okay, that's life. The good always outweighs the bad in this industry. It gets greater later.

6. As long as you want it, work hard, and humble yourself - anything can be yours in due time.

7.  There are no "rules" or "right way" to getting into radio, everyone has a different story.

8. Ask Program Directors to listen to your air checks and give you feedback on how you can improve. (Your friends are always going to say you sound "good". but what does that really mean? Nothing.)

9. Learn all the roles at the radio station. This comes in handy when someone is out, you don't have to depend on them to get things done.

10. Patience. This is the biggest lesson of all. Not every opportunity you receive is a good opportunity ( after you live through it, you'll totally understand)

Cheers and good luck!

What They Don't Tell You About Following Your Dreams

My journey started 10 years ago, and is still going strong. A DECADE in radio!! Crazy. I
still remember that eager girl who was hungry to learn everything she could about
radio. I was in broadcasting school when I landed my first internship in the
production department…that later turned into a morning show intern (where I fell
in love with mornings)…and later into a part time promotions assistant position.
Nobody teaches you how to balance, that’s a skill you grow into. You are either
hungry for it, or you’re not. I wanted to absorb every opportunity thrown at me and
ask as many questions as I could. I knew what I wanted, and knew I had to hustle my
way to the big picture.

Finally, after hard work, holding down internships, jobs, and wrapping up school, I got my big shot. I’ll never forget this day, July 4th 2010. The day my PD, Byron Harrell asked me to cover an overnight shift for someone. I think I about passed out after he asked me. This was it, my shot at finally doing radio part time in Detroit! I was doing it! After a year of being on air in Detroit, it was time. Except one thing, I didn’t want to move out of the Detroit area. Big problem. If you want to TRULY make your dreams happen in radio, you have to relocate. I had a
radio sister, Roxanne Steele (now at WYCD in Detroit) push and encourage me
EVERY weekend to send material out. So, I finally did…..
My Father passed away in 2011, after a long battle with multiple sicknesses. It was
the perfect time to pick up and go after this vision I had. You know that feeling of
working towards something and it just FEELS right? All the stars are aligned? That
was Vermont. The first big shot as a full time radio personality. I had NO clue what I
was getting myself into. There is no “how to guide” on moving to a new city alone to
chase dreams. Moving to Vermont? All I knew, they were home of the maple
syrup. Seriously. I wanted this plan to launch. I worked hard. I matured in Vermont.
Grieved my Father, dealt with work challenges, worked through a lifelong battle of
self confidence issues, culture challenges, I was BROKE, tired, hungry for success,
questioned what the hell I was doing, almost walked away about a hundred times,
and the list goes on. It was the most rewarding 4 years (and a half) of my life. I
discovered who Amber truly was. I transitioned from what I thought others wanted
me to be, to discovering exactly who I was.

Fast forward to today. The dream of having my own morning show is now a reality. I
had no “how to guide” on being a solo woman in morning drive. WHAT?!!!! I
remember driving from Vermont to Indiana with all of my things crammed in my car
thinking…what…did…I…just…agree….to? All I knew was the vision I had for my
morning show. BIG thanks to Laura Daniels (Morning Host at Mix in Buffalo) for
giving me great starting out advice. This required a new chapter of growth. Holding
a conversation with yourself, feeling confident about it, and praying people would
enjoy you. I’ve now been in Fort Wayne two years. I am standing in my truth, and
discovered my voice. Time. Patience. Trust. All things needed to stay a float in this
business. Nothing great happens overnight. Ever.

I’ve learned some hard, yet soul filling lessons in my career so far. I want to leave
you with these final thoughts…..Stay humble. This business is filled with egos, don’t follow that trend. Remember
where you started. Stay hungry. Stay in a place of gratitude. Never think this
business owes you anything. Work hard. You WILL be alone. You WILL feel alone.
You WILL lose touch with people who aren’t meant to be with you on this path. Your
dreams will morph into something more than you could have ever imagined, if you
allow the flow of life to happen. You WILL be broke, like eating out of Hot N Ready
pizza boxes for a week I hope I don’t overdraft broke. Never chase the paycheck,
chase the vision. Give back. Find a strong support system to help you when you feel
low. Trust in yourself. Stay confident, this business can swallow you up if you allow
it. Most importantly, believe in yourself. You’ll have moments where you think
you’re crazy for chasing this “thing” you see playing in your mind over and over.
Only you know what you’re capable of accomplishing. One last thing, love what you
do. I hope this inspires you to stay motivated and focused on your vision. If nobody
else around you believes in you, be your own role model.

Go get it gurl Xo

Always Take The Opportunity Over The Security

“I can’t pay you.. but you can ride with me..” is that a promising statement for a potential new career or opportunity? H-ll-the-f--k-no.

But it’s what separates those that only want to be around based on what you can do for them, rather than what they can make happen for themselves.

Hi, by the way, I’m Ashlee. Most know me as “Ashlee On-Air,” my coy radio and Instagram/Twitter handle that rolls off the tongue while I’m speaking on the radio. Oh, yes, I’m a radio jock and the Program Director of said radio station which I speak on. I’m also a Gemini, enjoy adventurous outdoor escapades – and currently on a Dave East wave.

At 28, I’m the youngest Program Director in my entire company (iHeartMedia).. yes, THAT iHeartMedia, the one that puts on the Award show, the festivals and pretty much owns every single radio station across the United States. I am one of a handful of black woman PD’s..

So what do I know about the struggle ? Those times you have literally less than $1 in your bank account and have to rely on the ‘free food’ that companies are going to bring to the station to be your next meal. When your car gets a flat tire – but with absolutely NO money to fix or replace it, you have to stay at the station late and sneak home a station vehicle just to get home and get back to work the next morning at 5am to run the boards. When you had a very well paying job, but knew in your heart, it wasn’t what you were meant to do, you have too much creativity for that – too much personality just to be hearing middle aged women screaming at you at the Guest Services desk because their coupon expired last month. Yep – that’s me. All true experiences. All what molded me into the person I am today.

My background, I didn’t grow up with money, my mother and grandmother have NO extra money to just “lend” to me if I needed it. Since I’ve been 18, I’ve pretty much been on my own. After college I continued to live on my own, until I got evicted from my apartment because I couldn’t make rent — due to the NOTHING hourly wage I was getting paid at the radio station. Even then, I moved in with my sister – still paid her $200 month, which is NOTHING but for the little bit I was making – it very well felt like a good $700 out of my paycheck.

But I stayed there. I loved radio, I adored it. Being a host and sharing my experiences with people was something I dreamed of doing my entire life. Now you’re telling me I work for the number one media company in the country – and you think I’m just going to give that up? You’re trippin’. I took the OPPORTUNITY.

We can keep it going – I’ve flown to some amazing festivals or conferences that I was invited to cover, and needing that OPPORTUNITY – I went. Only being able to afford the plane ticket – and having to stay in a hostel, or bum on someone’s couch, you name it. Still, I took the OPPORTUNITY, not the SECURITY. This is when that $20 Planet Fitness black card came in handy when I needed a place to shower…

But one thing I can assure you – this ascension into the ‘glamorous salaried music industry’ life was not easy.

At the moment, I live in a college town, but I haven’t had much luck with hiring college employees. Why? Personally, because millennials (even though I am one..)  -have no work ethic. The minute things get ‘hard’ they give up. They believe everything is supposed to come at once. They have a ‘dream’ but they weren’t taught to be relentless and resilient, they were taught to ‘party it up in college,’ these are the ‘best times of your life,’ hey – ‘you’ll get a basic job eventually.’ This is true for the average 9 to 5 paper pushers – but not in entertainment. Some young people think it’s all so planned out and methodical. Get the college degree, then jobs will be BEGGING you to work for them. Negative. You’re working for the SECURITY.  I thought that too. But working in the creative field – NOTHING is promised. There is no handbook to success, because everyone’s career and background isn’t the same.

I get e-mails daily about young people trying to break into the industry. They see what I POST on Instagram and think it’s all sunshine and unicorns – and at the snap of a finger I became this ‘socialite.’

GIRL, Bye is my response to that. I personally have sacrificed almost any and everything for what I have toady. I live at least 2,000 miles away from any relative. My closest friends live either back home in Tacoma, WA or Harrison, NJ. I don’t go out by choice – but I’d rather stay in and do research or read up on some new strategies than aimlessly drink in the club any day.

I can’t stress the level of CONFIDENCE and RESILIENCE you have to have to make it in this industry. I was told ‘NO’ for MONTHS before I finally heard a ‘YES’ from the man that hired me in Texas. I wasn’t the ‘FIT’ for these other markets, but I was more than enough for this one. And as much as I was grateful for that opportunity – it still wasn’t enough for me.

I then took it upon myself to be a national correspondent for the company at all these festivals, conferences and award shows. The Grammy’s? BOOM, we were there. Revolt Music Conference? We’ve been there every year since the 2014 Inaugural. Lollapalooza? BOOM. I’m in there. Why do I put my own money into this and not just settle? Because it’s an investment into myself and where I want to be.

The networking opportunities, the people you meet in these circles – is PRICELESS. But no one really wants to do it – because they don’t want to put their own money up. They don’t want to put time in, (if they’re not getting paid), they don’t want to take a chance and BET on themselves. If you’re one of those reading this, shaking your head saying ‘girl, you crazy.. I wouldn’t do that.” think about why you wouldn’t. Is it because you don’t care that deeply about this career path? Are you scared? What is it? Because whatever it is that’s holding you back from reaching your greatest potential and realizing self-efficacy is ultimately what will be the major thing blocking you from your idea of ‘success.’ 

People who know me hear me tell this story over and over again, but it’s important for people to realize WHY COMPANIES AREN’T TAKING A CHANCE ON YOU. Look at work as just a ‘job,’ and be a worker. Or look at your career as an ‘opportunity’ and a ‘launching platform,’ it is ENDLESS the places you will go. You cannot TEACH that kind of drive in someone.

My advice to the flustered person that keeps getting rejected is this:

1. Are you sacrificing indulgement and dedicating ALL of your time to this craft? IF not, FIX IT.
2. Are you taking up all of the opportunities to be in the CIRCLES you want to be in and networking? If not, CHANGE IT.
3. As of this moment, are you the absolute BEST version of yourself, today? If not, THEN BECOME IT, APPLY YOURSELF and stop bullshitting!

This advice may be ‘harsh’ – but hey, this industry is NOT for the weak. It’s a dog-eat-dog situation – so what are YOU going to do to become the top dog?

The Art of Motivation: Reclaiming Your Hustle!

It's the first day of August, we're four months away from a new year. Exciting, right? If you answered no, it's because you haven't been maximizing your days. I bet those New Year's resolutions got thrown out the window a long time ago.

So, what is stopping you from getting the most out of this year? Probably yourself combined with a lack of motivation. Which is why, you need to become your own motivation.

Do you really want to be in the same spot as you were last year or the year before? No!

Life is about leveling up and excelling. If you want to reach higher heights, chances are you have to change your mindset. Your lack of motivation is only holding you back from living your best life. 

There's people out here who don't even have the skill set or talent, and they're getting the job you WANT. Why is that? It's because they're consistent, not prideful, and have the drive.

So how do you become like those people? Those people are usually writing their goals consistently and working towards them daily. They find solutions and don't dwell over the problem of not being fully qualified. They network their tails off and form valuable relationships.

You can't even hate on those types of people, because they hustle to get everything they want.

The problem is, when we feel like our resume is solid we forget to bring the hustle (aka motivation). If we combined our resume, talent, and hustle we could be unstoppable, we could be BEYONCE. It's funny, but it's true.

If you're in the process of looking for a job, hustle for 30 days straight. The first seven days perfect your resume, personal website, LinkedIn, and air-check (if applicable). For the following days apply to jobs, e-mail the manager in charge of the department you want to work for. What's the worst thing they can say besides they're not hiring? Join organizations that are in your field of work. Make those connections and prosper.

I always tell myself that everything I want is attainable. I'm sure people look at me crazy, but it's true. If you want something bad enough, you'll find out how to get it. 

Cheers to getting what you want, because you work hard, hustle harder and deserve it even more! 

For The Love of Money or Passion?

The ideal goal after graduating college is to get a career within your field that you got your degree in and be successful financially. Six months after graduation, you know those loans are coming through and you just want to be great! The difficult part for me was that, being a public relations major, there are so many avenues, the question is what exactly do I want to do? Being the creative person that I am, of course my passion fell into the music/entertainment industry. The problem with my passion is that, although there is money to make, it can take years to get the amount of coins everyone dreams of.

Right after I graduated, I secured an internship with a record label in Miami and I was also going to the Media Sales Institute. To be honest, I didn’t know what the hell I was getting myself into when I went to the institute. But, while I was there, I was working on a marketing campaign for a real client, and listening to speakers who are actually in the media sales career, I kept thinking to myself, is this for me? Every guest speaker spoke about how happy they were with their jobs, but the main reason why they were so happy was because of the amount of money they were making. Yes, the money sounded great and like I said before, I am all for getting your coins, but you have to want to do sales and enjoy it in order to excel in it.

We interviewed with about 10 to 15 companies the last day of the institute and I only liked two of them. Yes, I could see myself being in this career, but I couldn’t fully be myself in this career. I was more excited about my internship with the record label. I wanted to learn and grow in the music business. No job is perfect, but it’s something that I love and that I know was made for me. I came to realize that I am only 22 years old, I don’t have to have it all figured out right now. On top of that, I do not want to wake up and hate my job and only have money as my motivation to go. When you're passionate about something, you’re more willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone and surpass the goals you originally had for yourself. Imagine the feeling of getting your coin and excelling in your passion, simple happiness.

Final 3 things I constantly remind myself:

1. Realize that if you want this, you need to put in the work. Nothing that you truly want comes easy.

2. Do not watch other people progress on social media. Focus on yourself because social media can be very deceiving.

3.  You will never see your full potential, until you fight your fear.

Cheers To One Year!

If I could individually hug you, I most certainly would. If you're reading this you're obviously a supporter of Women In Radio - and for that, I say " Thank you."

The first 365 days of Women In Radio have been some of the most amazing days of my life. The idea of this company started in my head years ago, but I was too afraid to make a move on it.

One day last year I thought, if not me, then who?

That question to myself got the ball rolling.

I have not been in radio as long as others, but I knew there was something I could contribute to this business. I wanted a stronger connection between the women, which could lead to a stronger radio business. There were actions and behaviors I saw in the workplace, that I didn't like. Instead of dwelling on it, why not change it? 

Fast forward to a year later, we are over 2000 women strong. How amazing is that? We help women in radio with any questions they may have and are a support group to keep women going.

Women In Radio is truly a community like no other.

The women who are apart of the group and the men who support us are all worth it. My brand ambassadors are incredible, and go above and beyond.

Our inaugural dinner in Miami a few months ago was just the start of all the amazing events and initiatives we have planned. 

The goal is to keep growing, leading, and inspiring women so they can do the same to other women in radio.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the support - it's what keeps this company moving in a positive direction. 

Cheers!

xo

Meaghan Taylor