Brandy Wood: Curating Content and Pushing Through

Written by: Kristen Ayanah

Brandy Wood is the marketing manager of WBGO-FM in Newark, New Jersey and she is curating creative content every day.

WBGO-FM is a public Jazz radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey founded in 1979. Wood has been with the company for ten years as the marketing manager.

Her main goal as marketing manager is to push content and create continuous buzz through promotion for the station and for audience members to be engaged with.

Wood studied Jazz at New York University and played bass. WBGO-FM is the first radio station Wood has been a part of and prior to this she has worked in festival production specifically for the Newport Jazz Festival working with artists and festival logistics. Wood has truly been enjoying working at WGBO-FM and its environment. She says, “There are great people here who are dedicated and believe that Jazz is a cultural gift to the world.”

If there would be one thing about radio that she would like to change, it would have to be how certain people view radio specifically focusing on the younger generation. Wood believes that radio sometimes is viewed as simply being a technology item created years ago as appose to radio now being quality curated content.

Looking back on her career, Wood wishes she would have been more involved in production or learned radio production. Wood believes that having experience in production would help a lot with her marketing at WBGO and that production often times plays a vital role in storytelling which is what radio and media is all about.

When asked how she feels about how women are treated in the radio industry she says she can only speak from her experience at WBGO-FM. At WBGO there is equal gender opportunity on and off air and the CEO of WBGO is even a woman.

Wood’s favorite part about radio is the personal connection people feel with the station and on-air personalities.

“People have a more intimate connection with radio verses newspapers or television, and we see that greatly through our audience.”

One of the hardest parts, of radio marketing for Wood is trying to get earned media and coverage for WBGO from other media outlets like newspapers and television. She is also trying to learn new ways to be creative with her marketing that way she’ll reach broader audiences but often times this can be difficult due to WBGO’s financial budget.  Never the less moving forward, Wood is excited about working in collaboration with NPR and Jazz in Lincoln Center for WBGO’s “Jazz Night in America” event portraying many different Jazz artist. Brandy Wood will continue to make her mark in radio and Jazz.

“Jazz and Radio is something really interesting that brings people together” she says, “It is the story of the best parts of America.”

Jennifer Alyse: Detroit Raised, Radio Made

By: Darylin Smith

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Jennifer Alyse discovered her interest in radio when the local radio stations would visit her high school. After high school, she continued her education at Michigan State University beginning as a sports medicine major but eventually graduated in December 2015 with a degree in communications.

“If I would’ve switched my major to media,I think I would’ve been a little ahead, and knew about different career opportunities.”

Following graduation, Alyse began the post-graduation job search, a process that many college graduates struggle with. Fortunately, in June 2016 she stumbled upon an opening on LinkedIn for a marketing and promotions position at Radio One, which happened to be in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan.

“When I got hired,I thought marketing and promotions was a cool way to tie in what I like to do, I like the events, and I love the music.”

Now, Alyse is the Online Editor at Radio One which covers their R&B, gospel, and hip-hop stations in their Detroit market.

“I typically get in around 8 or 9 a.m. and go through all the sites for social media. I edit interviews, post, and make videos. Constantly checking social media and checking in with marketing. I am at my desk looking at the site, social media, and reports until about 5:30 p.m.”

Alyse’s position at Radio One has opened the door to numerous networking opportunities and events. She has broadened her connections outside of the radio industry to different sponsors, label reps, and liquor reps just to list a few.

“My job provides an avenue to connections; it teaches you how to network and communicate because you’re always around a lot of different people.”

Alyse’s favorite aspect of working in radio is the fact that no two days are the same; she has a routine but at any moment she could get invited to a significant event, or a well-known artist could stop by.

“I loved meeting Elle Varner she’s very genuine, and Nipsey Hussle was pretty dope too, those are my favorites.”

Being the Online Editor, social media is essential to Alyse’s position, and advancements such as changes to Instagram’s Algorithm effects interactions between the stations and their online supporters. Alyse is very focused around busy times, likes, and engagements for the social media pages. 

“Sometimes people won’t see your content. When I began college, Instagram just started popping, I never thought I could get a job with social media.”

With technology advancing radio is evolving, and Alyse is excited to see how music will progress. With the abundance of streaming platforms, the music industry is moving fast; new artist and new music are presented daily.

“I am thrilled to see music and technology advance because that’s where both of my worlds meet.”

​Charley McCain : A Valuable Commodity

By: Maya Perry

 After 20+ years in this radio business, Charley McCain still fan girls with the best of them. “I love to discover new artists and turn others onto their talent. Hearing a song for the first time and knowing in your heart that it’s going to be a hit just feels good! We don’t play new songs on my current station, but we do play a variety, and it’s fun to play something off the wall and have people say, “Oh I forgot about that one!”  Music makes people happy, and if I can’t create it, I can make sure it gets to you!”

Charley McCain is an on air host who has maintained an impressive journey in this business. As we spoke, she began to share her start in radio. She explains “since I was a little girl because my mom always had music on in the house.  I wanted to work in the music industry, but I have no musical talent of my own. My original plan was to move to LA, but between roommates falling thru and the proverbial “wrong turn on the freeway”, I ended up in Charlotte NC. When I got my first chance to be on the air at 1065 The End in Charlotte, there was already a female on the air named Kristen.  My real name is Krista, so those were too close .So we knew I needed a completely different name. My boss had received an application from a female who went by Charley. He didn’t hire her, but liked her name so he gave it to me!  I’ve always been Charley on the air at every station where I’ve worked.I knew someone who worked at WRFX and I told him what a cool job I thought it was. He referred me to the promotions director, who said I had a cool voice and I should be on air! I started out answering phones for the Alan Handleman talk show in 95 or 96, board op-ing syndicated shows, and basically anything they would let me do. From there, I met someone at 1065 The End, and they hired me part-time. I worked overnights, weekends, swing-shift, office monkey, you name it.”

Eventually Charley hosted “90 Minutes” the local & regional music show, and following that, she was offered the job of Music Director/Assistant Program Director at Alternative 101.7 WKZQ in Myrtle Beach. She worked there for 5 years, then moved to Rock 93.5 WARQ in Columbia to co-host the “S&M Morning Show”.  In 2007, she moved to WPAW 93.1 The Wolf, where Charley did nights & swing shift, and was production director. That eventually led to her to being hired by sister station 98.7 Simon to co-host the Get up Show, where she’s been since 2013. As you can see Charley multi- faceted personality helped her grow into this brilliant personality.

Charley’s story continues to inspire upcoming women in radio. When asked what she would tell her younger self and future women on air, she states “sometimes you have to push a little harder & toot your own horn a little louder. So what if there’s already a female on middays? There’s no reason that a station can’t have 2 female voices in back-to-back day parts! Show up, do the work, learn every job you possibly can. Make yourself a valuable commodity. It’s not just about your air shift – learn programming, production, imaging, and social media.  Don’t be afraid or too aloof to take a job that isn’t quite what you want but opens an opportunity…you never know when someone will leave or a new position will open up, and you want your supervisors to think of you first! But above all, enjoy it! We are so lucky to work in such an amazing industry – take advantage of every opportunity to meet the stars, see the shows, experience the rush, and help the people.”

Bethany Kent: Raised In Radio

By: Tyrisha Irwin

Sharp. Witty. Hardworking.

Bethany Kent, the Director for Marketing & Events for Emmis Communications New York City and Emerson College graduate, has over 5 years of radio experience. This radio fanatic has no intention of slowing down when it comes to soaring to new heights in her career.

She was born in a small town, Matunuck, which is in the southern region of Rhode Island. Throughout her childhood and adulthood, she was “raised in radio” and would tune into as many media outlets as she could while dragging her friends or family along for the ride. Little did she know at the time, but radio was her calling. When she was 18 years old, she first interned with formerly named Citadel Broadcasting while working in retail. After being at the radio station all day without being paid, she dreaded going to her other job even if it was for a short shift. Most people would kill to work short shifts, but she enjoyed all the magical and creative energies within radio and that made it even more difficult to resist.

An influential woman in her life, her mother, told Bethany something she’ll never forget: “You just found the difference between a job and a career.” Since then, Bethany Kent has kept her eyes on the prize. Fortunately for her, she was able to land an internship in her freshmen year of college at a great cluster of stations in Providence and later became a member of the Street Team. Working from the bottom to the top did not deter Kent from chasing her dreams. She shared the importance of putting your all into what you want and going for it even if the situation may look bleak to others.

“I worked on the Street Team throughout college and made sure I always kept a foot in the door so when a full time Promotions Director position opened for HOT 106 (WWKX) after I graduated, I jumped at it.” As one door closes, another one opens which it did for Bethany because she was able to connect with a remarkable mentor, Dan Hunt, who was the WWKX Program Director. Hunt taught her some basics in radio such as running a show and how to schedule music.

After being taken under his wing, Bethany Kent got more experience and later was given the opportunity to apply for a Promotions Director at HOT 97.  “I saw an Instagram post from DJ Enuff about an opening for a Promotions Director at HOT 97. That was my DREAM station, so I went for it.”

Six years later, she is leading an “amazing department in an incredibly legendary cluster!”

Despite her obstacles and doubts, she wouldn’t change anything about her journey. “Every challenge, set back, and speed bump now seem like they happened purposefully to bring me to the place I am currently.” She is optimistic about what the future holds for her. “I see where I am now and can’t wait to see where I’ll be in another 5 years or so. I’ve grown so much through experiences, mentors, hard work, and all the crazy things that go along with working in radio.” Her experiences have allowed her to view situations and handle them differently than what she did 5 years ago.

Hard work, dedication, and passion don’t go unnoticed. Thanks to women like Bethany Kent, the world of radio is in excellent hands.

Tradia With The Tea: Try, Try Again

By: Maya Perry

“Tradia with the Tea” is the self-proclaimed Radio girl of Beauty and Tea! Tradia describes, “On a daily, I give my listeners a daily dose of celebrity news and entertainment while keeping it sexy! I found my purpose early in life! While in college, I was always talkative and I learned people were very interested in what I had to say. I believe my purpose for radio was in me, way before I tapped into it. It’s a natural thing.”

Tradia got her start in radio a year after she graduated from South Carolina State University. Streetz 103.3 posted an internship flyer on their social media page and she applied. Even though she was  fresh out of college and worried they wouldn't consider her, ultimately they gave her a chance and she’s been serving tea ever since.

She explains the creation of her on air name in a funny story.““Tradia with the Tea" kind of grew on me. I went by two names before actually sticking with my name now. Before I got in radio, I went by "The Only Tradia". Shortly after, I was promoted to be a co-host on middays and "The Only Tradia" didn't flow with liners and drops for our show. I had a daily segment on the radio where I dished the latest celebrity news and entertainment and that segment was called "Tradia with the tea".She states that once that name caught buzz around the city, people seem to automatically call her "Tradia with the tea". Ultimately the listeners actually made her stick to name.

Tradia credits persistence and consistency in her current success in radio. She lives by the late and great R&B icon Aaliyah’s quote "If at first you don't succeed, Dust yourself off and try again." This has been something Tradia exudes in her work and on air growth. When asked what she would like to tell her younger self, she expresses, “I would tell her to continue the journey, no matter how hard it gets because better days come! And to stay focus on the end goal. Never lose sight of who you are and what you want to accomplish in life!”

DJ Ena Pop: Ladies First

Written by: Maya Perry

Dj Ena Pop is an outspoken go getter who has crowd control and can rock any party. Female dj’s are the minority in the media industry. Dj Ena Pop walks in every room with her head high, not her nose - while leading with integrity, dignity and respect. She makes her work speak for itself rather than the name.

“Ena Pop was a nickname given to me by a childhood friend. Everyone started to call me this. So naturally, when my mother bragged to everyone we knew that I was going to become a DJ, everyone just called me Dj EnaPop.” She explains that she wanted to go by DjLady V because her given last name is Valiente which means brave, and she felt brave by going after this dream. But now, she says her brand is her name and it represents overcoming all fears and doubt. The purpose is to show the world that the dope sound you're hearing through your speaker is being controlled by a woman.

DJ Ena Pop explains her big break in radio. “One day, Dj J Flex who is the Mix Show Coordinator called me and told me that my name was brought up in their music meeting. Shook by his question, I asked him Why? About what? He said the Program Director asked if you were ready to be on air. And Flex responded yes. So they put me on the very next Mix squad weekend and the rest is history.”

There’s a lesson to be learned from DJ Ena Pop’s story: “Sometimes your name is in rooms that you haven’t walked in yet.” You have to continue to perfect your craft and someone will notice your talent and hard work. When asked what she would tell her younger self, Dj Ena concludes by saying, “I would tell myself that it's not going to get any easier until you go for it. Don't be scared you got this kiddo.”