I'm a slacker

I just realized I haven't posted since 12/31/16. Been a busy year so far - hard to believe we're already halfway thru it. I'll try to post more often, I promise... but you can also keep up with me on twitter and facebook!

In the meantime, get caught up on our trip to Germany! 

See you soon!

Filling In For The Morning Show

Had a blast with Porkchop filling in this past week for Max and Shannon. They'll be back on Tuesday.

Here are some things we learned and/or did:

• Gave away tickets to Chase Rice
• Gave away thousands of dollars with the Song Of The Day
• Chop saw a meteor on his way into work, which was likely Buzz's fault.
• showcased local community organizations and nonprofits during our #HumbleAndKindWeek
• Bought breakfast for ten cars in the Starbucks Drive Thry and hopefully inspired others to Pay It Forward.

One more day of mornings on Monday, then back to afternoons on Tuesday. Thanks for listening!

Nominated for a Marconi Award!

I found out today that I'm nominated for a Marconi Award. The Marconi Awards are presented by the National Association of Broadcasters.

The nominees are:

MEDIUM MARKET PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

• Buzz Jackson, KIIM-FM Tucson, AZ 
• Steve McIntosh & Ted Woodward, KNSS-AM Wichita, KS 
• Dan Potter, KRMG-AM/FM Tulsa, OK 
• Bud Nameck, KXLY-AM Spokane, WA
• The "Rise Guys," WTPT-FM Greenville, SC 

The cool thing about the Marconi Award is that I'm competing with people in many different music formats - not just country radio stations.

The winners will be announced this fall. Wish me luck!

ACM Audio 2014

I'm nominated for medium market personality of the year at the ACM Awards. The 50th Anniversary ACM Awards will be held in April in Dallas. Here's the audio I submitted:


Here's a link to the rest of the nominees.

I want to go to Cuba

Cuba - frozen in time

Recently the US announced that it would relax some of the restrictions that prohibit trade between American and Cuba. Since the embargo began more than 50 years ago, Cuba has been sort-of "frozen in time." 1950's American sedans rule the streets. The beaches are pristine. 

As the embargo is relaxed, Americans will probably be able to invest in Cuba's economy. Once that happens, massive change will happen in Cuba. This is a good thing, but it will mean that over time, those old America cars will be replaced by Toyotas and Malibus. The beaches will become crowded with tourists. 

I'd like to go visit, before that happens.

I'm gonna miss you, Skymall...

Sad news that SkyMall (that catalog you find in the seat-back pocket on every commercial airplane you've ever been in) is going bankrupt. Where else would you be able to buy these products??

Garden Yeti

suitcase that you can ride like a skateboard

Leg Lamp

Pull-Up Tree

Tree Watering Sensor that plays "Jingle Bells" when the tree is thirsty

Solo Wheel

Toilet Training System for your cat

Foot Alignment Socks?

backyard sail

toothpaste tablets

New Year's Resolutions

In case you missed it, here are my New Year's Resolutions:

1) Like facebook status' that don't have any likes

Lots of people post content and nobody ever "likes" it. This may cause someone to feel like their post is not important to others. I will make an effort to find these posts and "like" them.

2) Never write LOL unless I have actually LOL'd

If you type "LOL" and you haven't actually LOL'd, your credibility is in question. Just say "NO" to "LOL."

3) Take an "airplane mode" day from time to time, where I turn off all the electronics

I think I'll get more done, and experience more human interaction if I don't have access to the internet. If I don't respond to your email or return your phone call, I'm probably having an "airplane mode" day.

4) Pick a community event every month to personally highlight and promote on the air. January's is Girl Scout cookies. Stay tuned to KiiM FM for the info about where you can buy your Thin Mints later this month.

Happy New year!

Thought for the day:

January 1st is an arbitrarily chosen point in space & time that is no more significant than any other point in space & time. You can resolve to change yourself at any time in the year - you don't have to wait for a new year to start. Happy New Year!

Buzz's 2014 In Review

Great year. 2015 will be even better. Here's a look back at some of the highlights:

February:
George Strait's final concert in Phoenix. And rode the River Mountain Trail in Las Vegas. A beautiful view, a great 35-mile ride.

March:
Saw the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City, and raised a couple grand for the Race For The Cure.

May:
Hosted the KiiM-FM Chihuahua Races.

June:
Spent 10 days in San Jose, California as part of a work trip. Rented a bike and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge. Cooked an egg on the sidewalk.

July:
During my third trip to California this summer, I recorded this cool slo-mo video of some lizards.

August:
Got tricked into the Ice Bucket Challenge.

September:
Got nominated for a CMA Award. Gave Blake Shelton the gift of beer. Didn't beat Erin Jordan from KOLD-13 again in the celebrity corn maze race.

October:
Got a call from Luke Bryan in which he called me "Buddy Roe" and told me I'd won a CMA Award.

November:
Attended the CMA Awards, sat in the 4th row. Checked Facebook timeline to find that hundreds of people posted pics of me on their TVs. Rode in the El Tour De Tucson again (my second time).

In 2014 I rode more than 1200 miles on my bike, and walked more than 2000 miles. I think I deserve a nap!

Happy New Year!

I Won!

Today Luke Bryan called me and told me I won the CMA award for Medium Market Personality Of The Year! Here's what it sounded like:



In part, what I wrote to our radio station's staff was:

Even though my name will be on the trophy, everyone who has passed thru these walls at 575 W Roger Rd over the years and decades is a part of my success here at KiiM-FM. 

What I wrote on my Facebook page was, in part:

It's official! Third time's the charm! This announcement is one of the high points along a road that's had MANY high points....There are too many people to thank individually without fear of missing many. I also want to congratulate my fellow nominees in the category - it is an honor to be considered in the same realm as you. Special thanks to my wife Dena and daughter Elizabeth for putting up with the shenanigans of my job. I do it for you.

I will now spend the rest of the day calling all my ex-girlfriends, and rubbing it in their faces. Neener, neener.

Dena and I will be headed to Nashville in a few weeks for the awards ceremony - the awards will be on KGUN-9 on November 5th. Stay tuned!

You can hear the audio I submitted by clicking here.

Remembering 9/11, Thirteen Years Later

A few days before 9/11/01 we learned were were going to be parents. As we learned the news on 9/11 we wondered what kind of world we would be bringing our child into. This is a copy of Elizabeth's sonogram from fall 2001.

How I Work

(this post may be updated from time to time with new info)

One of my favorite blogs, Lifehacker, has a great series called "How I Work." It's interesting to see how people get their jobs done.
They probably won't ask me to tell them how I work, but just in case the question comes up...

I'm Buzz Jackson, and this is how I work.

I'm the program director and afternoon air personality at KiiM-FM 99.5 in Tucson, the number one radio station in southern Arizona.

Location: Tucson, Arizona
Current Gig: afternoons & program director of KiiM-FM 99.5 (country music station) and program director of i97-5 (top-40 music station) in Tucson.
One word that best describes how you work: 24/7, it seems
Current mobile device: iPhone 5S and third generation iPad
Current computer: 21-inch Late 2012 iMac

What apps/software/tools can't you live without? Why?

• Evernote - Their slogan is "remember everything." Evernote is like an external brain that I can call up from my iPhone, iPad, desktop, etc. I use it for daily show prep, writing, brainstorming, saving great ideas that I see other radio stations doing, travel confirmations, menus of places I've eaten at, gift ideas, stuff like that.
• Google Calendar - I use Google Calendar to manage my schedule and the schedules of my airstaff and board-ops. I then make the calendar public and tell the staff where to find it, so they can see if from wherever they are. And it lets me look at a glance to see if there are any shifts that need to be filled. Also, Google sends me a digest each morning at 5am with that day's appointments which helps refresh my memory daily.
• There's many more apps that I use on a daily basis for my afternoon drive show that I've chronicled here and here. 

What's your workspace set up like?

• Standard desk at work with a computer, speakers, HD radio, etc. At home, pretty much the same thing, although I often work "mobile" using the iPad or iPhone in front of the TV - if something strikes me as something I want to remember, I'll save it to Evernote so I remember - or add it directly to the show sheet for whenever I plan to use it on the air.

What's your best timesaving shortcut/lifehack?

• If This Then That lets you automate a lot of the internet - alerts, emails, etc. I then dump everything that's collected into Evernote where I can browse it when I'm ready to prep for the show.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

• I use Google Calendar to set reminders - because the reminders will pop up on my computer as well as my iPhone... so if my phone is muted or in my pocket or on a charger somewhere, I'll still get the reminder if I have Google Calendar open on my desktop.
• I also use the iPhone app Checkmark because it is location-based. It can be set to remind me at a certain duration after arriving home or at work. It's $10 but I got it when it was free (I'm pretty sure) so if you wait, it might go on sale again.

Besides your phone and computer, what piece of technology can't you live without?

• My fitbit. Keeps me motivated to keep moving. You see a lot of overweight middle aged radio DJs out there, and I'm trying not to become one of them!

What everyday thing are you better at than others?

• I don't know if I'm better at anything, but I have learned to stay better-organized.

What are you currently reading?

• I don't read a lot of fiction. I devour the newspaper (I know, right? I might be one of the few), and stay connected to what's happening via twitter, facebook and reddit. 

This has been a great day so far

THIS has been a great day so far. I was leaning back in the chair at the dentist office with someone's fingers in my mouth when my phone starting buzzing and vibrating with the news that I'd been nominated for a CMA Award. This is the third time - maybe what they say about "third time's the charm" is true. Of course I want to thank my family, Dena and Elizabeth for the support, as well as Kricket for her awesome contributions every afternoon on the show. Oh, and no cavities (you were probably wondering), but somehow I broke a tooth and didn't notice it, so I have to go back and get that fixed.

On top of that I learned that we had a $1,950 winner in the 7:10 Payoff Question this morning, so Kricket and I will be kicking in our own money to round the jackpot up to an even $2,000. Worth every penny.

I hope YOU have a day that's at least as great as the one I'm having today.

Catch Me If You Can, 2014 Edition

Along with Porkchop, I'll be filling in for Max and Shannon starting tomorrow, until they return from the KiiM-FM Country Cruise on Tuesday September 2nd. Hope you'll tune in - we're planning on having some fun.

What have I done with my 17,336 days?

Today I'm the same age (17, 336 days) as Barack Obama was when he became President. And maybe it's a midlife crisis I'm having, but I'm not sure I've accomplished nearly as much as I had hoped to by now.

Sure, I've flown with the Thunderbirds, won an ACM Award, been the most-listened-to radio personality in Tucson, had food named after me, and made a difference in the community (I hope, anyway). But, I haven't become president of the US yet - or president of ANYTHING, really.

There's always next year, I guess.

Thank you, Arizona Department Of Transportation!

The new I-10/Prince Road interchange is open! And I thanked ADOT via twitter...

Which led to THEM replying...

Which was THEN retweeted by a bunch of roads.

Buzz's Other Blog

I have another blog that's just for pictures of sunsets and sunrises. It's called

Sunset Of The Day

and I hope you'll check it out when you want to see some (mostly Arizona) solar scenery!

Catch me if you can!

Here is my schedule for the next few days:

Tomorrow (8/29): Fill in on morning show (Max and Shannon are headed on their Mediterranean Vacation cruise)
Friday 8/30: Fill in on morning show, then LEAVE FOR VEGAS!

Saturday 8/31: Vegas, Baby! (Brad Paisley / Chris Young concert)
Sunday 9/1: Vegas, baby!
Monday 9/2: Vegas, baby! And then, sadly, drive back to Tucson
Tuesday 9/3-Friday 9/6: Fill in on morning show again.
Saturday 9/7: Give away a new Harley from Miller High Life and KiiM-FM 99.5 - details coming!
Monday 9/9: back to the afternoon show.

Things I've Never Done

I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority on some of these things. These are things I've never done.

1) Been drunk. I've had the occasional New Year's Eve or wedding toast. I had a beer once - peer pressure. Didn't care for the taste. My dad was an alcoholic and I vowed early on that I would not repeat the cycle. Kids of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics, and I didn't want my family to go through what I did.

2) Taken illegal drugs. No pot, no nothing. Didn't grow up exposed to it, never found anything about it interesting.

3) Never smoked cigarettes. My grandmother was a chain smoker and that totally turned me off.

Maybe these things make me a boring person. So be it.

Here are some things I am guilty of:

1) riding in the carpool lane by myself. This happened in Dade Country, Florida, in 1988 or 1989 (back when it was still called Dade County). Oops.

2) Speeding. Although not in a few years. I find that, driving my Prius, I get better gas mileage by driving more reservedly.

3) Gambling. But pretty much only on the "Reel Money" slot machine.

Listener Lotto

KiiM FM listeners helped pick the numbers, and if this ticket wins, every KiiM-FM listener gets a share of the jackpot!