Mike Ragozino, former Program Director of WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM, 1190 AM, reflects on his time in the industry with gratitude and optimism as he embarks on a new journey.
He talks about how local radio made an impact during his time with WOWO, a radio station that has served Northeast Indiana for nearly a century. Mike Ragozino recounts the hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for charity and the Marconi Award that his team achieved, making this the most rewarding year of his career.
Mike Ragozino is part of a startup with trusted professionals he’s worked with for years. He can’t say too much about his new venture but promises more information as soon as it launches. The people he’s most grateful for are the ones who developed him from a young disc jockey to a seasoned programmer, and he believes his best years are ahead of him.
With 25 years in the business, Mike Ragozino has done a range of roles. But he’s most grateful for the work that went into making WOWO a Marconi-winning station. He values small things that have a big impact.
Mike Ragozino is grateful for his predecessors who paved the way. He is reuniting with Chip Miller for the next opportunity. Chip gave him his first start at WNNJ in New Jersey. Ragozino also recalls how Tony Richards took him under his wing when he was programming WAOR in Indiana, and the pair worked together to put that station back on the map.
Years later, Richards would help Mike Ragozino put together imaging packages and production for 92.3 in Fort Wayne. Their mentor/mentee relationship has now come full circle in a different market.
In an interview with Barrett News Media, Ragozino discussed transitioning an iconic AM talk station to FM, the future of the AM band, using unique social media strategies for talk stations, coaching talent with large egos, and his desire to meet a particular radio personality.
Ryan Hedrick: Tell me about your experience with the transition of WOWO from AM to FM in Fort Wayne and any victories you had.
Mike Ragozino: That FM dial was the reason I came to Fort Wayne. I helped launch Big 92.3. (WOWO had been broadcasting on the AM dial since 1925, making it one of the oldest radio stations in the United States. From March 2012 to January 2016, it was simulcast on 92.3 before that station became home to Big 92.3 and its classic hits format.)
They (Federated Media) brought me to town to launch that station, so in essence, I saw its birth and brought upon its death at the same time. It was a no-brainer for us [to put WOWO on the FM band]. We got a little scared with the whole AM coming out of cars. It’s the road programming is taking. Everything is heading toward FM. With WOWO being such a strong brand, we knew we didn’t have to say 1190 AM. We just had to get our station on the FM dial of some significance and the easiest way to do that was to go to 92.3 [FM].
It was difficult because of the imaging we had to do and all the changes we had to make. We just wanted to make sure that if AM went away, it wouldn’t matter anymore.
RH: Talking to industry insiders, some avoid discussing AM Radio’s fate. What’s your opinion on its future?
MR: It’s hard for me to believe that as a consumer and having a 13-year-old daughter, I don’t even know if an AM signal is conceivable to her right now. If she doesn’t know what that means, and you have all these other avenues to get the product that you want, AM is so far down on that list.
Now, there are generations that are going to love it, and stay with it, if you give them their content on it. But eventually, and I hate to say this because I love AM, I cannot see it surviving in the long run. It will always be there, but I don’t see it as an essential platform. There is a generation, maybe even two generations, that never turn it on.
RH: Do you think it’s crucial for our industry to incorporate social media into our distribution strategy, in addition to radio as the primary platform?
MR: You talk about the survival of radio. That’s one of the avenues that you can do that. It’s all about accentuating the brand and getting the most eyes on it. Why wouldn’t you put [radio] on as many platforms as you can?
(Mike is asked about guys like Matt Shearer from WBZ Radio, who use TikTok to enhance the station’s news coverage and tell stories.)
You would be dumb not to use that platform and get your brand out there, especially on a platform [like TikTok] where a whole generation is using it as their TV now. That is how the news will get consumed, so why not deliver it to them and say, ‘Hey, we’re one of these stations that do this, and you can find us on TikTok’? That’s a competitive advantage right now.
RH: You also programmed some sports stations. Are there any similarities between programming sports and news stations?
MR: It’s the same kind of formatics, just different content. You’re getting a product out there, whether it’s Glenn Beck or Dan Patrick. It’s pretty much the same thing, except for different words.
Formatically, you always want to tease, promote, and do everything you would normally do. It’s similar because your listener is as passionate about what they’re listening to with either format. You have strong P1 listeners in both formats. (P1 refers to a radio listener who exclusively prefers a particular station and spends more time listening to it than others.)
RH: What qualities made WOWO a Marconi-winning radio station in 2022?
MR: Community outreach and the strength of the brand. We did so much that year, but mostly raising money for the Penny Pinch.
(Since 1948, WOWO has asked listeners in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan to donate coins to support families in the WOWO listening area. The Penny Pitch started after World War II when WOWO received a request to help a young quadriplegic purchase a special typewriter to pursue a writing career. Through a grassroots effort, the station was able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.)
We went through some changes on the air. Kayla [Blakeslee] helped a lot, and Pat [Miller]. Just the upheaval of the world, having the consistency of WOWO. We are consistent about how we deliver the news to this area here. That is without a doubt, and you can hear that in our product. If you want news here, we’re not going to slant it; we’re just going to tell you what happened.
To hold true to the brand is why we won the Marconi. I think [the judges] recognized the call letters and heard what we were doing. It’s all about Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. You can’t turn WOWO on and not know where you are.
RH: How do you coach with large egos?
MR: (Laughs) First and foremost, listening is the most important thing. They all want to tell you what’s wrong, and they all want to tell you what is right—not reacting to everything that they are saying [is important]. They were different kinds of egos with Pat [Miller] and Kayla [Blakeslee]. They are all different and talented, so you have to know how to approach each one.
You can’t do a broad stroke and expect that they will react the same way to my coaching. I give them a lot of freedom and let them make their mistakes, tell them the mistakes that they make, and let them learn from them.
I’ve got a lot of veterans, so coaching them is more about making sure they’re okay in their personal lives so they don’t take it out on the air. The most important thing is listening to their show, but most importantly, when they’re in your office, and you’re air-checking, listening to what they have to say.
RH: Who is the one person in radio that you’ve never met that you would like to meet?
MR: I would like to meet Boomer Esiason. First of all, I love the show (Boomer & Gio on WFAN). I am from New York. I respect how he goes about his business on TV and radio. His charities (The Boomer Esiason Foundation provide financial assistance and educational resources to support the cystic fibrosis community). He’s a family man. All those things that he’s done the right way. Plus, he puts out a great product on TV and radio.
RH: Have you ever experienced any professional regrets?
Mike Ragozino: (Thinks for a minute) I wish I would’ve thrown my hat in the ring to be PD of WFAN when [Mark] Chernoff left. I didn’t have the Marconi under my belt when that opening became available, but I think I could’ve programmed that station without even batting an eye.
Maybe that’s my one regret that I didn’t think I had a chance to do that when, in reality, I probably did. I figured that the job was filled before Mark left. My one regret or wish is that it would be cool to be on [WFAN].
