She’s spunky, funny, confident and hella talented! She’s the voice you hear in Norfolk, VA middays at 103 Jamz!
I met DominiqueDaDiva during an LA trip for the Baggage Claim junket and this radio chick was an absolute joy to be around! There wasn’t a dull moment with Dominique as we walked the fabulous Rodeo Drive and checked out the high end boutiques (looking of course).
She’s one of the Radio Chicks that I mention a few times in my blogs who agreed to start this crusade for women in radio. So I was pleased when she set aside some time from her club appearances, weekend getaways with friends, and demanding show to grant me this one on one.
How long have you been in the radio business? 7 years
Who helped you get your start in radio? DJ Sir Rj, I interned on his night show
When you walk through the club and the party is jumpin, folks on tables, poppin bottles, taking selfies and having the best times of their lives! You wouldn’t’ think the person to blame for all this would be a chick! Well, in most cases, club DJ’s are females and don’t get it twisted, DJ’s who are chicks can rock a party!
If you’re ever in DC, make sure you check out this DJ chick by the name of DJ Heat. Outside of the club scene, DJ Heat does her thing on WPGC Monday through Thursday nights at 10PM.
She and I met in LA and I didn’t know who she was at first until I put two and two together, made a few twitter searches and text messages to mutual acquaintances who verified she was indeed THE DJ Heat!
She’s mad cool and very approachable which she says is…
When you walk through the club and the party is jumpin, folks on tables, poppin bottles, taking selfies and having the best times of their lives! You wouldn’t’ think the person to blame for all this would be a chick! Well, in most cases, club DJ’s are females and don’t get it twisted, DJ’s who are chicks can rock a party!
If you’re ever in DC, make sure you check out this DJ chick by the name of DJ Heat. Outside of the club scene, DJ Heat does her thing on WPGC Monday through Thursday nights at 10PM.
She and I met in LA and I didn’t know who she was at first until I put two and two together, made a few twitter searches and text messages to mutual acquaintances who verified she was indeed THE DJ Heat!
She’s mad cool and very approachable which she says is the biggest misconception of her. Read more in our one on one:
How long have you been in the radio business? Since 1999.
What was it about radio that struck your interest? I am a big music lover, and I used to be so obsessed with writing down the radio countdown songs and tracking how they changed; bothering the DJs all day by calling to request a song. Back when I was a kid, there was no internet, or Ipods, and cable television wasn’t the norm yet. So you HAD to listen to the radio to hear your favorite songs. And I of course fell in love with the personalities and thought they had the coolest jobs ever and that inspired me to want to do the same.
What genre of music do you like to listen to the most and why? Even though hip-hop is my first love, I’ve been listening to 80s and 90s R&B more than rap for the last year. The songs from those decades are just so amazing. From the slow jams to the dance tracks. They had so many great elements and sounds that is not duplicated with today’s sound.
What is your LET IT GO song? “If” by Janet Jackson. I am the type of person that thinks they knows all of the dance moves from a music video. So anytime “If” comes on, I stop what I’m doing and break out into the entire dance routine. Even if I’m driving, I’m still getting it…with at least one hand still on the steering wheel of course.
You’ve interviewed a lot of celebrities, was there ever a time you had an uncomfortable celebrity interview or encounter where it went terribly wrong? Describe. Awww man. The “bad” interview that always comes to mind is India Arie. I was in college at Morgan State University and wrote the entertainment reviews and did interviews for the school paper. India Arie had just hit the scene and was promoting her debut album, Acoustic Soul. It was a phone interview, and I asked her “So why did you decide to call your album Acoustic Soul?” She paused and said in a very uppity way “Because that’s what it is”. The way she answered the question it was like she was saying “You dumb trick, why the hell you think I named it that? Duh!”. And she didn’t even elaborate anymore. Just the short answer, “Because that’s what it is”. My confidence was shot after then. That was probably one of the shortest interviews I’ve ever done too. I was through after that. lol
What’s the biggest misconception about you? A lot of people assume that I’m a bit mean and unapproachable because of my tough looks, but I’m the exact opposite. When you come up to me, I’m all smiles and hugs. And I guess some people have that misconception because others in this business I’ve been mean and unapproachable to them. I’ve witnessed it. But I believe in making everyone feel special when they meet me for the first time. If they have a great experience with me, they are going to tell maybe 1 or 2 people about it. But if they have a bad experience, they are going to tell DOZENS of people. I rather 2 people know about a good experience with me than dozens of people knowing about a bad one.
What makes a dynamic DJ/personality? A think what makes a dynamic dj/personality is caring about your craft, and caring about your listeners. So many people these days get into this business and only think about themselves or don’t care to learn about those that paved the way, or don’t even care to cater to their listeners. And you can hear that in them. But that is not the way. You cannot be selfish in this business.
Why is it hard for female DJ’s to be taken seriously? I think it’s hard because no matter how far we come along as women in this world, people still think we are supposed to stay in a certain place or role. We’re still looked at as “just a girl”. Therefore, we have to work harder than our male counterparts. Which sucks. But it’s also motivating and pushes you to break down barriers.
What DJ/personality do you admire the most? Big Tigger. He is like my big brother. I’ve known him since I was his intern in ‘99, and he has been there for me since I was college kid until now. I joke that I will name my first child after him, because that’s how much he has been there for me. A lot of positive attributes I have, I have to thank him for. And to witness his growth from when I first met him until now, it never ceases to amazes me and it’s inspiring. Not a lot of people are able to adapt to this changing industry and still remain relevant to people, but he has.
What was the BEST advice you ever got and by whom? The best advice I ever received is from DJ Flexx when I was first starting out. He told me to not dwell on an issue or mistake because it’s in the past now and you have to move forward. That may sound minor, but in radio you know that means a lot. Especially when starting out. We all know how one mistake like not knowing you had dead air or messing up a break can bother you for the rest of your shift and throw you off from performing. But you can’t let a 30 second mistake linger on your mind for 4 hours and throw you off your game.
If you weren’t a personality/DJ, what would you be doing? I would probably be writing for a music publication or website. Writing about the industry is another love of mine. No matter what I path I chose in life, it would still all be music related.
Where do you see urban radio in the next 10-15 years? Sadly, I almost see the entire nation listening to the exact same thing no matter what city or state you’re in. We’ve seen that happening in this business for some time now where you have for example someone in a studio in New York attempting to cater to people in the south. It’s sad that we are losing a lot of great local voices in favor of voice tracking/syndication, etc. But on a positive note, I’m glad that classic hip-hop radio stations are starting to emerge. When I was younger and would hear my aunt listen to her old school R&B stations, it made me wonder if I would hear rap on old school stations when I became an adult since that was the dominant genre of my generation. And now it’s starting to happen. So in 10-15 years when I’m inching closer to being AARP eligible, and can hear some classics I grew up on played all day on the radio.
What do you think is wrong, if you do, with hip hop and R&B? With everything going on recently involving tragedies such as Mike Brown, Eric Garner, etc., I think what is wrong with hip-hop is that the younger artists are afraid to speak out. Be it just saying how they feel in a tweet or in a song, you can’t tell me that they don’t have legit thoughts about all that is going on in the world. I think some artists feel like that their fans don’t want to hear that stuff. When you sell an image, you become afraid to give fans anything but that image. But you have to realize you have influence as well and show these kids that listen to your music that yeah you do this music, but you can still have a mind as well. Let me use OG Maco for example. He has that song that’s big in the clubs called “Bitch You Guessing”. I think that song is so awful and dumb. But the other day I kept seeing people retweet him on my Twitter timeline because he was talking about some real thought provoking stuff. I go to his timeline and it turns out this brother is way more than just that ratchet song. I had judged him. But I was happy to know that someone that makes a song like that is not afraid to still show he has a mind and he’s going to speak on what’s going on in today’s society.
Who do you think is the most under-appreciated artist out there right now? The Dream. The man writes amazing songs for other people, but the masses don’t pay attention to him when he drops his own music. I can understand why he goes off the cuff sometimes. We can dance along to Beyonce’s “Flawless” or Rihanna ‘s “Birthday Cake” that he wrote, but trash his own work of music. I would spazz out too. lol
Who’s in your iPod/radar? I surprisingly haven’t owned an iPod since 2004, and I won that in a contest. (lol) The majority of my music listening is done on my phone through the Pandora app. It’s usually set to a 90s themed station or an R&B station like Floetry or Jill Scott. As far as artists on my radar, I’m starting to like hip-hop artist Joey Bada$$ more and more. His sound is very nostalgic. Reminds me of the early/mid-90s New York hip-hop sound. And there’s a dope singer/rapper from the DMV area named Robbie Celeste. He produces, plays a million instruments, and is simply amazing.
What do you want your legacy to be? I just want to be known as a humble and genuine person that was filled with love in her heart.
Biggest regret is….Not taking a risk on an internship opportunity with one of the top executives at Universal Records when I was in college. I had to turn it down because the thought of living alone in New York by myself scared me at the time. lol
If you could have a DJ spin off with one DJ in the world, who would it be and why? Probably David Guetta. Just to experience that major EDM scene would be cool. I love when I DJ at events where I can play his music and I usually imagine I’m in that same environment he would be playing in. His music definitely puts me in a different zone.
How can people reach out to you? My official website is DJHeatDC.com. On Twitter and Instagram I’m @DJHeatDC. And for Facebook it’s Facebook.com/DJHeatDC.
Hey! I know it’s not just me when I say that I just can’t do for anyone this Christmas. With monthly bills, a growing teen, a new car and coffee addiction, it’s hard to set aside a Christmas fund.
This can put a damper on the mood real quick. But we shouldn’t let it.
Being a responsible adult is hard! I knew I shouldn’t have ignored my parents when they screamed that to me while I stomped down the hall to my bedroom after they punished me for being “too grown”.
I remember my dad used to tell me, “all you need to do is get a good report card and I’ll take care of the rest.” Those days are over. Report cards don’t pay the bills.
He (Dad) would pick me up for Christmas and take me to my grandmother’s house. My aunts, uncles and cousins were there; crowded in that three bedroom rowhouse on Columbo Street in Garfield (Pittsburgh). I can’t recall any conversation from the adults about “sorry mom! I didn’t have it to do this year.” If so, I didn’t’ hear it because I was busy playing. It was fun back then and maybe that’s what’s missing today.
Christmas is so commercial. “Final Christmas Sale” or “Special savings event” from this department store and that car dealership. No wonder we’re all freaking out. Our kids want the latest and best-est this and that and we can’t keep up. I do know this isn’t what Christmas is all about! It’s not right?
We forgot how to ENJOY CHRISTMAS; even when we don’t have enough to fill the bottom of our Christmas tree.
I found some ideas that might help:
Swap services. If you have smart but broke friends, this tip is for you. Have a friend who provides a valuable service such as personal training, financial planning, or computer consulting give you several one hour vouchers you can give to your friends. In return, you give your friend the same number of one hour vouchers for whatever service you provide.
Cook. Who doesn’t love being served by a friend? Give those on your list the experience of eating out at home. Shop for the groceries (they pay), prepare and serve the meal, and then be sure to clean up. You might even get a free meal out of it.
Babysit. When your tolerance for screaming kids exceeds your bank account balance, consider giving babysitting “coupons” that your friends can redeem. If you’re a masochist, schedule a night where multiple families drop the kids off at your house. This way you’re not giving up so much of your time.
She’s spunky, funny, confident and hella talented! She’s the voice you hear in Norfolk, VA middays at 103 Jamz!
I met DominiqueDaDiva during an LA trip for the Baggage Claim junket and this radio chick was an absolute joy to be around! There wasn’t a dull moment with Dominique as we walked the fabulous Rodeo Drive and checked out the high end boutiques (looking of course).
She’s one of the Radio Chicks that I mention a few times in my blogs who agreed to start this crusade for women in radio. So I was pleased when she set aside some time from her club appearances, weekend getaways with friends, and demanding show to grant me this one on one.
How long have you been in the radio business? 7 years
Who helped you get your start in radio? DJ Sir Rj, I interned on his night show
Are females harder to get along with in radio? I haven’t experienced any negativity
Do you think it’s a lot of competition? Yes!
What is your LET IT GO song? (one that you would absolutely lose your mind listening to) Alanis Morrisette- You Outta Know
You’ve interviewed a lot of celebrities, was there ever a time you had an uncomfortable celebrity interview or encounter where it went terribly wrong? Describe. –Nothing really went wrong, but I waited for a certain Philly rapper to get off his tour bus for about 45 mins. Only to end up with 1 min and 50 secs worth of interview. He seemed like he didn’t want to talk about his upcoming debut album at all. It was like I was pulling teeth to get him to say anything. Which I thought was weird. Like hey dude, aren’t you trying to sell something here?
Who was the best celebrity encounter and why? That’s hard! It’s between J.Cole & Kendrick Lamar. I’m going to say J.Cole though because he’s so genuine & humble. We were going on and on talking like I’d known him for years. Didn’t feel like an interview at all.
What’s the biggest misconception about you? Maybe my radio name. “Diva” sometimes gets a negative connotation but if you follow me you’ll realize I’m just a say it like it is, fun person. I like to make people laugh & of course be girly. I just added Diva to my name to make it more memorable.
Why don’t people get about music when it comes to radio? They don’t understand that we just can’t play whatever we want.
Who do you most admire in the radio industry and why? I love how no matter how many platforms we have in media, radio is still reigning as one of the top. Artist these days have so many outlets to get their music heard yet & still when you hear it on the radio “you made it” .
What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? “Work smarter, not harder”
I met this Radio Chick on an airport shuttle bus headed to the Baggage Claim junket in LA. Very polite, nice smile and reserved. She and I talked briefly about the film, LA being our first trip (for me anyway..can’t remember if it was her first time), where we worked and stuff like that.
Our rooms weren’t ready for check in so we sat in the media suite at the Four Seasons (yaaassss honey) and sipped on tea and took advantage of the grand buffet that was presented to us.
During that 24 hours in LA, Nicole Collinsand I grew fond of one another and built a sisterhood. She and I discussed the seriousness of being a woman in the radio industry and what we could do to play a part in making the network more comfortable and beneficial for those who choose to be in this industry. She…
I met this Radio Chick on an airport shuttle bus headed to the Baggage Claim junket in LA. Very polite, nice smile and reserved. She and I talked briefly about the film, LA being our first trip (for me anyway..can’t remember if it was her first time), where we worked and stuff like that.
Our rooms weren’t ready for check in so we sat in the media suite at the Four Seasons (yaaassss honey) and sipped on tea and took advantage of the grand buffet that was presented to us.
During that 24 hours in LA, Nicole Collinsand I grew fond of one another and built a sisterhood. She and I discussed the seriousness of being a woman in the radio industry and what we could do to play a part in making the network more comfortable and beneficial for those who choose to be in this industry. She is one of the five powerful women that started the Radio Chicks Rock crusade as explained in previous posts.
Nicole is not just a radio personality in New Orleans (Q93), she’s a community leader, a host for an NBA basketball team, a trend setter, actress, and mother! She’s a pretty dope radio chick and I’m glad she was able to slide over some time to grant me this interview.
If you’re ever in New Orleans, make sure you look her up!
(Nicole “Niki” Collins, Weekends, Q93, New Orleans)
How long have you been in the radio business?
7 years
How long were you in the NBA Hosting business?
4 years
What is more enjoyable/different?
They are both enjoyable because they allow me to meet and interact with people. I do like on camera work better because that’s more of my dream career. You have to be more on point for live filming, however, can’t have that messed up look shown on the screen.
Is the transition from television to radio a challenging one?
It’s not as easy as hoping off the radio and going into television. It’s definitely a different skill that has to be nurtured. I don’t want to do news broadcasting so I chose to get my on camera experience through on camera interviewing for the radio station and through the New Orleans Pelicans. It’s about networking and perfecting your craft. Also about being ready, always have to be ready because opportunity can present itself anytime anywhere. I’m also an actress (12 Years A Slave, HBO’s Treme) and breaking into that alone is difficult but I’m managing well with it. I’m not where I completely want to be just yet, but the journey so far has been/ is amazing and I’ve learned a lot through the challenges and obstacles.
What was it about radio that struck your interest?
How it made me feel. I love music. Growing up I would listen to the radio station all of the time to hear new music and to listen to what the personalities had to say that day. I also like to call in an hear myself talk (even tho I didn’t like hearing my voice when I came on, weird right?)
And now that I’m on the radio I love how it makes others feel. I love the excitement. I love going into the streets and meeting people and seeing how the station is such an integral part in their lives. It’s very rewarding What genre of music do you like to listen to the most and why?
Beyoncé (she’s her own genre and I love her!)
I also love R&B slow jams from the 90s-early 2000s. That’s my music for anything. Even before performance or hosting events. I sing along with them and feel great.
N.O. Bouncemusic gets me going. It will always lift me up. If a Bounce song comes on, I’m automatically moving and shaking.
What is your LET IT GO song? (one that you would absolutely lose your mind listening to)
Beyoncé’s Resentment always gets me in an emotional way
You’ve interviewed a lot of celebrities, was there ever a time you had an uncomfortable celebrity interview/encounter where it went terribly wrong? Describe.
I like Pharrell and he is a cool dude but about 3 years ago he had an artist he was promoting and they both came to the station for an interview. I wasn’t told to refrain from asking Pharrell anything but I also knew the interview was to focus on the artist. We have three seats in the studios that are in front of mics and he sat in the third chair. I talked to the girl for a while then I asked Pharell “What was it about this artist that drew you to her” and in his reply he finished with “but this ain’t about me let’s focus on her”…. Um, the question was about her. You are vouching for her. You sat in the chair of front of a mic. We have other seating in the studio not by any audio equipment. It also was indeed about you to because you are in the building. I felt kind of like he was saying I didn’t know how to handle my interview. But I understood instead of taking the “I’m being attacked” route and so I politely said “of course it’s about her but your fans want to know why her, in their efforts to support her. So you know…this is for her”. “Happy” was released about a year to a year and a half later so I definitely should have asked him more about him and what he was working on, lol.
Who was the best celebrity encounter and why?
Hmmmm…my first interview/encounter was with Mary J Blige. I was still fresh but had an awesome interview and she opened up to me. We did a little tag team on her husband as well (ok totally just meant on air we kind of ganged up on him because he was getting a lil sporty, for those whose mind went completely left). But it was a very empowering moment for me because I felt accomplished in radio at that point. Plus she was real cool
The actor Tim Robbins (Shawshank Redemption and Nothing to Lose) directed me in an episode of HBO’s Treme and I was really excited (but contained). He was cool as all get out and gave great advice and direction.
I also enjoyed my encounter with Chiwetel Ejiofor, the lead in 12 Years a Slave and I had a scene with him and Benedict Cumberbatch in the movie. I will never forget either one of them and their support and advice.
What’s the biggest misconception about you?
I wouldn’t even know to be honest. I think more broadly there’s a misconception that once you become a mother life has to go a certain more conservative way. There’s a misconception that one needs to give up on certain dreams and focus on something that’s “stable” time and money wise for a family. And that’s just not true for me.
I’ve been able to continue being an actor and my other endeavors. I’m still able to be me. Grant it, I have an amazing support system. I can’t imagine life without my daughter.
Who do you most admire in the radio industry and why?
I really admire my mentor Uptown Angela. She coached me. She allowed me to come in and learn. I’ve seen her struggles, obstacles and the triumph over them all. She’s a class act and she’s exceeded radio expectations. The respect she’s given in a true testimony to her character as well. I always feel so fortunate that I came in under her because her on air presence is so personable yet so crisp and its helped me in my emceeing on camera as well
What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?
“Always be yourself” “don’t compare yourself to the next man” “Go after your dream, live your life, be who you are to be” “always pay it forward” “don’t be afraid to say no” “make sure there’s passion in what you’re doing” “don’t give up, when you have given up that is when you have failed”
Not one piece of advice but a few pieces that have helped me in different situations. It’s a tough industry to navigate sometimes (especially the acting). In the words of my acting mentor Deneen Tyler, “some seasons you’re hot and some you’re not”. Working on bettering myself and giving back when necessary are some daily goals I strive to live by no matter what is going on career wise and the understanding that what’s for me is for me keeps me going, focused on MY prize and grounded.
What’s the biggest misconception about women in radio?
I heard a long time ago that most women in radio were trying to get hooked up with one of these celebrities- I mean if so that’s their business and all power to them however I don’t think that’s a goal of women in radio.
I also think there’s a misconception that we are all at odds with one another and all competing for one, woman allowed spot at the top of the radio ladder (crazy right?)
Where do you see urban radio in the next 10-15 years?
Not sure completely but not like it is now. It’s already changing; behind the scenes and with music in general. Genres are combining and technology is getting more advanced daily. However in some markets urban radio is such an integral part of the lives of the people of that market that I would love to see it still thriving
What do you think is wrong, if you do, with hip hop and R&B?
Well not to sound like an old woman but please bring back my old school R&B!! After early 2000s there’s been a handful of R&B songs and artist that have moved me body and soul.
It’s lacking that passion and sensuality that some of our favorites. Embody. That was my “well back in my day” moment
Who do you think is the most under-appreciated artist out there right now?
She’s not under-appreciated but I want the world to know about rap artist 3D Na’Tee. I’m not that into rap but she’s very talented and humble. Plus she’s a self-motivated, goal getter. Her music speaks for itself.
What do you want your legacy to be?
That I never gave up and worked hard towards my dreams and goals. That through the downs I was able to stay focus and pick myself up. That I was my own person and I did things according to my standards. Also that I have back along the way and helped others
That I never gave up and worked hard
If you could be one of these, who would it be and why? (funny I know…but I’m curious-pick one)
Kardashian sisters
Girlfriends (cast)
Sex InThe City girls
Gladiator (cast)
Definitely a Female Super Hero! Not one that we know already. I’d be the newest one and I would have to have Frozen powers or my daughter would be upset. And I would be able to stop time (freeze) as well because she’s growing so fast! Oooh… I can really create this Freezing powered super hero!
Neke Howse is the reason I’m working in Baltimore! She’s the first person I called when I was told “we’re moving in a different direction” from my radio job in Pittsburgh.
Let me take it back for a minute: she and I actually met at that station, when I was her intern for her night show at WAMO. I pulled her commercials, got her Chinese food and made her phone calls. She put me to work honey!
If you never worked with Neke Howse, I would say that’s a good and a bad thing. It’s a good thing because you’ve never experienced working with someone who is so passionate about what she does. It’s bad because you really missed out on working with someone who is really passionate about what she does.
Neke was hard on me and for that I’m forever grateful! If it weren’t for her lessons…
We met through a mutual friend and sister (in my head) Traci Braxton. Sonji Carey is the publicist of the famous Braxton sister/singer and the first person to reach out to me when wanting to promote her client.
She needed all the necessary details (who, what, where, when, why, etc.) and for a second, I was a little “perturbed” about the fuss but I later understood and grew fond of my new friend Sonji.
Being a celebrity publicist looks fun but when you really look into the day in the life of someone who lives a high profile life, it’s nothing even close. You have no time for family, friends, vacation, LIFE!
On a daily basis, publicists are dealing with crazed fans, promoters, agents, record labels, managers, emails, texts, screaming husbands, screaming children, social media posts and the artist themselves.
So what’s it like being a celebrity publicist? I had to ask Sonji to break it down for me.
Funny thing about Sonji is: when I asked her for this interview, it not only took her forever to get back to me (because she’s always busy), but she didn’t use this time to brag about herself! She didn’t even include a picture of herself! I actually tried to find one of her online…NOTHING! I guess the proof is really in the pudding (work).
So…here’s my one on one w/ celebrity publicist Sonji Carey:
What is your occupation? A Publicist
How did you get started in your career? I started out supporting a organization by means volunteering my service and this was in my hometown. After two years of hard work and commitment. I was offered a position as a Junior Publicist.
What do you like/love most about your career? Having the opportunity of being creative and knowing that at the end of the day my client/clients are satisfied with the end results.
Most importantly is building that personal and professional relationship. Where under the corporate and foundation umbrella as a publicist it not as challenging and aggressive as entertainment PR. The difference between the two, you are working with the organization that has other team leads involved such as managers, director, event planners, marketing strategist, we work together to produce a huge public or private event, but when you are working with an individual talent at times it can be quite challenging whereas the artist themselves in the entertainment industry is quite aggressive you have be out there networking promoting your client, making sure that social media is always kept on a positive note, because people will quickly judge you, criticize you, hate on you for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time and then they take that one snapshot picture and make it go viral and that’s when damage control is put into place.
What did you do before you started this particular art and why was it necessary to switch gears?
I started out in health insurance. You have a question, I’m your girl! You want to know about The women’s preventive care act, how to get a Breast Pump for free, how to get contraceptives for free, how to get insurance through the Obamacare…call me up
On a serious note, It was important for me to switch gears, I have a degree in human resources business /management which I never used, but it is always important to explore other options and explore other opportunities that will lead you into what you really want to do and PR is my thing
What’s the biggest misconception about what you do and how do you respond to it?
It depends on which industry in public relations you represent. We are sometimes looked at as the bad customer service representative (lol) but for me personally, I’m one of the nicest individuals that you can honestly deal with. I am willing to listen, take on constructive criticism, and/or consider anything you have to offer. However, at the end of the day, I will give you my honest feedback. It’s nothing personal; it’s business as always!
Overall, I like to observe and understand what I am about to deal with. A lot of times we can be extremely straightforward, because at the end of the day our goal is to help protect our clients brand and image!
Every person has a story that’s “one for the books”. That could mean it was a good experience or a bad one. What is a “one for the books” story for you?
I setup a press conference and for some reason I kept calling out the incorrect organizations’ name to the media. During the conference, folks keep looking at me like I was crazy and that’s when it hit me….oops LMBO…that was when I first stated
What industry do you admire the most and why?
The entertainment industry and it’s not about the glitz, glamour or the finer things in life that you come across, but I personally understand why it is so important for artists to be paid for their services. Every event that they attend no matter if it’s a personal appearance, performance or speaking engagement, every artist should be paid for their performance. It’s no difference between you and me. When we go to our jobs every day, our bosses expect us to perform well on our jobs and we expect to be compensated either every two weeks or once a month. It’s the same deal with an artist in the entertainment industry, they should be compensated for their performance no matter what, and their job is to entertain us so why not pay them? That’s what I admire the most is the hard work and dedication and the countless hours. These artists put in each and every day and the sacrifices that they make for their families.
If there was something you’ve never done before but you were given the opportunity to do it today, what would it be?
I was offered a position to work in Public Relations with a company in California, but I turned the position down (don’t laugh) because I was not sure how I was going to handle earthquakes. Yes I regret not taking the job!
In 5 years, where do you see yourself?
Still working in PR, and of course in a different tax bracket!
If you of today could speak to you of 15 years ago, what would she say and how would she respond?
16 years ago, I was 23 and confused. I would tell myself to stay humble and continue to achieve your goals and don’t let anyone pull you back.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“An artist should just be that an artist, the rest is up to the publicist to keep the public eyes opened!” -Sonji
How can people reach out to you?
Twitter @SonjiCarey
Neke Howse is the reason I’m working in Baltimore! She’s the first person I called when I was told “we’re moving in a different direction” from my radio job in Pittsburgh.
Let me take it back for a minute: she and I actually met at that station, when I was her intern for her night show at WAMO. I pulled her commercials, got her Chinese food and made her phone calls. She put me to work honey!
If you never worked with Neke Howse, I would say that’s a good and a bad thing. It’s a good thing because you’ve never experienced working with someone who is so passionate about what she does. It’s bad because you really missed out on working with someone who is really passionate about what she does.
Neke was hard on me and for that I’m forever grateful! If it weren’t for her lessons about life, love, career and everything else, I don’t know where I would be today. She didn’t (and won’t) beat around the bush or sugar coat anything. It’s not her thing!
She was the ONLY woman who told me that I was “valuable” and “just as important” as anyone else in this business. When I was let go from my job in Pittsburgh, I was broken and confused about who I was going to be or what I was going to do next.
She listened to me whine and cry, then said “ok, I’m going to say this one time. You’re going to be fine. You are now ready to move on to the next step. You can’t appreciate where you’re going until you realize where you came from. That was just your first step. You have more to do and further to go. You needed this. Now let’s get to work.”
I did EVERYTHING she told me and she did EVERYTHING she could do to help me. She didnt’ hold my hand. She trusted that I heard what she said and that was that!
Neke hired me as a part timer for 92Q. I would drive from Pittsburgh, stay at a hotel across the street from the station and work whatever shift she needed me to work then drive back. It was what she could do and it was up to me to take it and make it mine.
God blessed her with a management job that promoted her to one of the top markets and she left me to fill her shoes. Although she’s a tiny person, those were some big shoes to fill. People still think I am her (people think we sound alike..I can’t tell).
Neke Howse is my mentor, my sister, my inspiration, my “love you, K?” buddy! (inside joke)
I hardly see her because she’s busy running things in DC (WKYS) but I know that if I ever needed her for ANYTHING, she’ll be there! And for that, I am forever indebted to her!
If you ever questioned how I got here (Baltimore), Neke Howse is the reason: (Thank you sis)
Where are you from? I was born in California but my home has always been where I reside at the time.
How long have you been in the radio business? Whoo a long time over 10 years and it seems like yesterday.
What don’t people know about you? I’m shy until I get to know a person.
What genre of music do you like to listen to the most and why? As K. Michelle would say “I love em all”
What is your LET IT GO song? (one that you would absolutely lose your mind listening to) Gucci’s “I think I love her”
You met lot of celebrities, was there ever a time you had an uncomfortable celebrity interview/encounter where it went terribly wrong? Describe. Yes, I came right out the box with a ratchet question. I did not even warm the artist up. She politely told me about myself. I learned from that experience and I still feel horrible.
(Neke and Kelson)
Who was the best celebrity encounter and why? It really was not my moment but Kelson’s moment. He was going to meet his favorite artist Mary J. Blige and he was so nervous that I told him let me talk for you. I looked at her froze then started to stumble all over my words. I screwed everything up for him. You had to be there it was hilarious! I think we both scared her a little. We came across as two weirdo’s. I’m sure of it.
What’s the biggest misconception about NEKE? People assume that I’m spoiled. And for some reason I look intimidating.
Why don’t people get about music when it comes to radio? If you have a song playing on the radio that does not make you a star nor does it necessarily put money in your pocket.
Who do you most admire in the radio industry and why? Wow, I have admiration for a lot of people this would take all day for me to answer.
What was the best advice anyone ever gave you? “Mean what you say”
(Neke and Melanie Fiona)
What’s the biggest misconception about women in radio? I’m not really concerned with misconceptions about women in radio. I have bigger fish to fry.
Where do you see urban radio in the next 10-15 years? Not sure but I’m very hopeful.
What do you think is wrong, if you do, with hip hop and R&B? Music comes from such a creative place I don’t really think you can say anything is wrong with it…Can you?
(Neke and J Cole)
Why is your job important in radio? I am pretty much responsible for everything that comes out of the speakers….not sure how important this is but its hellafun!
Why is it so difficult for women in this industry to become leaders in this industry? I don’t think it’s difficult at all. I think you can achieve anything if you work hard and have faith in yourself.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Operations Manager for a cluster.
Favorite catch phrase? “Cool beans!!!”
Who do you think is the most under-appreciated artist out there right now? The most under-appreciated artist are those who pour their heart into their music but have nothing to show for it.
Who’s in your iPod/radar? I love Stevie Nicks…she will forever be on my radar.
What do you want your legacy to be? That I paved the way for others in this industry.
Biggest regret is….I don’t have any regrets so far…
If you could pick a snack that you could eat all day and it wouldn’t add on any calories, what would that snack be and why? (it’s weird but I’m curious lol) I could eat almost anything with caramel sauce on it.
How can people reach out to you? Twitter/ Facebook /Instagram @yagirlneke
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