IN THEIR OWN WORDS - HURLEY

For more than 25 years, Hurley has built a radio career that has taken him from one of America’s most influential radio stations to Charlotte, where listeners came to know him through Kiss 95.1, K104.7, and most recently Mix 100.9/99.3.

Ironically, his path to North Carolina started with a television show and a country song.

“My family and I wanted to make a move north,” Hurley said. “Funny enough, Dawson’s Creek was always a favorite show of ours, so we thought North Carolina, why not. Also, I was working on a Country station at the time, and the song ‘Heads Carolina’ by Jo Dee Messina was played an awful lot.”

Getting Started and Finding Miami

Long before Charlotte, Hurley found radio almost by accident. As a journalism major in college, he needed an internship and initially thought he would end up working in news.

“I applied at the AM news station thinking I could help write the copy,” he said.

After realizing much of what was being read came from wire services and prepared reports, he made a different choice.

“So I asked to work at the Top 40 station.”

That decision launched a career that would eventually take him to Y100 Miami, a station he still credits as the foundation of everything that followed.

“Y100 Miami,” he said when asked which stop had the biggest impact on his career. “It was, and still is, one of the most listened-to stations in America. It was the station that launched my career.”

The job came with one unexpected condition.

“I only got the job if I agreed to be the station’s stunt guy,” Hurley recalled.

That role led to some memorable assignments. He swam with sharks in a tank at the county fair, tested an “As Seen on TV” hurricane umbrella by riding through a car wash, participated in a dog-collar karaoke contest where listeners could shock him if they didn’t like his singing, and even stood beside a massive puddle allowing passing drivers to soak him in exchange for donations to charity.

“Looking back, it was ridiculous,” he said with a laugh.

The station’s morning show at the time was Kenny and Footy in the Morning, hosted by broadcasting legend John “Footy” Kross Jr., whose 32-year run on Y100 is believed to be among the longest tenures for a Top 40 morning personality in North American radio history.

Radio’s Power to Connect

Over the years, Hurley collected plenty of stories, but one of the moments he remembers most came on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Alongside fellow personality Froggy, he retraced several of the routes flown by the hijackers, traveling from Miami to Boston, Boston to New York City, and New York to Los Angeles.

“We did this to calm fears about flying on 9-11, and we were able to talk to people from all over the country in airports to see how they were feeling,” he said. “It felt at the time like a very important use of radio to connect people.”

Most recently, Hurley became part of the lineup at Mix 100.9/99.3. Like the rest of the staff, he learned the station’s future during a meeting about a month before it signed off.

“We were all told about a month ago during a station meeting,” he said. “I was clearly upset but also very aware that this kind of thing happens in radio all the time.”

His first reaction, however, reflected the sense of humor listeners have heard for years.

“I wonder if I could do religious radio lol.”

Among his favorite memories at Mix were covering the inaugural Lovin’ Life Music Fest, attending a private performance by singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson, and simply spending time in the studio.

“Just sitting in the studio like someone might sit in their room, headphones on playing their favorite songs,” he said. “I just loved listening to the music between breaks.”

As listeners reacted to the station’s closure, Hurley noticed something interesting.

“I feel like they understand more than we know,” he said. “I think people understand that it causes uncertainty and panic.”

What many listeners don’t always realize, however, is how difficult it can be to find another opportunity in radio.

“I don’t think they understand that getting a new job isn’t as easy as going across the street,” he said. “It usually involves moving to another state or city.”

Reinvention and the Future of Radio

Having spent more than two decades in the business, Hurley has witnessed enormous changes across the industry.

“Technology,” he said when asked about the biggest difference between radio then and now. “I used to record shows on DAT. Now it’s all digital.”

He also remembers a time when nearly every show was live.

“The majority of shows were live. Now there is so much voice tracking going on.”

In fact, one of the earliest examples of a trend that would eventually reshape radio affected his own career.

“The very first time I was laid off it was because Elvis Duran and the Morning Zoo wanted to test syndication,” he said. “They decided Y100 Miami would be a good market to test it out.”

Today, syndicated morning shows are common throughout the industry.

“Nowadays, Elvis is syndicated all over, but Miami was the very first market.”

Despite the challenges facing the business, Hurley still encourages aspiring broadcasters to find their way into the industry.

“Internships are a great foot in the door, and take advantage of the access,” he said. “Put together airchecks when you can. I must have created 20 airchecks before I was ever given an overnight shift.”

What’s Next

As for what’s next, he’s keeping his options open.

“Maybe a podcast, IDK. I’d like to get back on the air if there were an opportunity. But I just need to keep talking, whatever that may be.”

While his farewell post left some wondering whether his radio career was ending, Hurley says that’s far from a firm decision.

“No, not a firm decision. Of course I am looking for the next opportunity, just slim pickings right now. Can’t really move to another market, so I’m hoping something manifests near Charlotte.”

And if a radio group happens to be reading, he has a simple message.

“Give me a call. You won’t meet another old dude more plugged into current trends and music than me.”

Connect with Hurley

As he explores his next opportunity, listeners, industry colleagues, and potential employers can connect with him through the following channels.

Email: hurley0523@gmail.com

Phone: 954-529-8571

Instagram: @radio_hurley