MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: SECOND ANNUAL RADIO FESTIVAL: THE HOT 97 MORNING SHOW WITH ED, LISA & DRE, WQHT-FM, NEW YORK {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. This seminar, moderated by Museum radio department manager, Ken Mueller, and presented in New York, features a discussion with the team behind the hit radio program, "The Hot 97 Morning Show with Ed, Lisa & Dre," on WQHT-FM in New York. Mueller begins the evening with a presentation of highlights from the September 11, 1996, edition of the program.
After the audio clips, the following panelists join Mueller on stage: producer Wayne Mayo, talent coordinator Pia James, and co-hosts Dr. Dre and Lisa G. (Co-host Ed Lover arrives towards the end of the seminar. See below.) The panelists discuss the following topics, among others: the differences between this show and the programs Dr. Dre hosted with Ed Lover on WBLS-FM, NY, and on MTV; Hot 97's community orientation as an element which sets it apart from the other morning fare; a typical day at the studio -- described by Mayo as "controlled chaos"; the unique juxtaposition of Lisa's news background and the comic ad lib gifts of Dre and Lover; James's job as talent coordinator and her attempts to broaden the gangsta rap/hip-hop image of the show; a description of an average work day for Dre; the freshness, "realness," and intimacy of the program; the seriousness with which Lisa takes her responsibilities as a broadcaster, and her efforts to touch her listeners' lives; Lisa's daily schedule, which begins with early morning newspaper-reading and includes television appearances after the radio show; the large amount of audience interaction on Hot 97, including the popular "roll-call" feature; their goal of reaching the ethnic youth of the tri-state area in the tradition of the 1960's WMCA-AM "Good Guys"; the unlikely chemistry of the three co-hosts; what makes a good guest, and how they deal with poor guests; their frustration over the second-class view many guests take of radio; how the panelists got started in their respective fields; and their radio idols and influences.
Questions from the seminar audience lead to comments on the following topics, among others: advice to a fourteen-year-old rap singer who wants to know how to get ahead in the business; self-censorship as a responsibility of the artist; Dre's belief that rap need not be negative and that gangsta rap should not be glorified; how Dre selects the music for his "Traffic Jam" segment; the personality-driven aspect of Hot 97 (at this point, Ed Lover arrives and joins the panel); Long Island as a good small market training ground for on-air talent; and the difficulties of trying to distribute and promote one's own record label.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: October 30, 1996 12:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:26:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:46095
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Kenneth Mueller … Moderator
- Dr. Dre … Panelist
- Pia James … Panelist
- Lisa G. … Panelist
- Ed Lover … Panelist
- Wayne Mayo … Panelist