Personality Profiles : BOB 94.9 fm, An interview with Brad Chambers,

Personality Profiles
It’s all about havin’ a little fun...

A candid interview with
Brad Chambers, Program Director
and afternoon DJ on BOB 94.9fm

by Scot Giambalvo

Billboard Magazine didn’t name Brad Chambers, Program Director of WRBT "BOB" 94.9fm, as Broadcaster of The Week because he’s good looking. That’s completely besides the point. Brad is a hard working, seasoned Country Music professional, brought to Harrisburg to pump up the all-new BOB 94.9fm. If you recall, Magic 94.9 became the Christmas music station the day after Thanksgiving, last year. Well, that was the day Brad was hired to be Program Director for BOB. He had until the day after Christmas to launch a Country Station. And launch he did. If you’re not turning your knob to BOB, (their tag line), then you ought to be.

Brad told MODE that BOB is bringing New Country to the Harrisburg market. You won’t hear old, twangy Country songs. BOB is driving a TOP-40 feel with the best new Country music. "We’re developing a very loyal listening audience, one listener at a time," he said. Most folks won’t admit that they like Country because of the bad reputation it’s had in the past. But Country is the next TOP-40. It’s clear by the mass appeal it draws." At BOB," Brad starts, "we just want to play what the listeners want to hear. They shape the station’s future directly, and we’re very intent on giving them what they ask for."

The key to BOB’s instant success lies between the infectious appeal of New Country, and the incredible amount of fun the station and it’s personalities have. "Fun is the name of the game around here. If you’re doing what you like, and still having fun, then you’re in the right job," says Brad.

As Program Director, Brad makes decisions about the programming for BOB, but he also is the driving force behind BOB’s charitable donations projects. Brad believes that it is the duty of a radio station to motivate it’s listeners to do something positive in their community. For example, BOB sells it’s promotional materials, like tee-shirts, and gives the proceeds to a different charity each month. "I’ve tried to make a difference at every station I’ve worked at. It seems that Harrisburg is one of the most receptive markets." Then there’s always the Wednesday morning BOB Job Blitzes. Here’s where BOB personalities go out to busy morning businesses and give out free coffee and doughnuts. "It’s all about interaction, plain and simple." says Brad.

And interaction is the name of the game around Brad’s house. Having married his radio partner of seven years, Brad and Karen have five children, and consider their move to the Harrisburg area one of the best they’ve ever made. P.S. Yes! Brad did propose to Karen on the air... isn’t that great?

The key to being a success in radio is to be persistent. Brad told us, "I know this may sound a little corny, but I just love radio; communicating with people through music, and I’m sure now that it’s what I should be doing."

At the age of 11, Brad decided he wanted to be a radio DJ. He even went so far as to tape radio station jingles off the air, and mix them into his own program practicing with two turntables in his room. At 15, he started hanging around a radio station (KERR) in his home town of Salinas, CA. His intention was to start a station at his school. After a few months he landed his first job as a weekend DJ. He related his funniest radio story involving a robbery scare and a nervous cow. As Brad tells it, he had been on the air for only a short time. (remember, he’s 15). It was a particularly hot day, and against company rules, he cracked the door of his booth open for some much needed ventilation. Unfortunately this door opened directly to outside. Well, on this hot day, with the studio door ajar, Brad was just about to make an announcement on the air when he felt a blunt object in his back. Afraid to speak, and afraid not to, he made his announcement, never turning around. When he was done, he got up enough courage to turn around... only to find a wandering cow that made it’s way into HIS booth. Much to his surprise, the cow was as afraid of him as he was of it. So much so, that the cow left him a little present on the studio floor when he tried to shoe the cow out. Bummer of a way to start out in radio.

But Brad knew this was what he wanted to do. Once he told a buddy, "I’ll know I’m successful when I host a nationally syndicated radio show." From 1992 to 95, Brad hosted Country’s Cutting Edge, a Westwood One radio production that aired internationally via American Forces Radio.

Having decided that he needed a change in direction, Brad took a break from radio after 25 years of broadcasting, to start a small consulting business in Nashville, TN. There he launched Imprint Records. But it didn’t take long for Brad to realize that the Record Industry wasn’t as fulfilling as being in broadcasting. So, he began looking for a new station to call home. Shortly thereafter, BOB found Brad and a new relationship was forged.

The interesting thing was that Brad had been out of radio for over five years, and felt a little technologically challenged. "The technology had changed so much in five years it was like a shock," he commented. "When I left radio we were using reel to reel tape and cart systems. When I got to BOB everything was on computers and tough screens. It was almost overwhelming."

But Brad’s love for radio overcame his fears of "having to catch up" and on the air he went. Brad can be found on the BOB knob from 3pm to 7pm weekdays.

Brad notes only one sadness. He wishes that he had more time to dedicate to his afternoon radio show. "The music always comes first" he told us. "But I love to interact with the listeners." One benefit of being a DJ and the Program Director is that I can take ideas and suggestions from listeners and instantly incorporate them into my strategy. Being on the air keeps Brad close to the audience, and in touch with their needs.

Finally, MODE asked Brad why the station was called BOB. We finally got a straight answer, just after he fell over in his somewhat wobbly office chair (see picture). There was one other BOB station in the United States before Harrisburg’s BOB. It was in Minneapolis, and it was so successful, that the market’s heritage (older) Country station completely bought out that first BOB and squelched it right out. But the idea of giving a radio station a personality of it’s own made a lot of sense. Listeners can relate to BOB because the station, the personalities, the staff and the music is just so friendly and fun.

Brad told us, "It’s all about havin’ a little fun while doing something good for your community."