How a Top 40 DJ Found Himself On the Right Path to Radio Success

So Ben, how did you get into radio ?

It really goes all the way back to my Senior year of high school when I joined the school news. I was only 5'8 and about 185 Lbs. so I knew a football scholarship was out of the question. I used to go to all the basketball games with the video camera. That became a popular thing as I started my sports segment on the "Morning Announcements." It got so huge at school it made me want to be in Sports Broadcasting
somehow.

Upon my Freshman year at West Virginia State University, I was walking to class and I seen a flyer that said something along the lines of, "Interested in Sports Broadcasting?" I got in contact with Campus Radio and have been calling games, hosting sports shows, hip hop shows, and rock n' roll shows since.. From this past January until May, I was hosting six different shows weekly.

Last August, I was a stock boy, doing overnight shifts, and getting no sleep. I knew I needed a new job or out of that one because it would interfere with school. A friend mentioned something to me about him getting a job at West Virginia Radio Corporation. I went down, and put my application in. Before even hearing from anyone, I had put my two weeks notice in at my other job. I was hired as a Promotions Associate which basically means I am an equipment manager/assistant when the stations go out to broadcast live at restaurants, businesses, and live events.

Throughout the winter and into the spring, I was progressing at Campus Radio, which gave me confidence to show my high interest to my employers. After sitting in with Woody Woods' (Drive Home Time Slot/Program Director for WRVZ 98.7 The Beat) show a few times and getting put me on the air he seen potential in me. I had expressed interest to him that I would like to do a weekend shift, like Sunday evenings or something of that nature. Woody finally came to me one day and said he's starting a Saturday night mix show in the future, and wants me to host.

One day, I came by the station and Woody told me to come do a break for him, that his first boss did it to him. His boss had put him on the spot with no preparation or idea of going live on the air with hundreds, maybe almost a thousand people tuned in. I did about a thirty second, maybe forty-five break on a car give-away promotion we were doing at the time, and even threw a joke in there about Woody. He came in when I finished and said it was a, "damn good break Ben Grady, this might be your true calling." Since, I have done my show every Saturday night, done Woody's show for him a few times, the seven o'clock shift a few times, and lots of other live shifts. It's a possibility I'm getting my own everyday shift when school starts back up this fall.

How does it feel being in your second year of college pursing a Degree you already have a job in ?

It feels good, really because school has never been easy for me. I start my third year in August, and I was told in my English class Freshman year, that once you get past the first two years then you're guaranteed to graduate. That's one thing that keeps me paranoid, is not graduating. I would be the first person in my house to have a degree, and I'm a middle child.

I'm glad to already have a job I'm studying for, and would love to have as a career. It's as if people are going to think I can really just quit school, but that's far from the truth. Getting that diploma would really push me ahead of the pack with the experience I'll have when I should get it. School, work, and any kind of personal or social life at the same time are very hard things to keep in line. The pressure does get to me a lot, but I know I could have it a lot worse.

I know you are a radio dj but you also work on video and record your own music as an artist. I'm wondering how you balance the three and which do you prefer doing the most ?

Like I said, without including videos and music, it's all hard to maintain while wanting to have my, "me time." I love and enjoy doing them all. I don't see why I have to focus on one if I can be good at them all and somehow one can benefit from the other. As for which one I like better ? That's a tough question. Unless I'm alone in this, I think at some point now, or when we were kids, we would watch television or listen to the radio and say, "I wish I could do that." Even with music I think anyone can write music. It's just how passionate you are about the craft and what emotions drive you..

I have been writing lyrics since I was in third grade. Just elementary school rhymes to songs on the radio or ones I heard in music class. They were funny to me and to my classmates. That's what I liked to be, the funny one who could be creative. Not funny in going over the top, throwing food in the lunchroom for a laugh of acceptance. Funny like, taking the song "Hard Knock Life" from Annie, and making the "Hard Knock Breakfast" which was all about cereal box characters. Believe it or not it turned out funny to a nine year old. As I got older, the inspiration stayed about the same but some originality came and then it got to the point I was getting told I was pretty good. I've come to realizations that being original is the key to hip hop.

Who wasn't fifteen and wrote a line or song about guns, right? I still say , "you'll never hear me saying anything about me having a gun in my music," and you won't. The lyrics I wrote in ninth grade about firearms got threw away. Now it's just what it is which is me. I love music because I can write it to what I know about and it's fun. It's really a stress reliever, as well as a hobby that shows potential in being signs of making a career or helping branch off another hobby to add something to that aspect.

Radio is just like music to me. It's something I love to do and something I can do for the rest of my life. Radio gives me the chance to talk about music and sports which is my two favorite things. Who wouldn't want to spend their lives making money just sitting and discussing the things they desire? Play music and listen to it while I'm not talking makes Radio more enjoyable.

Video work is different, because I can be in front or behind the camera. My touch can be seen in the effects of a video. I filmed games for the basketball team my Sophomore year in high school and I used to mess around and act as if I was a broadcaster doing play-by-play. The coach loved it. Even my football coach would go watch game film just to hear it. Eventually I got really into videos doing the school news. Going to other high schools the night before we play them and making a video with some sort of story to it. It was comedic no matter what and gave everyone a laugh.

I also started doing highlight videos of games once I graduated and soon I got pretty popular for them. It helped a year ago when O.J. Mayo decided to come home for his Senior season of high school and I got to get tons of footage of him. As far as what I can do in the future with making videos is making music videos for myself or others I'm associated with or even promotional videos for music and radio.

The one I prefer the most will be the hardest one, making music. Anyone can film something, add some effects, or announce a song telling you which songs are coming up. Not everybody however can make a legitimate song and make people connect to it. When I get recognized for either three I can honestly say music is the one that gives me the most joy. The music comes from my heart, my brain, and my life. A video can come from someone else's video camera or I can be on the radio and not be aloud to choose what I get to talk about or the music I can play. The music is more personal, because I made it.

What are your goals ? Do you plan on staying in radio or maybe going behind scenes with it or maybe pursue your music career ?

My first goal, obviously would be to graduate from college which is easier said than done. The second goal is to have an everyday shift on a radio station sometime between 9am and 10pm. Another goal is to have a huge fan base that follows my music. I think that it could help grow my audience on the radio. I figure to dabble in all three and not go down just one road. I think as long as I continue to progress in all three and be able to maintain skill in each without taking anything away, then there's no reason why I should focus on one. Unless a certain financial reward is tied into one. I think I can keep multitasking because rather I'm acceptable or not, I love doing each and that's what keeps the motivation and joy I get from them.

Is there anything you'd like to change about radio because I know a lot of good songs doesn't get the chance to get played because of markets and radio format ?

It's hard to say because I'm not anywhere close to being on the management end of radio. For now I can only go by what the boss says. Until I have established myself as an everyday name and my word is bond, it's hard to say. I would like to change some of the ways radio is handled but back to the way people are getting what they want to hear without radio, It's hard to say what would make them not want to listen to something so convenient. People can download music on ipods and burn music on cds these days. The threat of mp3 players and anything like that could actually possibly kill radio.

Where do you see yourself fitting in ? I know hip hop can be all about the image and there isn't alot of people doing more than one thing with more than one job title. Do you see yourself starting a new trend as far as being multi talented and skilled ?

I see myself fitting in with whoever accepts me. I know I'm a model of my environment which is the cities and towns of West Virginia. I'm not one who reflects drugs , gun play, or even having a lot of money. I'm a college student who started out in poverty, middle class now, and working a minimum wage job. Again, I'm a college student, so I like to do what college students like to do. Go to huge parties, chase girls, and procrastinate.

I know I could fit in somewhere along those lines and we've all been through some sort of problems in our lives. I know I can creatively put my past experiences into words with a beat and someone will relate to it. So it's whoever can connect to my music rather they are white, black, big or small. Starting a new trend is a possibility maybe. Don't forget there are people like Dr. Dre, Kanye West, ect. Who make beats and are known for their lyrics. I suppose I could be known for doing radio, music, and making videos. I know I wouldn't mind getting known all three.

Who do you see as your inspiration and can you offer kids with same kind of inspiration ? Do you see yourself as a future role model and if so what kind of advice can you offer ?

One guy who has been an inspiration to me is Deshaun Holton, aka. Proof from D12. He was on the radio in Detroit and he recorded music, hosted talent shows, and hosted the battles you see him portrayed in "8 Mile." Of course I connected to Eminem's music in a lot of different ways and that helped lead me to discover Proof.

Another inspiration has to go to Chris Berman. Yes, the "WHOOOOOOOP!" guy from ESPN in case you are unfamiliar. I am into sports broadcasting and that man is the epitome of a great broadcaster. He knows the ins and outs of every sport and knows how to make it entertaining to persons who know or don't know much about what they are watching.

I'd like to be a role model if I can be. Who doesn't want to be a figure of good direction for someone else. I can see myself being a good role model only because of being a middle child. To see what my biological father and my older brother have turned out to be has helped me be able to positively influence my younger brother. Words of wisdom I would like to offer, is never be satisfied with just enough. Do the best you can, and if there's something you want that will benefit you as a person go get it, or go take it. Never get down on the bad times of life and don't dwell on things because it could always be worse.