Despite Adrian’s intense desire to become an on-air radio personality, his start began with a stroke of good luck. His aspirations were fueled by a strong work ethic and sincere dedication to delivering engaging content in the constantly changing, technology influenced landscape of modern radio. Adrian’s determination brought increasing opportunities which led to his first on-air gigs.
“I remember people telling me that getting into radio was a stupid idea and the fact that I wanted to do radio in Dallas seemed impossible.” Adrian recalls several variations of this type of comment as he pursued a career in radio. Rather than let these people deter him from his dreams, Adrian used these types of statements as motivation to prove everyone wrong by obtaining an on-air radio job by any means necessary. For a long period of time, he worked at three separate radio stations. Adrian would often spend the night in radio station parking lots and working overnight shifts to gain any possible advantage towards working his way up the radio ladder.
“The funny thing is, none of the radio stations knew I was working for the competition. I honestly tried to make something of myself and did not want to miss out on any opportunities.” After all the long hours and hard work, Adrian caught his first break when he received a wakeup call notifying him of his selection to participate in a contest on a popular morning show in Dallas, TX. Displaying the hard work and dedication that brought him this far, Adrian excelled at every task and won a spot on the morning show. He fit in well with the established crew and served as a popular addition for six months. Unfortunately, the station flipped formats and everyone except Adrian was let go from the morning show.
“That time was filled with uncertainty. Luckily, they kept me on, promoted me, and I had the honor of helping launch Jack-FM (KJKK).” Years passed and Adrian’s hard work spoke volumes about his talent and dedication to providing listeners with a truly unique radio experience. As he became more established and recognized in the industry, new opportunities arose. Adrian was hired for the on-air weekend slot at a Dallas indie Christian rock station. The station managers quickly recognized his talent and promptly moved him to his current position as the Afternoon Drive personality and Music Director.
“I knew this was something I wanted to do from the beginning. I have the drive and focus to create interesting, relevant radio that is music driven and listener focused.” Adrian realized the importance of social networking in establishing and maintaining a successful radio program. Modern radio fans desire constant content, even during off hours. Adrian utilizes social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Ustream to provide listeners with focused, fully engaging content. The key to success in modern radio involves finding the proper balance between on-air and on-line content, and making the two interactively appealing to listeners.
A successful radio deejay must find a way to utilize these new forms of media and create an immersive experience for the listeners. I believe I have created that experience in my current position.”
Adrian feels ready to take the next step in his career by pursuing opportunities in CHR or ALT format. In addition, Adrian would consider joining a morning show as a primary member. Syndication deals and other possibilities also interest Adrian, and he would welcome further discussion on the matter. Adrian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Marketing from the University of North Texas in Denton. His educational background and industry experience have prepared him to succeed in the next stage of his career and he looks forward to future opportunities.