Windy city workforce

This department spotlights a relatively recent addition to the workforce, focusing on the person’s educational or working background, daily responsibilities, challenges, passions, frustrations and outlook for his or her future in the field.

Name: Zakk Tyler
Age: 38
Company: WLUP radio, better known as 97.9 “The Loop”
Title: Host of the Zakk Tyler show
College Path: Degree in Communication and a minor in Marketing from Indiana University in Pennsylvania

How you ended up here: Overnights in Pittsburgh, nights in Louisville, afternoons in Memphis, program director/mornings in Greenville (S.C.) and afternoons in San Francisco (also syndicated to Nashville and Greenville), where we were recognized as the “2004 Best Rock Show” at the Annual Radio & Records Awards. That led me to the Loop in Chicago.

How long you’ve been at it: About 15 years.

Who you answer to, if anyone: The listeners of Chicago radio (and my mother, in case she’s reading this).

Hours you expect to be working: The show airs weekday afternoons from 3 until 7, but in a way, we’re always working. No matter what we do in life, it’s always an opportunity to relate something to our audience on the next show.

Breakdown of what people anticipate from you: Depends on who you ask. Listeners expect a radio show worthy of the most high-profile, personality-driven rock station in America. My company wants good ratings (we were No. 1 among men ages 25-54 in the 2006 Summer Book) and for me to stay off the police blotter.

What your friends assume you do all day: Flirt with my sidekick, Sweet Baby Jane.

To me, music is… a great companion and the sound track to most of our lives.

How often do you get hit up for free concert tickets? Are you asking me right now?

Who are three of the biggest celebrities you’ve met on the job, and how would you describe each of them? That’s hard to break down, and I can’t list a true “top three.” The Zakk Tyler Show is much more than a rock radio show. We have weekly guests like Lance Briggs from the Chicago Bears, Cousin Sal the Bookie from “The Jimmy Kimmel Show,” and recent musical guests include Pete Townshend (The Who), Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) and Paul Stanley (Kiss).

The biggest problem with some of today's music is... Is there a problem? I never allowed others to criticize my choices, and I’m not ready to knock the likes of others. If there is a market for it, and no one is getting hurt because of it, who are we to call it a problem?

I have trouble dealing with… a wet deck of cards.

Best perk: Having an outlet for creativity.

Being a DJ in the ’70s or ’80s had to be… hard to remember. The stories I hear all involve lots of mind-altering chemicals.

Are there any songs that make you cringe when people request them? Not unless they’re rubbing their fingernails on a chalkboard while they do it.

I’d jump at the chance to sit in and play guitar with… anyone that could teach me in seconds to sound like I’ve been playing it for years.

If anything, being in radio has taught me to… understand that celebrities are no different than anyone else (and most often are less impressive than most).

What might you change if given the chance? My name. “Zakk” is really only half of my actual last name (which is what friends called for years). Now that the show has become a brand within the radio industry, it’s too late to do what I wished I’d done all along — use my real (Italian) name!

Why you have a smile when you come to work: I get to do something for a living that many grow up willing to do for free.

Where you can go from here? When your show airs afternoon drive on the best radio station in the world’s greatest city, it’s hard to improve upon. I suppose when the best morning guy in the history of Chicago radio (Jonathon Brandmeier) retires, I could take over that day part. But other than that, there’s really no other place to go in my industry that’s considered “up.”

Advice for joining the field: Learn from those whom you respect, but be something unique (which you already are) by remaining “you.”

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