Boys Girls Club Teens Introduce Song on Tour of Radio Station

Teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Redlands-Riverside introduced a song live on the air during a tour of KCXX 103.9 FM’s station in San Bernardino on Aug. 5. X 103.9 promotions assistant Heather Harper led the tour and explained how the alternative rock station’s promotions and ads work. She said station employees usually begin as interns, and that it’s the best way to start a career in radio. “It’s great for work ethic and experience,” she said. “It’s practice makes perfect.” She took the teens into a production room, where soundboards and computers are, and showed them the log of songs, DJ airtime and commercials on a computer. “Here is where we keep our sound effects,” she said, playing a few. “… All of our songs in the whole station are on here.” She took the teens into the room where DJ Nick Valdez was on duty. Valdez said he wanted to be on the air since he was 12, and interned at the station when he was old enough. He sat in with the program director for a few months before he went on the air, he said. “It does help to shadow somebody,” he said. “… We get to play music, it’s a really fun job.” Some Club members asked if he gets nervous. “It’s like talking to a friend – you get comfortable,” he said. He added that he does get nervous if he has to do an interview. Otherwise, he said, being on the air is “like driving a car,” he said. Then, it was the Club members’ turn to be on the radio. “Usually I’m alone, but in the studio I’m joined by the Boys & Girls Club of Redlands and we’re all going to introduce this next song,” Valdez said. “You guys ready? Here it is: Three Days Grace – ‘I Am Machine’ on X 103.9.” Club members chimed in when Valdez announced the band and song. “It was exciting, I got to be on the radio,” said Club member Serina Ortiz. “It’s something I’d like to try soon.” Club member Madison Anthony said she liked having a behind-the-scenes look at the station. “It was my first time in a radio station and it was interesting to see how it worked,” she said.