Life & Work with David Watson

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Watson.

Hi David, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I used to host a TV show in Connecticut and New York under the name 203 Music Clique which I hosted for 10 years.

I interviewed recording artists in the music industry and played their videos on my TV show where I won 3 Billboard Awards for the best Local/Regional Music Video Talk show in America. When the show officially ended in 2001 due to September 11th attack. Record companies started tightening up their financial belts and discontinuing a lot of their services. I decided to try my hand at Radio Broadcasting so I moved from the East Coast to the Midwest and I started my own radio station Jazzmix95. I figured I could use all my video contacts to transfer over to the radio show but that was not the case. Radio and Video have the same premise but it’s an entirely different animal and it was like starting over from scratch and I did!

It’s correct when they say nothing ventured, nothing gained. I had to start from ground level all over again. But I knew the ropes and what it would take so I went in head first. Revisiting all the trials and tribulations from the past I had with my other TV show. That last experience really helped me out a lot in figuring out how to navigate and have things move along much more smoothly.

The most important lesson that I learned previously was to stay persistent and be patient. But this time around I had total control over everything whereas in the past record companies had a lot of input in what I did and what I had to say during interviews. This time the pressure was fully on me and I was totally responsible for the outcome so I had to rise to the occasion.

I dug in and blindly started doing research and making contact with a lot of Independent Jazz Recording Artists. Many artists were not getting a chance on the main Jazz circuit but were looking for and needing exposure.

Jazzmix95 is a radio station but we also have a TV show. I just felt if I’m going to interviews with this artist I wanted to give them maximum exposure by not only running the interview on the radio but also on Social Media outlets.

The best thing I did was to actually start a channel for Jazzmix95 on Roku TV and also YouTube. That really separates us from a lot of Jazz radio stations where they just do interviews on the air and then that’s it. The TV show gives the recording artist more exposure. People get to see the recording artist outside of their musical element and really get to know them as a person.

In my opinion, radio interviews were fine but we live in a visual age and people are always on their phones, iPads, and laptops looking for videos and content so I had to capitalize on technology by bridging the gap and taking advantage of the fact. I just felt that I could create two options for Jazz fans to catch these recording artists and I wanted to do the best that I could to give them that reach out to the masses and so it’s working!

Me hosting the program LIVE on Saturday Mornings around the world has really helped as far as getting dedicated and new listeners to tune in. It’s been 12 years since Jazzmix95 was on the air. The TV show is only 2 years old. We are always trying to find new ways to make the listener experience more enjoyable. With technology always changing and finding a better way we always try to stay on that edge and soon there will be a Jazzmix95 Podcast.

From my start til now, it’s been a constant recipe of ambition, persistence, patience, staying positive, and determination. Also having the right people on your team helps out a great deal. As time has gone on our listener/fan base has grown exponentially. We still have a lot to learn but we are off to a great start and very excited about our future here at Jazzmix95.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If you go into a new adventure and think it’s going to be a smooth road then you are sincerely fooling yourself. One of the biggest problems is getting the listeners and recording artists to have faith in you and believe in your station and that what you are doing is right for them. That is the hardest sell of them all.

Timing is important and that is something we had struggled with in the past. Your workflow almost has to be flawless to keep things moving smoothly. There are times when things can be super slow and then at a drop of a dime it can be very hectic, sometimes out of control. When it happened the first time it was a learning experience for us. But now we have come up with a contingency plan when the moment occurs we now know what to do.

One of the other issues we struggled with is the writing for the Weekend Edition program. The music, guests, and all of the above. We would start writing on Monday and by Friday new music would come in a story we would be reporting on would change in the middle of the broadcast. Being versatile is key and we were not meeting that goal.

It was a good program with high ratings but there was something always missing. We went back to the drawing board, to basics, and made some key adjustments to overcome these issues. It’s like meeting a new deadline you have to be ready for anything. When the listeners call you out you have to respond and correct those issues immediately. And when you do that you build up that faith and trust with the listeners and recording artist.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the owner of Jazzmix95. I handle the programming, artist interviews, and the technical side of things. I specialize in music programming, and hosting radio and TV shows. Music programming is very important and when I program music I get very excited about it because I try to put myself in the listener’s shoes while I’m programming the music.

The music has to be harmonious, have flavor, and have a good flow to help keep the listeners engaged with our station. I’m mainly known for hosting Radio and TV shows. I have met people on the street who have seen our program on ROKU TV and YouTube and have shown their appreciation for what we do and that makes me feel good knowing people are enjoying the product we put out to the public.

What sets us apart from traditional jazz radio stations is that you will not hear that usual monotone low talking voice during our broadcast. A lot of jazz radio stations talk to and at people. There is no engagement. We like to have fun, we like to engage the listeners, and we like to get them thinking and responding. That is how they become dedicated listeners. We are not looking at listeners for ratings. We are trying to build a Jazzmix95 family.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I just wanted to say when you start out on a business adventure, plan, or create something new that you need to truly believe in yourself and stay focused. Run your own race and stay true to your plan. There are a lot of triggers and distractions out there today. Social media, friends, and family that may not believe in what you are doing. And it’s easy to get off track. Just remember that it is you that has to weather that storm. Not them! Also, do your research and get educated on what the business might entail, it could save you a lot of time

You have to believe in yourself 100% and put your blinders on and stay focused and go forward. If this is your dream then you’ll need to press on and ignore the outside interference from the masses and dedicate the time and effort into what you are doing. Don’t be afraid to take a chance or risk. Remember anyone who is successful took a risk to get them where they are at today. And to that level of success. You have to throw it out there in order to watch it come back. Most of all please be patient. Nothing comes overnight. If you’re putting in the effort and staying true to what you are doing the results will come.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jazzmix95.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzmix95/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2129799097341602/member-requests
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jazzmix95com
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jazzmix95management52 

Image Credits
Jaime Russell – Anthem Photography