A Life In Radio: Jay Kline

Radio veteran Jay Kline has been in the business for over 25 years now. Back in his hometown of Butler, Jay is celebrating his 10th official year as the DJ of WLER 97.7 FM-- now known as The Rock Station.

Sitting in a comfortable chair, that sinks a little low every so often (despite not being prompted), Jay Kline, 46, oversees a board of controls that operate WLER 97.7 FM-- also known as The Rock Station.

Kline is the program director, as well as the morning show host on The Rock Station. He's been in radio for over 25 years, and it's a result of chasing a lifelong passion.

"I would hear the guys on the radio back when I was growing up," Kline said. "They were larger than life. They were almost like the Wizard of Oz, standing behind the curtain, and no one could see them."



Kline is now in the same position as some of his idols growing up. But, a life in radio is never one of guaranteed safety. He's bounced around from market to market, like most people do in radio. He spent time in Pittsburgh on the number one rated station, 102.5 WDVE, to time on first-ever job in local AM radio in Butler, WISR 680 AM.



"When you get a chance to be on major radio stations, it's a lifelong dream come true," Kline said.

 

Kline ended up in Pittsburgh, after his station in Beaver Falls was bought out by a major corporation. While at 106.7 The Force, their ratings had begun to take away from Pittsburgh's number one station, WDVE. The corporation that owned DVE, bought out The Force and changed formats immediately. With the change, Kline became the first official DJ on what was the brand new station, The X.

Kline had that chance from 1995-1996, working part-time in the Pittsburgh market. He also spent time at B94 (93.7 FM) and KISS FM (96.1). However, Kline knew a stable job was a good job, and that's what he found back in his hometown of Butler.



"I was working part-time for stations in Youngstown and in Butler," Kline said. "My bosses in Butler gave me an opportunity to be in control and program 97.7 FM, which was alluring to me. It was also a full-time job and more money, which was a big factor because I ultimately had to pay the bills."

Up in the morning at 4:30 a.m. Jay jokes working the morning
show shift takes about 10 years off your life.

For Kline, working in the local market allowed him to get to the roots of what he believes radio is about.

Inside the production studio, Jay voices a commercial.

Work in local radio requires you to be a jack-of-all-trades, Kline said.

"It brought me back to the days of playing records in my house growing up," Kline said. "It's not that I could play whatever I wanted to, but I was in control of what was being played. There was no corporate play list. I was going to be in charge of the plane, and I still am."

He, along with another DJ at the now three stationed owned Butler Media Group, Bob Cupp, made the transition of taking 97.7 FM from All Hitz, which was adult contemporary, to The Rock Station, which is just what the name says it is, a rock station.

Through all these changes though, it's been Kline's passion for radio that continues to drive him each and every day.

In addition to hosting the morning show, Jay also hosts the 

all request hour at noon. "You can't be one-dimensional in 

local radio," Kline said.

"I don't want to say it's not hard work, because I put a lot of time and energy into what I do," Kline said. "But it's a different kind of work. I love what I do, and that makes things a lot easier."

Working in radio, also comes with a number of other advantages, Kline said.

"I'm getting paid to do what I love," Kline said. "The perks are great too. The concerts, the people you get to meet, as well as the free food."

The move from big market to small market, and vice-versa, is something that a lot of radio personalities face. Another radio host for the Butler Media Group, Tracey Morgan, worked for KDKA-AM in Pittsburgh before arriving back in her hometown of Butler.

"It's a give and take," Morgan said. "It's definitely more family-friendly working in the small market."

"Most of the time, schedules aren't flexible in big markets, especially during sweeps week," Morgan said. "But, big markets also are hugely beneficial because they are constantly updating technology, so you're always getting the newest equipment."


Ultimately, Kline just loves that his job is his passion.

"My lifelong dream, ever since I was a kid, was to be on the radio," Kline said. "I never thought it was possible. Turns out it was."