10 Questions
10 Questions with Jane Ohl (Jane Dough)
Name: Jane Ohl (Jane Dough)
Title: PD/Midday
Station: WIKS 101.9 KISS FM
Market: Greenville-New Bern-Jacksonville
Social Media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Company: Curtis Media Group Coastal Carolina
Born: March 26, 1980
Brief Career Synopsis: I was going to school for broadcasting and needed an internship at a radio station. I was able to get an internship at Hot 104.5 FM with Carson Communications, and by the following week, I was placed in the middays and had my own show with a career in the field I was going to school for.
Two years later, I started out part time at Beasley Broadcasting’s WZFX Foxy 99 working nights and I was so hungry to learn as much as I could about radio. Within a year, I applied for the midday position, and with hard work, not only did I get middays, but I held down the #1 spot for the next fourteen years.
I applied for Foxy 99’s Program Director position in October of 2018 but was instead given the position of Music Director. And I’m currently the Program Director for WIKS 101.9 Kiss FM.
1. Why radio?
Growing up, I had my own radio show in my room. My audience were my Barbie dolls and stuffed animals. And as I got older, I took it more seriously, even going as far as taking electives in middle school and high school like TV Production and Public Speaking.
2. Would you share one of your funnier moments during your career?
I don’t want to say where this was and when it happened, but those who were there know what I’m talking about. It was one of the biggest concerts I ever helped host with my radio family. The lineup was crazy, Lil Wayne, Lil Boosie, T.I., Young Jeezy, and some great local acts to start off the show.
In the midst of me being on stage, helping to hype up the crowd, which consisted of thousands of people, I was told in my ear that everyone could see me. The spotlight was on all of us on stage, unfortunately, that day, wearing a white, hippie-like, see-through skirt was the wrong thing to wear, especially since I wasn’t wearing any underwear. I slowly backed up from the lights, walked off the stage, and did NOT get back on for the remainder of the show! I don’t think I’ll ever live that one down,
3. And the best advice you have ever been given?
If you need something to believe in, start with yourself.
4. What are some of your goals?
My goals change every year. I have two long term goals that I haven’t achieved yet but I’m working on getting there. All these small goals are helping me get to where I need to be. But one goal that hasn’t changed is to always have fun with whatever it is that I’m doing.
5. And what’s your approach to programming?
I still have to remind myself sometimes that I’m a PD and not an air personality, although, I would rather listen to the music as a consumer and think like a consumer while programming; this seems to be a very unpopular opinion and not the appropriate approach. Which is why I have a lot to learn.
6. Who’ve been influencers and mentors in your career?
Vic Frost, my first PD, taught me how to be calm and how to get over my nervousness on air. He always told me to have fun. My brother Lamont Swyng taught me how to be a beast on the boards. I loved working under him and learning everything about producing a show because his show M-F, 7pm-10pm, had a feature every hour and it was always busy. He taught me how to multi-task and how to accomplish everything in one air shift. He was so amazing and still is.
Then there’s Jeff ‘Uzi D’ Anderson, my second PD, and the one who gave me my ‘Jane Dough’ radio name. His work ethic is admirable, and I can only hope to be half the legend he is in the game at his age. And my all-time favorite PD, Tap Money, taught me that you can build an entire career just by being yourself. I care too much, I love too much, and I’m too passionate about everything and everyone.
I don’t like to ask for help because I want to learn on my own and failing has been my greatest teacher. Tap learned this about me quickly and reminded me that these weren’t flaws at all. Instead, these attributes were my strengths, and being a genuine friend only made me love him more. And it made me want to work harder for him because I always wanted to make him proud of me. He was the first person who ever believed that I could be a PD.
7. How did you get your on-air name come from?
Vic Frost gave me ‘Trenidad’ at Hot 104.5 FM. I always laugh to myself when I think about it because I’m not even from Trinidad. But it was still a cool name. Jeff ‘Uzi D’ Anderson gave me ‘Jane Dough’ because when he met me, I was going to school full time at Fayetteville State University, I was a waitress Monday through Sunday (when I wasn’t in classes), I was a midday personality, and at the same time I was a single mom with two babies at the time. He was impressed by my work ethic, and he knew that I liked making money, hence, “Dough.”
8. What’s the best thing about radio?
Radio itself is a public service. We owe it to our listeners to keep them updated and informed on the coronavirus crisis, while at the same time, keeping them entertained with their favorite music and other great content and promotions.
9. What ways do you think are better than others when trying to solve something?
When I was younger, I was impulsive about everything. I made decisions based on my emotions. As I got older, I learned to pick my battles. In order for me to have peace in my life, I have to be peaceful. So, these days if something bothers me, I address the problem head on. I try to figure out what the root of the problem is and once I break the problem down, I tackle it the best that I can, so hopefully, the problem doesn’t happen again.
10. Do you think terrestrial radio will remain relevant in the future?
I will just say this, I had a PD once who didn’t know anything about the culture and he didn’t want to learn anything about it either. I felt this was unfair to the listeners, myself, and my peers. And in my opinion, this played a big role in the downfall of many of our promotions.