Maddie Schwappach

Tell us a bit about the career path that led to where you are now.

I actually went to school for mechanical engineering and was doing college radio while I was in college (shout out Radio K!) and have been working in the industry since! In college, I had a few internships doing venue marketing and backend stuff for KCMP in St. Paul, then worked on air there for a while after graduating. Last year I moved to New York and began work at The Syndicate doing college and non-comm promo.

What is your favorite experience you’ve had in your career? Perhaps a musical idol you got to meet? A festival you were able to attend? A project you were involved with promoting?

The first thing that comes to mind is my first SXSW back in 2018! I was early in my music career and it was definitely a big moment where i was like “wait, this is what i should be doing forever.”

What aspect of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

It’s all about connection for me! It makes me so, so happy to get to find new fans for up and coming artists and introducing programmers to their new favorite records.

What band/artist or style of music outside the realm of your college/community radio promotion would people be most intrigued to hear you love?

I have a soft spot for pop country. Luke Bryan or Miranda Lambert on a summer day? Sign me up.

What job do you think you would have if you weren’t in this industry?

Probably mechanical engineering, honestly! That’s what I studied and had expected to work in that field before pulled in by the allure of rock and roll.

Summer is here! What have you got lined up that has you the most excited?

It’s my first summer living on the East Coast and I’m excited to explore! Would love to get upstate and take some weekends out of the city. I’m also just so psyched to be able to run around and enjoy longer sunlight with my friends.

You just won 10 million dollars. What are you going to do with it?

Buy an apartment, go to the doctor.

Entertainment Time: What is/are your current favorite TV obsession(s)? What’s a great movie (new or old) you’ve watched recently? What is your current favorite album?

I don’t watch a lot of TV other than bad reality as background noise, talk to me the next time the Bachelor franchise starts up. I recently saw Petit Maman in theaters and loved it. Favorite album is a hard one, but I’ve been listening to a lot of Arthur Russell recently, so let’s say World of Echo by him.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in town for take out or to take out-of-town guests to?

NYC has soooo many good restaurants but I think the one that everyone always seems to love is my favorite little dumpling shop in the Lower East Side, North Dumpling. Nothing like a big plate of dumplings and a sesame pancake from them!

You’re stranded on a desert island. What five well known people (dead or alive) would you like to have there with you?

I think it would be a little weird to bring dead people on an island. I feel like Seth Rogan has an unbeatable vibe, maybe invite Angel Olsen to sing us campfire songs, I just listened to a podcast with Moses Sumney and need to hang out with him, Michelle Zauner for sure, of course, and let’s make sure celebrity chef Ina Garten is there as well.