Douglas Blake

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

I went to Georgia Southern University and joined WVGS as a DJ. I took every shift I could and eventually worked my way up to Music Director. I got “promoted” to Station Manager and quickly realized MD was the best job I was going to ever have so I went back. One day talking to a promoter, I had a second AH-HA moment when I realized I could do what they did. So I moved to Boston and I sent Planetary a resume every week. Eventually the owner called and said you can work as a receptionist if you stop sending resumes. So I took that in Feb and by May I was given a chance as a promoter. A year later, I was head of the department and 3-years later I started my own promotions company called Pirate!

Why does college/community radio matter in today’s fragmented environment?

So far this year at NACC in the 20+ weeks of charting there have been only two male #1 artists. Let me know when this happens in commercial radio.

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?

I went to SXSW one year and got invited to a party on top of a hill at an old church. It overlooked the whole city. It was beautiful. There were maybe 50 other people there and we got to see Neko Case perform in a church. It was amazing!

What band/artist outside the realm of college/community radio would people be surprised to hear you love?

Paula Abdul.

What job do you think you would you be doing if you weren’t a promoter?

Chef. I worked in restaurants my whole life and love it.

What destination would you most like to visit and why?

Spain. Any of it. Madrid, Barcelona. I took Spanish in college and the professor the way she described it made it sound amazing. That and I love Spanish wines. Absolutely love them.

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

Seems like for a million dollars I could just move to Spain…That sounds nice.

What is/are your current favorite TV obsession(s)? What was your favorite movie of 2018 so far?

I really loved Travelers on Netflix. I’m not sure many have watched that but it’s so good. The Good Place is amazing and I can’t wait for it to come back.  It’s way too boring to say Black Panther but thats what I’m going with.

When friends come to town, what is your favorite restaurant you take them to?

Emmy or Emmy Squared. The burger is amazing. The Detroit style pizza is oh my god I can’t finish this I have to go eat it now.

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

Bjork, Prince, Madonna, Banksy, Oprah
No last names on my island.