BIG BAER Urban Alternative talks to Erik Bradley the Music Director of B96 FM 96.3 Chicago's Dance Beat Radio! B96 IS party radio! Non-stop mixes and impossible to ignore beats, this historied radio station delivers and Erik Bradley is responsible for it all!
There is a lot of pressure on a music director and when you are the music director of Chicago's most listened to radio station the pressure is even greater! But look at the perks! A big part of the job involves meeting today's top stars, you never know where that will lead. Erik is close friends with Mariah Carey! Somehow I think that makes up for it all...
Erik Bradley, Music Director for B-96/WBBM-FM Radio loves his job. Having been in the business since High School Bradley can't imagine doing anything else. His favorite interview and close friend Mariah (yes Mariah Carey) is to him a goddess in the industry. A woman who can do it all - sing, write, produce, perform, and have the voice of an angel. In being in this industry Bradley says, "it's all about who you know." Bradley's favorite part of the job is interviewing the artists; "because I love artist relations and being the liaison between the station and the industry. I like dealing with people."
He began working in research within a radio station in Charlotte where he is from and gained rank from there. After being there for some time nothing else would do. "I knew that's where I wanted to be."
The three m's of radio are music, mornings, and marketing, which Bradley has adopted as a formula for good radio. "We have to have strong music and ... our morning show has to be compelling and strong, community oriented, funny, topical. And then our marketing gets the word out there; gets people to check you out. As well as having a great staff, a creative atmosphere and a good product." All of those contribute to great radio and are incorporated in the B-96 crew.
According to Bradley B-96, in three words, is ... creative, inviting, and chill (no make that positive instead of chill). It shows what is at B-96 in their relaxed environment and what they have to offer. "A family atmosphere; a fun place to work," exclaims Bradley. This industry is definitely tough and coming into a business that takes years to really establish yourself, Bradley has made a name for himself. Having the "I enjoy life" ora Bradley shows passion in his work. He's been in the business for twelve years and that is a little over a decade but it's gotten him this far. He does suggest "have something to fall back on," coming into the radio aspect. Remember the right place at the right time, breaks, and who you know can get you places. "If you're going to look for money you are in the wrong business. If you're committed, hardworking, passionate, driven, focused and willing to give that kind of work ethic, go for it."
If not radio Erik isn't sure what he would have done. Considering that this all happened for him while he was in community college and took off from there. Erik hadn't really set any goals for a career and he was blessed for a chance to be given to him. He said he probably would have been a sports caster, which also takes time to be established and is hard to get in to. "I think I've found my calling," Bradley says and I agree he is meant for the job. He currently has a group also that he is managing, Faze 4. Management just may be his next step.
Erik Bradley loves Chicago; "it's an amazing city." Coming from a small small town near Charlotte to big city Chicago he still has an equal amount of love for both. He always loves going home to see family but misses Chicago when he leaves. His most memorable moment was being on the air for a big station for the first time.
Imagine when he started considering that the first song he played on the air was Every Little Step by Bobby Brown. The only thing he would have changed was is he would have gotten his college degree. Although in this business your education is your experience. He's been in this race for some time and joined Chicago in October of 1993. Earlier on I mentioned his group Faze 4 which some of you might have heard of. They performed at the B-96 Radio Jingle Bash 2000 with artists Shaggy and Boyz II Men to name a few.
Erik Bradley has a dream come true and Big Baer got the chance to meet the man behind the music and life of B-96 Radio. Success is hard to come by and loving your job is even harder
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