'Nudge at Night' talks to WEEKEND

Every weekday night from 7 p.m. to midnight, Bloomington listeners can turn to 96.7 WBWB-FM for the “Nudge at Night” radio show. The radio personality who goes by Nudge entertains people in 25 different cities by playing 40 of the most popular music hits each night. He currently broadcasts and resides in the Los Angeles area.    

Weekend Where did the name “Nudge at Night” come from?

Nudge It’s a Yiddish term for “pain in the ass.”  When I was doing my internship in Philadelphia at the age of 16, I would go into the studio when I wasn’t allowed to. I was a promotions intern and supposed to be on the phones with people that won prizes, not in the studio. They would call me a “nudge” because I was not doing my job. A guy I worked in the studio with brought me on the air and called me the “nudge,” so when I finally got on the air alone, I just took it as my radio name. It just stuck ever since. Here I am 10 years later and that’s it.  

W How many states does your 5-hour-long show reach?

N We currently reach 25 cities. Bloomington was actually the first affiliate. We sent out a lot of demos of the show to different cities, and Bloomington was the first to sign. We have only been here for six months and still continue to grow. We are always putting Indiana listeners on the air, especially in Bloomington.

W Are you ever cautious about the opinions you voice or what you have to say because you are heard by so many people?

N No. I figure if it’s the “Nudge at Night” show, listeners tune in to hear me. I’m just going to say what is on my mind.  It’s very laid-back, and by no means do we ever lean a political direction. It’s a fun show and I’ll say what I think. I have no problem voicing my opinion. If someone has a different opinion, then I’ll put them on the air. It’s the magic of the interaction.  

W Radio, like print media, is starting to become less popular than other media entertainment.  What made you want to go into radio?

N Radio has been suffering as a business because of the economy. However, radio research has shown that radio against other radio stations has been the biggest competition. When I first got into business, it was before the downfall slope of the radio. I just love radio for what it is. I was always interested in it, even at the age of 8. I think it’s cool that one person can broadcast from a single location and reach so many people at one time. It doesn’t bother me that people listen to (me on) satellite (radio) or iPods because people still listen for the interaction. People still like the live aspect of radio. But we have been doing different things by putting together podcasts, Twitter (feeds) and MySpace and Facebook (pages), so if people are going other places, we are too. Now there are more places to interact with our listeners.

W Less and less people tune into the radio now that other alternatives like podcasts, iPods and CDs are readily available. What do you believe are the incentives to listen to the radio that you can’t get from the alternatives?

N Human beings crave interaction whether it be with friends or family. Radio has live interaction, which you can’t get it anywhere else besides TV. Despite all the other competition, radio still has that special aspect that other mediums can’t meet right now. Our radio show also has contests, and listeners are aired, so that’s an incentive.

W With the current state of the economy, it’s been hard for students to find jobs right after graduating college, especially journalism students. What advice would you give to the students graduating and wanting to enter the broadcasting/journalism profession?

N My number-one advice is to do with what I did, which was agree, if necessary, to work for free for a start. I met so many people when I was doing my internships and left with something good on my resume and great references that led me to a full-time job. In this day and age, it seems like people hate to do things free, but if you’re passionate about something like in journalism, a lot of places are willing to offer free internships. It’s great to take because you’ll meet so many people and get your foot in the door.

Aside from that, persistence is key. There’s a fine line between being persistent or a pain in the butt. Every time I looked for a job, I rode that fine line. I didn’t want to be a pain, but I needed them to know that I was serious. Sometimes it may take a lot of phone calls or e-mails or applying for like 10 companies to get the job, but it’s important and will set you aside when you look motivated. Last, don’t be afraid to start from the bottom and work your way up. The bottom line is, if you’re good at what you do and not afraid to learn, it’ll pay off. 

W Where do you see radio heading in the next 5 years?

N A lot of radio stations are starting to broadcast in HD like television is doing. It will provide quality audio that will be crystal clear. But it’s really just kind of a big question mark. Anything can affect the radio business. I do honestly think though, despite everything, that radio will always be a part of people’s life.