CARA ' S ROCKING AGAIN
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By Rick Kaempfer
to her first love , rockin ’ the free world . “ I do love doing classic rock ,” she admits . “ I haven ’ t done this format full-time since 2006 , and I am so happy to be back in my comfort zone of Pink Floyd and Zeppelin . And this format plays a lot of hair bands from the ' 80s too – which I also love . There ’ s something about having grown up listening to this format that makes it my favorite . I grew up in Michigan listening to WRIF , and I just adore that delivery . I think it ’ s more difficult than doing CHR . Not having music behind me sounds deafening at times . Dead air is like our biggest fear as disc jockeys , so talking over nothing is a little different . There ’ s no worry about hitting the post or anything ; it ’ s all about the music and what you know about it .”
Cara Carriveau or the first time since the late ' 80s , the Chicago radio landscape doesn ’ t include Cara Carriveau . Cara stepped down from her shift at WSHE ( 100.3 FM ) earlier this year after stints at the Wabbit ( 103.9FM ), Rock 103.5 , the Loop ( 97.9FM ), and the Mix ( 101.9FM ), and jumped into a new role at Local Radio Networks . It ' s an entirely different experience for her .
“ Local Radio Networks ( localradionetworks . com ) is a company that syndicates several music formats across the country ,” she explains , “ and I ’ m the midday host on the classic rock format . I ’ m on about a dozen stations - and I do local cut-ins for about six of them . They aren ’ t big markets , in fact , that ’ s why they call the company Local Radio Networks because they concentrate on the smaller markets . They hire major market talent to do local small market radio .”
Despite being in the business for more than twenty years , this is Cara ’ s first foray into voice-tracking , and she certainly sees the advantages of it . “ I actually do the job out of my house , which is a great perk . I absolutely love it . I wake up in the morning , brush my teeth , maybe brush my hair … sometimes ( laughs ). I can record a few hours , wake up my son and make him breakfast , get him off to school , and do a few more hours . I love the flexibility .”
Local Radio Networks is a trailblazer of sorts . They offer twelve different musical formats ; adult contemporary , hot adult contemporary , contemporary hit radio , mainstream country , classic country , superstar country , classic rock , classic hits , super hits , mainstream rock , mix , and adult standards . Each of those formats is a nationally syndicated product , but the network also remains cognizant of the local station that airs it . Each station can pick and choose how it wants to implement the format , and they receive fresh content from the talent every day .
“ There ’ s a national feed that has about twenty breaks a show ,” Cara explains , “ and then each station may or may not have local cut-ins , which we personalize for their market . Some want just a few breaks personalized , some ask for five or ten an hour , and one of my stations does 20 – all of them . It ’ s pretty close to real time . I do it the day of , the morning of , so even the weather breaks are correct , and I record it right into their software .”
After twelve years of doing more of a CHR ( current hit radio ) format ( the Mix , and WSHE ), Cara is enjoying this trip back
It took some prodding and pushing to get her to admit it , but Cara would also be willing to expand her job description to include doing a shift for a local Chicago station . There ’ s no reason why she couldn ’ t do it .
“ What ’ s great about this current voicetracking position is that it doesn ’ t interfere with my ability to also do a shift here in Chicago ,” she finally admitted . “ It would definitely interest me . I ’ m free and clear from all previous commitments to Chicago stations . Sure , if someone were to call , I ’ d definitely be willing to listen .”
I ’ m sure radio programmers in Chicago will take note . Cara is one of the more versatile personalities around , and she is committed to staying here in her adopted hometown . Ironically , the jock that was hired to replace her at WSHE ( Jenny Milkowski ) has already moved on to another market ( San Diego for a television gig ) after only a few months on the job .
Maybe Chicago radio just isn ’ t what it was once cracked up to be ? “ I disagree ,” Cara says matter-of-factly . “ I actually think Chicago radio is fantastic now . I know a few classic stations are gone , but there are so many great radio stations that Chicagoans have the chance to listen to . When I hear people gripe about terrestrial radio , I think it ’ s not true for Chicago . There ’ s a lot of great content out there right now on the radio dial .”
At least for now , that content is not coming from Cara . But if you ’ re traveling around the country , and put on a local classic rock station during the midday timeslot , you may hear a familiar voice . Just picture her introducing that Supertramp tune while she fixes Breakfast in America for her son .
16 illinoisentertainer . com october 2018