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Bones has been a
favorite restaurant of mine for years. Located on Piedmont
in Buckhead it has been and still is the scene of many radio
business deals…a power lunch as we used to call it. It is
also a place to socialize with friends. The scene was on
the Monday following Christmas ’04. Pat, my wife, and I
arrived at Bones at 11:45 AM sharp. I knew the person we
were waiting for would not be late (former programmers still
have an atomic clock in their brain and are rarely late).
Sure enough, at seven till noon Mary Catherine Sneed walked
in the front door. I said, “Well, look who just walked in”.
Mary Catherine said, “not late am I?” NOT A CHANCE. The
three of us were seated, and coffee and iced tea was soon in
front of us. We waited to order food because we had two
more to join us soon.
I looked at Mary Catherine
and mentally reviewed her professional career. As all you
readers know Mary Catherine is the Chief Operating Officer
of Radio One. Radio One is the nation’s largest radio
broadcasting company primarily targeting African American
and urban listeners. Radio One owns over sixty stations in
twenty two markets across the country…including some major
markets like Houston, Dallas, and DC. Her job is to handle
the operational issues for Radio One. She is in the Top 20
of Radio Ink’s most influential women broadcasters. Mary
Catherine was born in Huntsville, Alabama, graduated from
Auburn (BA in Languages and Education), and began her career
as Program Director of WSM/AM and FM in Nashville. (How is
THAT for opening big time!!!). From there she moved to
Atlanta (she still lives in the ‘burbs) where she became
Programmer/Consultant for WSB/AM and FM. (WSM and then WSB
back to back…are you kidding me!!!) She expanded her
consultancy to Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami, and San
Antonio. She was an executive for DKM and Summit
Communications where she was Executive VP of the Radio
Division responsible for WVEE/Atlanta, WRKS/New York, WXYZ/Baltimore,
and KJMZ in Dallas. In ’95 she joined Radio One as VP and
GM of its Atlanta operation, and launched Atlanta’s first
Hip Hop station, WHTA, and in ‘97 introduced WAMJ there.
WOW!!!! What a fabulous career!!! I recall that during her
consulting years we wanted to hire her as a consultant for
our Burkhart/Abrams consulting company. We were all very
impressed with her rating accomplishments. But,
unfortunately for us she declined.
Our
other two lunch guests arrived!! One of them was our
daughter Kellye, accompanied by her husband Robert. It was
old home week for Mary Catherine and Kellye!!!! You see,
after Kellye graduated from the University of Georgia she
formed a press release firm for radio companies who wanted
publicity…so Kellye’s Publicity City was born. Her first
client was the aforementioned DKM/Summit, and you got
it….the person who hired her was Mary Catherine. As a direct
result of her being hired by Mary Catherine, Kellye was
signed by many other large groups. A mother and father
NEVER FORGET a personal or professional kindness to one of
their children. Other than the verbal “thank you so much
for helping our daughter” we always hope that we can repay
the kindness in some way.
While
munching on Bone’s great food I asked about the
singing/writing career of Mary Catherine’s son, Jackson. She
told me that “he is really good”. Mary Catherine has
wonderful radio/music ears so I took her at her word. I said
“I sure would like to hear him”. She had brought a couple
of CD’s with her for us… as all good Moms should do!!!
After lunch and a few hours later, I listened to the CD.
Jackson jumped out of the speakers!!! What a fascinating,
interesting new kind of voice, style and songs!!! He has
talent…and a lot of it!!!! Hey, wait a minute…maybe we can
help her son just as she helped our daughter!!! So, I am
currently in touch with some record people with the hope
they hear what I hear. Jackson has a music future for
certain!!! Who will be the lucky company that signs him???
Back to
lunch, Kellye and Robert had to leave after coffee. We all
talked about “doing this more often”. Pat, Mary Catherine
and I then talked radio for an hour over more coffee. I’ll
keep the radio items we discussed confidential, but I don’t
have to tell you that Mary Catherine had some bright
thoughts and ideas…just as she always does.
Yep, with Jackson in mind this might have been another
power lunch at Bones!!!!! I know all the above because I
WAS THERE. Keep up the great work Mary Catherine, and
thanks again for not only being a super broadcaster but also
for being a wonderful person!!!
e-mail Kent
kent@kentburkhart.com
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