This is a collection of documents relating to my internship at K-Rock and Z-Rock in 1991. If you got here from a search engine, you should probably first take a look at my main K-Rock/Z-Rock page.
K-Rock
WXRK-FM
600 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 750-0550
January 29, 1991
Ms. Lucy Holland
Inservice Learning Program
Hunter College
695 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Dear Ms. Holland,
Infinity Broadcasting's WXRK radio (K-ROCK) and WZRC (Z-ROCK) offer outstanding internship programs for Hunter College students. Students are able to gain valuable hands-on experience and knowledge in broadcast marketing, promotions, public relations, and production in the country's largest radio market.
Z-Rock interns are expected to conduct themselves in a mature and responsible manner at all times. Below is a list of duties interns will be expected to perform:
- Answering the office phones and taking messages.
- Typing and filing various reports, press releases, promotion and concert schedules and marketing proposals.
- Interacting with listeners and companies affiliated with WZRC on the phone.
- Coordinate press mailings.
- Distributing all concert tickets to Z-Rock listeners.
- Distributing T-shirts, stickers, buttons, and other Z-ROCK items at all concert events and promotions during the week and on weekends.
- Research of promotion or programming projects.
- Music research.
- Answering request lines.
- Hand delivering documents of urgent importance.
As I was an intern at K-Rock myself, I can say that I found it a rewarding and invaluable experience. As a result, I was hired as a promotion coordinator on staff with WXRK and WZRC. I am happy to be the intern coordinator so that I can help other students attain these same rewards. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to call me at 212-750-0550.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Jennifer Sowder
Promotion Coordinator
cc: Peggy Panosh
Diane Iriarte
Thea Kacalanos
[address redacted]
November 16, 1990
Joey Ramone's Radio Rampage
c/o Mark Chernoff
Z-Rock
600 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Dear Mr. Chernoff:
Joey's show rules! I'm writing to let you know how much I enjoyed the first show and to ask these three questions:
1. I heard that Joey recorded a song with Holly and the Italians. I can't find it anywhere, so maybe Joey could play it on his show?
2. I really liked those Crown the Good songs. Would it be possible for me to get a copy of their demo to play on my show on WHCS, Hunter College Radio? (Don't worry, I'm not competition -- we only broadcast on campus.)
3. The studio sounded very crowded, but would Z-rock's New York studio need an intern in January or later? I'd love to do it, I'd work very hard, and I have radio experience. I could send you a resume if you'd like. It could be arranged through the Hunter College inservice office.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Feel free to write back, call me at home [number redacted] or at WHCS (business card enclosed), or answer my questions on the air. Keep rockin'! Joey rules!
Sincerely,
[signed]
Thea Kacalanos
[now Theodora Michaels]
Notes regarding the following "Comments on Inservice Program":
Reading this now, I'm surprised at the tone. I don't remember being so snotty. Ah, youth . . .
My comments regarding Steve aren't intended to make any representations regarding his current behavior. I'm describing events that took place (as of this writing) 18-odd years ago. I haven't interacted with him since, and have no idea what he's doing or what he's like now.
The instructions were as follows:
On a separate piece of paper, attached to your report, please answer the following:
- Did the Inservice program meet your needs?
- Could you suggest any changes that would improve the process of application, screening, placement, or evaluation?
- Do you feel that other students would benefit from a) becoming involved in the program in general, and b) interning at your host organization in particular?
Comments on Inservice Program
K-Rock and Z-Rock
[May 1991]
As I did last semester, I found my host organization on my own, without any help from the inservice office. Not that I have anything against your office, that's just the way it happened. I therefore don't have any suggestions for improving the inservice program, other than publicizing it more so that more students know about it.
Other students would definitely benefit from interning at both K-Rock and Z-Rock, but they should know in advance that most of what interns do is work in the K-Rock promotions office. Students who are interested in another aspect of radio should make that clear to K-Rock before starting, or they will find themselves answering phones instead of learning about production, or whatever.
I don't know if Steve Aprea will be working there much longer, but if he does students should be informed that honesty and reliability are not his strong points, to put it as kindly as possible. He also does not, under any circumstances, return phone calls. He is friendly and pleasant, but lies compulsively. Anyone who has to deal with him should keep this in mind. (I think Joey Ramone put it best: "Steve's a real f**ked up kid.)1 Also, many K-Rock employees who wish to yell at Steve but find that he isn't around yell at interns about Steve.
K-Rock interns are also expected to work at events outside their usual hours. These can be late-night concerts or daytime giveaways. It seems they don't inform interns of this until we have our schedules set up, then they get angry when we don't have time for these events.
I especially recommend this organization to students who are knowledgeable about classic rock and enjoy dealing with the types of people involved in it.
1 Personal communication.
[address redacted]
May 29, 1991
Mr. Mark Chernoff
K-Rock/Z-Rock
600 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Dear Mr. Chernoff:
Having interned here since January I've realized that my skills and talents would be valuable assets to Z-Rock. Rather than making overblown promises that I will singlehandedly raise Z-Rock's ratings by phenomenal amounts, in the hopes of being hired on a gamble, I offer instead my past record of hard work and success at a smaller station. If you feel that the same type of dedication will pay off for Z-Rock, then please consider hiring me.
When I began my show at Hunter College Radio (WHCS) in 1988 there was fierce opposition to its format. There hadn't been a heavy metal show on WHCS in at least five years, there was no metal record library, and record companies had stopped sending metal. Within three years I had created and catalogued a metal library, reestablished contact with record companies, begun submitting dialogues to Aargh! (of CMJ), and become known as "metal director." Letting students and the industry know that WHCS was now playing metal was a big job, and so my show became the most heavily publicized at the station. I organized album giveaways and interviews with Rockhead, Crown the Good, and Handsome Dick Manitoba. An interview with Marky Ramone is in the works. The other station personnel, who had originally resented my persistence, recognized my abilities by nominating and electing me Promotions Director.
As Promotions Director I organized what are, as far as I know, the first promotions of WHCS as a whole, rather than just individual shows. This semester I used some techniques that I learned from my internship at K-Rock. That these promotions have had an effect is evidenced by the fact that for the first time WHCS will broadcast over the summer instead of going off the air. This is at the request of many station members who are more enthusiastic about the station than ever before.
While the equipment at Z-Rock is, of course, more complicated than that of WHCS, what I don't know I could quickly learn and would be able to produce shows if need be.
Having volunteered at the CMJ and New Music Seminars, as well as having taken an excellent course called "The Music Industry" at Hunter, I feel that I have more knowledge of the industry than the majority of recent graduates, and am now ready to begin my professional career. I hope this can be at Z-Rock.
Sincerely,
[signed]
Theodora Kacalanos
[now Theodora Michaels]