IN THEIR OWN WORDS - holly haze

Long before she became a familiar voice on Charlotte radio, Holly Haze was a young broadcaster in Florida trying to find her next opportunity. After graduating from the University of Central Florida in 1991, she began her career on Florida’s Space Coast before eventually making her way to Charlotte, where she would spend more than three decades behind the microphone.

Today, Haze reflects on the friendships, local connections, industry changes, and community involvement that defined her career, while sharing her thoughts on what radio has lost and what still matters most.

Early Career and Finding Charlotte

After graduating from the University of Central Florida in 1991, Haze began her radio career on Florida’s Space Coast. She worked as a traffic reporter for three radio stations before becoming news director and morning show co-host at a country station.

By 1995, she and her husband were looking for a fresh start.

“We started to get our sights on Charlotte because it was the banking hub of the Southeast,” Haze said.

Armed with cassette airchecks, she made the trip to Charlotte and visited stations across the market. The visit proved to be life-changing.

Mike Berlak hired her part-time at WLYT. A few weeks later, Jeff Kent offered her a full-time overnight position at 99.7 WRFX.

“I could not turn it down,” she said.

Charlotte quickly became home.

“I stayed here because it was the best place for my husband’s career and then we started having kids and I just felt like we were rooted here and comfortable.”

As she reflects on her career, Haze says her favorite memories have little to do with ratings or promotions.

“I was fortunate enough to start my real full-time career in that building surrounded by true professionals, yet it felt like a party in a frat house every day walking in there,” she said.

“I remember when radio was fun. I remember when there were no rules. I remember the friendships that were real and true.”

Local Radio, Community, and Giving Back

Haze also remembers a time when radio stations were deeply connected to the communities they served.

“When radio was about community events, being out there in the public, representing your city with localism and realism.”

She believes today’s broadcasters missed an era that was unlike anything else.

“I truly feel sorry for anyone who never was in radio before it became such a volatile business.”

Despite station ownership changes, format tweaks, and rebranding efforts over the years, Haze says her approach to broadcasting never really changed.

“What’s funny about all these changes with the names and the logos, the format never really changed so my delivery never really changed.”

Her focus was always Charlotte.

“I was always ready to talk about things that were happening in and around Charlotte.”

At a time when many stations moved away from local personalities, she saw Mix’s commitment to live and local programming as one of its greatest strengths.

“Knowing that other stations did not have local jocks representing the city, and we were one of the only stations that still had live broadcasts and events and live jocks on the air was truly unique.”

She made a point of building her show around local events and businesses.

“I made it a point to focus a lot of my show prep on things that were going on around town and supporting local businesses and keeping it relevant.”

One of the experiences she enjoyed most was teaching at the Carolina School of Broadcasting.

“I loved when the students would ask me questions and be amazed at the content that you could fit into a seven-second song intro.”

She also spoke highly of fellow instructor Nathan Ritchie.

“He was a true radio marketing genius and he knew things well before they were happening.”

Outside of radio, Haze has long been involved in charitable causes, particularly animal welfare.

“If we can’t use our platform for the greater good, then we are failing miserably.”

She says helping animals has always been close to her heart.

“The most important charitable causes and community events for me has always been about the animals. The ones that don’t have a voice.”

The End of Mix and Concerns About Radio’s Future

That passion was one of the first things that came to mind when she learned Mix would be leaving the air.

“My first reaction was, ‘Who will be the voice for the dogs?’”

She was also saddened by what the station’s departure represented for local broadcasting.

“I was sad that the only station with Hot AC music that had local radio DJs was going away.”

“There were so many changes over the last few years that we never really had a chance to prove our potential.”

Haze believes radio is facing challenges that extend beyond the industry itself.

“You have to roll with the punches with the way the world’s changing and the way technology is changing.”

She worries about the long-term future of terrestrial radio.

“I’m not sure what the future is for radio, but unless someone appreciates going back to basics and understanding that the trajectory that it is going in is not sustainable, I fear terrestrial radio will simply fade away.”

Even with all the changes, she still believes in one of radio’s most fundamental principles.

“Broadcasting 101. When you open that mic, you talk to one person.”

“If I can help that one person, then my job for the day is done.”

Still Hooked on Radio

As for what’s next, Haze says she isn’t entirely sure.

“I guess I could technically retire if I need to because I’m old,” she joked.

But she has no interest in starting over from scratch.

“I’ve been doing this a long time and I’m not going to start sending out resumes and doing an air check now this late in the game.”

What she does know is that radio remains a part of who she is.

“Radio is in my blood and always has been pretty much since I was the age of eight years old.”

That passion can be traced back to a childhood birthday memory involving her brother, broadcaster Fast Eddie Coyle.

“I was completely mesmerized by my brother’s voice coming through that little RadioShack box,” she recalled. “I was hooked.”

More than four decades later, that fascination with broadcasting remains.

For now, her focus remains on continuing her advocacy work and finding new ways to help animals.

“My goal right now is to find a platform to help the animals,” she said.