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"Hot Mix" was created in 1985, in Phoenix, Arizona by two young guys by the names of Dave Rajput and Andrew Starr. This story will explain who Dave and Andrew are and how this business and partnership made "Hot Mix" into a worldwide syndicated radio program.
Dave Rajput hails from Chicago, IL and arrived in Phoenix, AZ in 1980. Andrew Starr came to Phoenix to attend Arizona State University (ASU) in 1983 from Philadelphia, PA.
Dave has been spinning records, as a Disc Jockey, in various nightclubs since 1980. For many years Dave noticed dance music was making a virtual comeback, since the "Disco" days of the late 70's, so he decided it was time to do something. In 1985, he realized the only other way to make dance music fashionable again, other than playing this dance music in the nightclubs, was to try to convince a radio station to play his music format on their station. So, he approached KOPA-FM Radio (One of the two TOP 40 stations in Phoenix), and explained his concept called "Hot Mix". After many meetings with Art Morales, the music director at KOPA; and Reggie Blackwell, the Program director, the radio station gave him a shot, The Show was to air Saturday nights for 3 hours (March 1985). The 3-hour show went on the air under NO-NAME. The Program received an overwhelming "Positive" response from listeners, so KOPA extended the program to 7 hours and titled the program "Saturday Night Hot Mix". The overnight success of "Hot Mix" raised a few eyebrows over at competitor TOP 40 - KZZP. The next weekend KZZP countered with their own Saturday night show "Saturday Night Party patrol", which was not a dance mix show, but a high energy combination Rock & Dance music program. The "Hot Mix" aired on KOPA from March 1985 to January 1986, when KOPA changed formats due to poor overall ratings. In fact, the only positive note on KOPA was the "Hot Mix" Saturday night ratings, which more than doubled the stations overall ratings.
During the time "Hot Mix" aired on KOPA, the show was being produced and recorded, during the day, at a local nightclub by Dave and Art. After a few weeks, the owner of the nightclub mentioned to Dave and Art that the music was disruptive to the other employees (like the clean up crew and the cooking staff) working at the club. Dave needed to find recording equipment for the show, since he did not have any equipment or records of his own, nor had enough money to purchase the equipment and music. While Dave was working nights as a club DJ and had a weekly radio show to mix, he also attended a Radio & Television class at a local community college (Mesa Community College). In the class he became friends with Andrew Starr. Andrew at the time was running a DJ company (Windy City DJ's) that provided music and entertainment for College and High School events. Since Andrew had the recording equipment and records Dave needed for his radio show, Dave and Andrew put a deal together for Dave to use Andrew's equipment and records, in exchange that Dave would mention Andrew and his company name each time "Hot Mix" was aired on KOPA. Dave also asked Andrew to assist him with the production of "Hot Mix" at the radio station, where HOT MIX was mixed and recorded each week. Since Dave's skills and Andrew's equipment & music complimented each other, both ends of the deal were very fruitful.
During the time "Hot Mix" was not on the air, after the format change at KOPA, (End of January 1986 - Mid May 1986) Dave and Andrew formed a partnership named HOT MIX PRODUCTIONS. Both wanted to have a professional look when they went to pitch the program to KZZP, at the time the only TOP 40 outlet in Phoenix; So, they decided to trademark the "Hot Mix" name, design a logo, and define their duties in their newly formed partnership. Dave would be responsible for contacting and building a strong rapport with record companies, listening to new music, programming and mixing the show - The talent part of Hot Mix. Andrew's duties include: producing and engineering the show, along with the administrative work - Accounting, negotiating with radio stations; creating, developing, and designing a marketing formula to sell "Hot Mix" to radio stations - The business part of Hot Mix.
During these months, Andrew and Dave met with Guy Zapoleon, the program director at KZZP. The only night open on KZZP, for "Hot Mix" to air, was on Friday night. At the time "Hot Mix" was on their competition KOPA, KZZP countered with the "Saturday Night Party Patrol". So, they had to convince Guy that "Hot Mix" would compliment the party patrol by explaining the difference between the two programs. Since "Hot Mix" was mostly club/dance music and the "Party Patrol" was more rock and high energy TOP 40 music, both programs complimented one another to cover the variety of TOP 40 based music at that time.
KZZP decided to give HOT MIX a three-month trial run, beginning the first Friday evening in May 1986. Dave and Andrew were told there was no money in the budget, so for three months they received no compensation. But, they were able to use the KZZP studios to mix and record the HOT MIX show, just as they did at KOPA. In mid July, after a review of the Friday night ratings, Guy told Dave and Andrew that he would like to keep the program on the air and give HOT MIX a permanent spot on KZZP every Friday night. They worked out a deal to be paid as independent contractors. Guy was also willing to let Dave and Andrew continue using the recording studios at KZZP to mix and record the show.
September 1986: As HOT MIX was gaining popularity in Phoenix; Andrew had an idea to try the weekly HOT MIX show in other radio markets. He consulted with Guy to ask if there were any other stations that he knew that might be interested in HOT MIX. Guy made a phone call to Program Director Brian Thomas at WBJW-FM in Orlando, Florida. The next day Andrew contacted Brian and discussed the idea of HOT MIX on WBJW. Brian was impressed with the idea, so he asked Andrew to send him a current program on reel-to-reel tape (which was the format KZZP was using). Brian ran the program the next weekend and HOT MIX was an instant hit with his listeners. He called Andrew to tell him the good news and that he wanted to purchase the program for his station. Now, HOT MIX was an official syndicated radio program!!!
October 1986: Andrew and Dave decided to invest the earned money into designing a logo, developing a sales package, and a demo cassette of the show to send to CHR radio stations across the USA. Andrew mailed out over 100 packages to radio stations. Within a week, Andrew received calls from San Diego, Tucson, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Columbus, San Jose, Washington DC, Miami, Las Vegas.... just to name a few!!! Any station that signed up for HOT MIX received the show on Reel-to-Reel tape (a few on DAT) and paid CASH compensation for the rights to air the show each week, exclusively for their market.
November / December 1986: After many phone conversations with program directors, Andrew convinced many PD's to give the Hot Mix program a shot on their station. He was able to sign Kansas City, Tucson, and San Jose before the end of 1986.
Each station would pay cash for the program (each station had a different monetary deal, since each market was a different size). Now, HOT MIX had five stations in syndication!!!
1987 thru 1989: These were the years HOT MIX really made an impact in radio syndication. After heavy marketing with direct promotional packages to radio stations and phone calls, HOT MIX was being heard in over 30 markets...Including: New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Atlanta, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Houston, Miami, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Tucson, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, and Phoenix!!!
In early 1988: A person by the name of Tom Rounds contacted Andrew to discuss syndicating HOT MIX outside the USA. Tom owns and operates a company called RADIO EXPRESS in Los Angeles. His company is the exclusive international distributor of many US independent syndicated companies and is the exclusive worldwide syndication company for ABC RADIO NETWORKS programs: "American Top 40 w/ Shadoe Stevens" (Formerly with Casey Kasem), and "American Country Countdown w/ Bob Kingsley". Dave & Andrew meet with Tom and signed a long term agreement with RADIO EXPRESS to be the exclusive representative for HOT MIX outside the USA! In just a few short months HOT MIX was heard in over 10 countries including, Tokyo, Japan & London, England. Within a few years, HOT MIX was being heard in over 50 countries each week!
In 1989: HOT MIX is nominated for it's first 1989 BILLBOARD MAGAZINE Radio syndication award. In the category "Radio Syndication - TOP 40/Crossover" - HOT MIX up against: Casey Kasem, Shadoe Stevens, & Rick Dees. Well, HOT MIX did not win (Casey won), but the nomination raised a few eyebrows around the industry.
HOT MIX signs a one-year contract with KIIS-FM/Los Angeles & WQHT-FM/New York. Two of the biggest Top-40 stations in the country! HOT MIX is now heard in over 35 markets and stations around the world.
Late 1989: ABC RADIO NETWORKS vice president of programming, Tom Cuddy, contacted Andrew to inform him ABC was interested in marketing, distributing, and selling HOT MIX in the USA. Andrew traveled to New York to discuss the deal. Both parties came to agreeable terms. Hot Mix Radio Network (Dave & Andrew) signed a contract with ABC Radio Networks to take over all marketing, advertising, clearances (station sign ups), and distribution of the weekly "Hot Mix" four-hour show, beginning on January 1, 1990. Per the agreement with ABC, Andrew & Dave retained all music programming duties and creative control of the program. Before the start of the first weekly show of 1990, HOT MIX created an 8-hour program called "Mix Of The Decade 1980-89", which ABC agreed to distribute to kick off the new partnership on January 1, 1990. "Mix Of The Decade 1990-89" was distributed on Vinyl disc to over 100 radio stations. The first 4 hour weekly HOT MIX show will be also be distributed on Vinyl disc to all radio stations signed up to play the program.
Since ABC put national commercial spots in the program(s) (4 minutes per hour), it was not necessary for radio stations to pay cash for the program again. HOT MIX was now a bartered show. The stations' only obligation is to air the spots within the program. Plus, HOT MIX was duplicated onto vinyl disc, so no more tape!
July 1990: ABC decided to do away with vinyl and put Hot Mix on CD. This would make Hot Mix the first and only show of its kind, in the world, distributed weekly on Compact Disc.
HOT MIX purchases an Apple computer to help digitally edit and remix songs using the new DigiDesign "Sound Tools" 2-track editing system. HOT MIX was just a handful of companies using this new technology. A 600-megabit hard drive cost around $2,500! It stored less than one hour of music. End of 1990: Dave & Andrew hire a new member to join the "HOT MIX" staff - Markus "The Slice" Schulz. Markus is an expert in studio creativity and production and is a well-known local club DJ. He was bought in to assist & create custom mixes and post production in addition to music selection for the weekly show.
1991: HOT MIX is nominated for a second BILLBOARD RADIO AWARD in the Syndicated show Top 40 / Crossover music category. Once again, HOT MIX lost to Casey.
HOT MIX is heard in over 175 markets in the USA and 50 markets Internationally. Hot Mix gets hotter Internationally by signing "Kentucky Fried Chicken" to sponsor the program in Mexico and Canada. Pepsi, Kodak, and Phillips Electronics sponsors sign up in other countries.
Mid 1991: HOT MIX RADIO NETWORK moves from Tempe to Scottsdale, AZ. Built a 3800 sq. ft. office and a state of the art digital recording studio located on the SE corner of Scottsdale and Camelback Road, in the heart of beautiful downtown Scottsdale.
Early 1992: Hot Mix adds major market station B-96 (WBBM-FM) in Chicago, IL. And hires local Club DJ & music producer CL McSpadden to work on the Chicago "custom mix" program, which will be, heard weekdays at noon and 5pm. Markus becomes a Billboard Magazine "Reporter". He reports the feedback from nightclubs, in the Phoenix area, to Billboard magazine each week. Hot Mix producer, Andrew Starr, creates and begins to develop a new weekly radio program - MODERN ROCK TRACKS with hosts Steve Masters & Mark Hamilton (from Modern Rock/Alternative format - LIVE 105/San Francisco, CA) based on the BILLBOARD MAGAZINE "Modern Rock Tracks" Top 30 chart. Starr negotiates with BILLBOARD Magazine to purchases the exclusive rights to the "Modern Rock" chart from Billboard.
Late 1992: Starr decides that "MODERN ROCK TRACKS" will take too much time and money to produce each week. The show would have to be cleared on over 50 markets to break even - So, the program is put on hold until further notice.
January 1993: HOT MIX and ABC do not renew the contract for 1993. HOT MIX takes back the duties of marketing, distributing, and clearing the show. HOT MIX develops two new programs - "MODERN MIX" & "RETROMIX". Modern Mix leans towards Alternative/Modern music and contains NO RAP music. Whereas in the original "HOT MIX" version (CD), the music format leans more Crossover/Dance with "Hit" oriented music. "RETROMIX" is a weekly one-hour program (distributed on CD) containing the biggest classic Club/Dance/Party (Old School) hits from the late 70's through the 80's.
Mid 1993: MODERN MIX is cleared on over 15 markets and RETROMIX storms onto over 50 markets in its first month of broadcast. "HOT MIX" holds a strong station lineup of over 100 markets domestically and 50 Internationally.
In 1994: HOT MIX continues to be heard on over 100 markets in the USA (plus over 50 countries outside the USA). MODERN MIX grows to 25 markets in the USA (plus 20 countries outside the USA). RETROMIX also grows to over 75 domestic markets and over 50 internationally!
Mid 1994: HOT MIX is spun off into new program called "HOT MIX-LIGHT". This program was developed in conjunction with WSTR-FM (Atlanta, GA) program director Lee Chestnut (currently VP of programming at VH-1) and operation manager Tony Novia (Currently at R & R). They wanted a "Hot Mix" show with no rap, but with TOP 40 dance music designed for their music format - an upper demo CHR radio station. The show, delivered on DAT tape, aired on Saturday nights with an overwhelming successful listener response.
Early 1995: Due to the success of "Hot Mix - light", Starr decides to market the program to other radio stations. The programs' success was attributed to the CHR format becoming more fragmented.
Mid 1995: Starr & Rajput part ways! Starr purchases Rajput's 50% interest in the company making Starr the sole owner of the Network.
Rajput returns to Chicago to pursue other business opportunities. Markus Schulz ads "Hot Mix" and "Hot Mix - Light" programming & mixing duties. Starr hires local Club DJ Aaron Scofield to program, mix, and produce the weekly one-hour RETROMIX and MODERN MIX programs.
Late 1995: Starr decides to move to new studios in Scottsdale, AZ where he designs 3 state-of-the-art digital mixing studios. He also decides to bring the weekly duplication and shipping (fulfillment) in-house. Starr purchases two digital automated multi-task 6x CD recorders systems from Eastman-Kodak for duplicating of all programs. Each system cost over $25,000 and could burn 150 CD's in 24 hours! Blank media is over $7 per disc!
Early 1996: All programs produced by HOT MIX RADIO NETWORK are now delivered on CD. "HOT MIX" is renamed "HOT MIX - CROSSOVER" (music includes Top 40 dance/club hits, hip-hop, old school, and retro). "HOT MIX - LIGHT" is renamed "HOT MIX - MAINSTREAM" (includes Top 40 dance/club hits and retro without hip-hop & old school).
Mid 1996: Starr along with Ron Hartenbaum & Gary Schonfeld (owners of MedaAmerica, Inc.) and Chip Rachlin (Goliath Entertainment) form a new company named HOT MIX ENTERPRISES, LLC. This new company will be the marketing company to provide consumers with "Hot Mix" CD's, shirts, hats, etc. distributed by ESSEX ENTERTAINMENT based in New Jersey.
Late 1996: Total HOT MIX affiliates reach 125 markets - up 25% from one year ago.
Early 1997: Starr hires David Rinehimer (former sales manager from Starrs' local mobile DJ company - Windy City DJ's) to help with affiliate relations, marketing, and development of new programs. Three new shows will are created and marketed to CHR/HOT AC stations - HOT MIX / RHYTHM-AC, HOT MIX / MODERN-AC & RESURRECTION MIX. These new programs will be marketed to HOT-AC formatted stations (CHR stations with a slightly older demographic 25-54). Other programs being developed are HOT MIX - COUNTRY MIX.
June 1997: With the addition of the new "HOT-AC" format programs, HOT MIX RADIO NETWORK expands their current affiliate list adding major markets: Los Angeles, Atlanta, Kansas City including a few medium markets. Total affiliates: 140. The HOT MIX web site is up! (www.hotmix.com). E-mail is quickly catching on as the choice of communication with marketing efforts to new affiliates.
August 1997: The "Modern AC" program continues to expand into San Francisco, Portland OR, Salt Lake City. COUNTRY MIX is starting to be developed - demos to go out in October to over 700 country stations. HOT MIX is developing ways to expand the visibility of their shows and music sales via the Internet. Total affiliates: 147.
October 1997: The first COUNTRY MIX show airs with rave reviews from the listening audience. The show immediately expands and is heard on a dozen stations by the end of the month.
November 1997: With the entire HOT MIX list of programs thriving and reaching new goals with affiliates and advertisers, Starr receives interest from a few major entertainment companies. A company named United Stations Radio Network (owned by Dick Clark) was interested, and other names include Westwood One & Premiere Radio Networks (owned by Jacor Communications).
December 1997: While sifting through all of the interest and offers from these and other potential buyers, with Eric Weiss, the industries leading syndicated show business broker (hired by Starr to represent these deals), Weiss and Starr struck a deal with Premiere Radio Networks/Jacor Communications to purchase the entire HOT MIX RADIO NETWORK operation.
February 1998: Premiere Radio Networks/Jacor Communications, currently owned by Clear Channel Communication, Inc. (CCU), completes the transaction and acquires the Hot Mix Radio Network from Andrew Starr. Starr is retained as President of Hot Mix Radio Network to oversee the daily operations for a three-year period.
July 1998: HOT MIX moves to new studios about 3 miles away. This time 4 mixing studios are built, a large record/CD storage room, affiliate relations/marketing department area, and duplication and shipping area.
August 1998: With the marketing power of Premiere Radio, HOT MIX total affiliates grow to over 200 and increases its' overall audience and market share (18-34 demo = 446,000+ persons)
December 1998: HOT MIX affiliate list grows 28% in 1998. After 10 years with HOT MIX, Markus Schultz exits to pursue other interests in the music industry. Darin Taoka replaces him.
May 1999: RETROMIX is split into three versions to fit more accurately on its current affiliates. Plus, HMRN was now able to market the product within the same radio broadcast market to compete against each other. RETRO-Mainstream (Top-40/Mainstream affiliates), RETRO-Old Skool (Hip-Hop, Rap, and Urban affiliates), & RETRO-Hot AC (Younger Adult Contemporary affiliates).
August 1999: Affiliate Relations and marketing manager, David Rinehimer, leaves to pursue the family business. Starr hires Dena Yasner to replace David in the same capacity. Starr also hires TJ Hess from Pittsburgh, PA to run the CD duplication and distribution department.
October 1999: HOT MIX - Modern-AC & Rhythmic-AC programs are combined into one version called "HOT MIX/Hot AC". With the decline of Alternative and Modern Rock stations across the nation and no signs of growth in this format, MODERN MIX is discontinued.
December 1999: HOT MIX affiliates total over 250 and grow 32% in 1999. With all 8 shows, HOT MIX is heard by over 1.2 million listeners each week and broadcast in 18 of the top 25 radio markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta, Detroit, Denver, Phoenix, Boston, Pittsburgh... Just to name a few! HOT MIX is also broadcast on cable music channel MUSIC CHOICE.
March 2000: COUNTRY MIX is cancelled due to the decline of the Country music format and sliding performance. RETROMIX shows continue to add affiliates and the 80's music becomes more popular again.
August 2000: Starr is contacted by Jeff Moskow at UNIVERSAL RECORDS (UTV) to develop, create & produce HOT MIX brand CD's to be sold in the retail stores. UTV is the creator of the #1 selling compilation named "NOW, That's What I Call Music".
December 2000: Affiliates increase, but not at the pace over the past three-years. Total affiliates still around 260. Audience (demo 12+) remains the same. Starr's contact obligation, according to the buyout agreement from 1998, is completed. But, Starr is given a new one-year extension to continue to oversee HOT MIX RADIO NETWORK and create new avenues to generate revenue including developing a partnership with UTV.
January 2001: UTV and HOT MIX begin to negotiate a deal to create & develop HOT MIX brand CDs.
February 2001: Clear Channel cuts back 10% of their work force. The HOT MIX RADIO NETWORK offices in Scottsdale, AZ were scheduled to close. Starr negotiates with Premiere President, Kraig Kitchin, to buy the entire operation back from Clear Channel. The terms were not met and the office officially closed on February 28, 2001. All HOT MIX RADIO NETWORK personnel were released.
Starr decides to take a long, well deserved, vacation throughout 2001. In 2002, he begins to research and develop DiscJockeys.com, a URL owned by Starr since 1995.
The other members of the staff found jobs closely related to or similar in the radio industry.
Life goes on after HOT MIX...What a ride!
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