Adam-Michael James On-Line: Radio

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	Having always been fascinated with radio, AMJ did silly voice tapes and fake radio shows growing up. With adulthood came the desire to explore the link between the radio industry and the music industry, which resulted in AMJ being accepted to the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in 1988. There at CSB's North Palm Beach, Florida facility, he learned the basics of both radio and television broadcasting through lectures and hands-on experience in the studio. The 16-week course covered the duties of disc jockeys and air talent, editing reel-to-reel tape with a grease pencil and razor blade (this was before computer editing!), and developing newspaper ads into workable commercial copy. After honing these techniques both in class and during outside studio time, AMJ received his broadcasting school diploma and set about recording a demo to shop around to stations in the area.
Harbortown Lady #1 Harbortown Lady #2 Nagurne's Auto Glass Larry's Discount Painting 14 May 1990 18 May 1990 22 May 1990 31 May 1990 5 June 1990 6 June 1990 7 June 1990 8 June 1990 July 1990 (Swapshop) 23 July 1990 (with Mike James) 23 June 1989 24 September 1989 13 July 1990 23 July 1990 "on" Fred Sanders	After several unsuccessful attempts to land his first radio gig, AMJ was introduced to the overnight DJ at WDKC, a country station in Fort Pierce, Florida. Soaking up everything he could, he soon recorded a new demo and presented it to the station's programming director. June 1989 saw AMJ live on the air for the first time, broadcasting as "Mike James" and manning the overnight slot himself in addition to weekends. Spinning records and playing carts, he caught on quickly to other duties such as switching crystals for satellite broadcasts, and found himself also recording spots and PSAs, as well as training incoming air talent. In 1990 the station underwent changes in both management and equipment (including a switchover from records to CDs), and AMJ was bumped up to the 10AM-2PM slot. Working in the refurbished studio, AMJ ran contests, had more interaction with listeners, and was responsible for the rather complicated "noon hour", which entailed running the real-time show while recording another from satellite for playback later in the hour. Outfitted in new country duds, AMJ joined his fellow air talent for personal appearances and live remotes. His unconventional sensibilities also started coming to the fore in the form of standard spots he reimagined to make them more interesting. Twice, the station challenged his interpretations and recorded their own version to submit to the clients in question - and twice, the clients chose AMJ's versions. AMJ's unique approach was finally recognized when the station nominated one of his spots for an ADDY Award. Once while joking around with the program director off-air, AMJ read the county's school lunch menu in a little kid voice and made comments about it from that perspective. This led to his "Skippy" segments being aired during the morning show. The station liked them so much that they encouraged AMJ to continue once school let out, so he invented a storyline where Skippy goes to summer camp only to escape. He also surprised the station a couple of times by calling in live as Skippy, causing the normally unflappable morning guy to crack up laughing. One time Skippy even "called" Mike James during the noon hour - a feat considering AMJ did both voices! Another change in management saw AMJ returning to the overnight/weekend shift, but with a difference - now the overnight show was comprised of a satellite music show for truckers. Despite once having his name announced on it, this left huge gaps of time with little to do in the overnight hours, so AMJ filled them by recording some of his songs in the production room. As is typical in radio, by 1991 rumours were swirling that WDKC would either change formats or cease to exist altogether. With the latter becoming increasingly possible, AMJ decided to return to Los Angeles, where he'd lived in the mid-'80s. It was a good move - five days after he boarded a Greyhound, WDKC transmitted its last signal.
"Electric Youth" 7:46 "That Was So 20 Years Ago" 64:05 "The 1998 GLAAD Media Awards" 15:06	Because he knew it would be difficult to get a radio job in the US' #2 market with "only" 2 years' experience at a small AM station, AMJ put radio on the backburner for a while. In 1993 he heard of a volunteer radio newsmagazine called IMRU, broadcast on Los Angeles station KPFK. He was curious, but had other fish to fry (including finishing his first book, Undo the Deed). It wasn't until 1996 that AMJ attended a volunteer orientation for the show and was ultimately accepted. Producing segments instead of solely being air talent gave him a chance to gain new skills, as well as brush up on rusty ones. His first segment explored the role of gays in the Old West. He quickly assumed the roles of co-host and continuity writer, as the show had no formal continuity script. AMJ created more segments and even some satire during this period, but getting a chance to be a part of the show's first-ever cross-country remote at the GLAMA Awards in New York was the most unique opportunity yet. In 1997, the show underwent a much-needed format change that gave it a more solid structure. AMJ continued crafting continuity scripts (and would write over 100 of them during his tenure with the show) as well as anchoring the news in the first weeks. He was then sent on more live remotes and got back to producing segments. "Electric Youth", which provided on-line resources for teens, was picked up by This Way Out, a nationwide sister show also broadcast in several countries, which led to the piece being aired in Sydney, Australia - quite a coup for a guy who started on a country station in Florida! He followed that with an hour-long retrospective of 20 years' worth of IMRU broadcasts, which involved spending weeks listening to archives dating back to 1975. "That Was So 20 Years Ago" ultimately was nominated for Silver Reel and Golden Mike Awards. Music became part of AMJ's continuity duties in 1998, which he enjoyed because it was like being a DJ again, only this time pulling from his own music collection or selections from the artist(s) being featured that week. But his crowning moment came when he covered the 9th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. AMJ had a chance to interview a string of celebrities including Fran Drescher, Valerie Bertinelli, Howie Mandel, and Larry King. His coverage of the event won him the 1999 Golden Mike Award for Best Entertainment Reporting - an honour he still counts as one of his proudest moments. It led to radio organization FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) including him on a panel due to his noteworthy contribution to radio. But all good things come to an end - dissention in the ranks of IMRU prompted AMJ to wrap up his 3-year stint on the show. Still, although AMJ never made a penny working on it, he considered the experience priceless.

AMJ has not had the opportunity to work in radio since then, but it doesn't mean he hasn't been on the airwaves. In 2005 he was interviewed by stations in Denver, Indianapolis, Battle Creek, and even Auckland, New Zealand in support of his book Extra Extra!: Memoirs from a Piece of Human Furniture (you can hear some of them in Books). He has also been heard on stations in Prince Edward Island, Canada over the last three years in regard to The Nine Lives of L.M. Montgomery, a musical he co-wrote with Emmy-nominated composer Leo Marchildon (visit the Press section of that site to hear a multitude of interviews on the subject!). AMJ definitely has a soft spot for radio - and you never know when he might don his headphones again.