Magic Matt Alan!
Radio Genius Report
By Gary Bryan
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Matt and I go back a long way... In fact, he was seventeen when I hired him at KNBQ in Tacoma, a little flame-throwin' Top 40 that regularly rattled the big boys in Seattle. He left KNBQ to become the Production/Imaging Director at KFI in Los Angeles for then-PD Jhani Kaye. I respected his willingness to accept this challenge, even though he had never worked a multi-track machine! After KFI, he wound up at KRBE in Houston, where Scott Shannon discovered him. Scott heard the same thing that I had heard when Matt was 17.. he's a great natural talent, and sounded very seasoned at a very young age.
Matt did afternoons at Z100 in New York for several years. His contract was up at just about the time I came in to program WPLJ, and we tried to get him across the street, but he wound up heading west to KIIS, where he did two stints in afternoon drive.
After leaving KIIS, Matt did something that I thought was terrific: he took his passion for Cigars, great drinks and red meat and created a radio show! At one point, his two-hour Outlaw Radio was on in 14 markets, including L.A., New York, and Miami. These days, Outlaw Radio is still going strong, heard on cable systems, the Internet, and weekends on KLSX in Los Angeles.
Matt also hosts a daily show on the Sirius Satellite Network 70's Channel. His contract is just shy of Howard Stern's $100 million a year! As you'll see from the photos, Matt gets a lot of famous people into his backyard studio. He's a guy who loves his independence, and he's been able to survive and thrive.. with very little compromise.
GARY BRYAN - You had a meteoric radio career at a very young age. Take us through your beginnings. (And leave out the part where I took you to a bar and got you drunk when you were seventeen!)
MATT ALAN - Although performing as a professional ( that means I got paid) Magician since the age of 9. I began radio at the tender age of 12 as a talk show host on Sunday nights at KRKO Everett Wa. I sounded much older than my age. I had the tenor of a 13 year old.
GARY BRYAN - You worked at what are arguably the two greatest CHRs of the last 20 years, Z100 and KIIS. How did those experiences differ?
MATT ALAN - The electricity at Z100 pulsated through the hallways. Both times at KIIS FM, I felt that I was responsible for turning on the juice!
GARY BRYAN - What is "Outlaw Radio"?
MATT ALAN - A "Drunk Celebrity" driven show all about the good life. We Drink, We Smoke, We Interrupt!
GARY BRYAN - And how do you get these incredible guests in your backyard "studio and bar"?
MATT ALAN - Two words, FREE BOOZE!
GARY BRYAN - You're now on Sirius Satellite Radio's 70s channel. How did you hook up with them?
MATT ALAN - SIRIUS contacted me after Howard turned them down the first time.
GARY BRYAN - Where do you do the show?
MATT ALAN - From my 1876 Virginia City Nevada style Saloon in the backyard of my Hills of Encino Manse.
GARY BRYAN - Have you heard XM? How would you compare the two services?
MATT ALAN - Never heard of 'em!
GARY BRYAN - Last question: Who is the best PD you ever worked for? (Think carefully!)
MATT ALAN -There are no bad PD's, Only Bad DJ's.
CATCH OUTLAW RADIO AND SEE MORE OF MATT AT www.mrcigar.com, and hear Matt on Sirius Satellite's 70s channel.
