Brian “Mr. Incognito” Robinson

10 Questions

10 Questions with
Brian “Mr. Incognito” Robinson

Mr. Incognito

Name: Brian “Mr. Incognito” Robinson

Title: PD 

Company: WPEG/WBAV (Beasley Media)

Market: Charlotte, NC

Social Media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook   

Born: Washington DC

Brief Career Synopsis:

  • Started at WPEG (Power 98) as an intern in 1996
  • Production Director/The Breakfast Brothers Morning Show From 1997-2001
  • Mixshow Dj/ Mix-Show Coordinator 1997- Present (WPEG/WBAV/WNKS)
  • Afternoon Drive Host (2p-6p) -2005-2017. 
  • Music Director -2015-2017
  • Assistant Program Director/Co-host Morning Show 2018

1.  What keeps you going? 

The passion…Being around talented/competitive people every day can make you strive for excellence. Loving what I do. The radio station basically raised me.

2. What air personalities did you grow up listening to? 

I grew up in the DC area. So, I was influenced by Donnie Simpson (WKYS), Albee Dee (WPGC), and Konan (WOL). 

3. How did you get your start with radio?

I did a summer internship in the Washington DC area under the leadership Mayor Marion Barry …so one of my first intern jobs was working at a jazz station, WPFW, at the age of 14, which meant the world to me.  I even wrote him a letter while he was locked up thanking him for the opportunity. When I went to Barber Scotia College in Concord, NC, my college internship was at WPEG/WBAV back in 1996 and I’ve been here ever since. I used to walk from college to go to the radio station for six months straight. I didn’t have a car at the time.

4. And your challenges are?

Your job depends on numbers…ratings, and not your music expertise (That’s another subject) Ratings numbers can cost you your job (I know now why I hated math).

5. Is there anything you’ve done on the air that you still laugh about?

Doing an air shift while I was numb after a root canal, I sounded like I had no idea about anything.

6. Who have been influencers and mentors in your career?

The late Nate Quick, Artie “The One-Woman Party,” and BJ Murphy.

7. And the best advice you’ve ever been given?

I always tell air talent to always sound exciting on the air. Smile while you’re on the air. Let people know that you love your job, and you love talking to them every day. Make them your close friends.

8.  How do you see radio’s future?

I’m terrified of the opinion “everyone wants to hear the same songs across the nation” theory. Different cities have their own culture. The research will dictate what people want to hear, but it takes away from the identity of certain places. Don’t get me wrong it helps a little, but I don’t want to completely rely on it.

9. What’s  your approach to solving problems at work? 

That’s why it’s always great to have a lifeline partner in radio. PDs that influence you and get their take on problems or theories. There’s nothing wrong with asking questions. I will ask questions in a heartbeat.

10. Do you think air personalities make a difference ? 

Yes Indeed, people need that voice for the community. Live, local and in your face. The air talent gives you honesty and represents your area. Some people can’t relate to an out-of- town air personality. The listener wants someone they can trust and someone that shops where they shop at. Advertisers want that local personality to endorse their business.

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