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Vol. 1 Issue 1 Aug / Sept 2021
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#FREE BRITNEY RADIO
PREMIERE
Artist of the Month:
Jeff Timmons
ISSUE!!!
NKOTB IN HISTORY
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MUNICIPAL THE HISTORY OF NK AIRPLAY RADIO
FEATURED COLUMNS THANK YOU!
PATRON OF THE MONTH: Celebrating a Special Patron..........5 NKOTB IN HISTORY: Relive the New Kids on the Block History with NKOTB History ............7
Vol. 1 Issue 1 Aug / Sept 2021
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jaime aka DJ Lady J EDITORS Jaime aka DJ Lady J Erzsie aka DJ Lady Erzsie CONTRIBUTORS / WRITERS Toni aka DJ Jorgia Princez / DJ JP Sam aka DJ Sam Mac Lyssa aka DJ Spicy Kristen aka DJ Konfetti
MOTIVATION CORNER: Believe in Yourself ............................................... 8 ARTIST OF THE MONTH: Jeff Timmons (of 980) Interview ................................... 12
Sue aka DJ StickyAngel
COMMUNITY NEWS: Free Britney Event ............15
Jennifer aka DJ Jenny from the Block
CONCERT MEMORIES: My First NKOTB Concert by our very own DJ Loop D Loop...............................16
Victoria aka DJ V Debra aka DJ Loop D Loop Raven aka That Wahlburgers Chick DJ Psyberdoll Laura Wahlbonkers
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHT MUNICIPAL CLOTHING: Our recent chat with the CEO and Marketing Manager of MUNICIPAL, Mark Wahlberg’s clothing line............................ 9
Lisa NKOTB History LAYOUT & DESIGN Shannon aka DJ JoeyMacFreak This is a product of
SPECIAL WHY WE LOVE DONNIE: In celebration of Donnie’s recent birthday, We share love ......................................................................................... 10
EXTRAS FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NKAirplayRadio FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK @NKAirplayRadio FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @NKAirplayRadio
GET TO KNOW US: Get to know the Staff behind the Station and the Magazine .......................................................................................................... 3 HISTORY OF NK AIRPLAY RADIO: Our Story ....................................... 6 NK AIRPLAY RADIO SHOW SCHEDULE: What is airing and when .... 18 NK AIRPLAY MERCH: Show your support by showing us off ................ 19
Get To
Know Us Get to know the staff of NK Airplay Radio
Erzsie, aka Lady Erzsie Erzsie is one of the cocreators of this station and a behind-thescenes administrator, researching and analyzing opportunities that sustain and improve NK Airplay Radio. She has lived in the Seattle area for 19 years. Recently, she has enrolled in a doctoral program in Education. In her free time, she enjoys Toastmasters International, karaoke, and NMLJ Mah Jongg. She is a Danny girl with Jon tendencies. Erzsie hosts a live show, bi-monthly, on Saturdays at 12:00 noon ET.
Jaime, aka Lady J Jaime is one of the co-creators of NK Airplay Radio. She manages the station on a day-to-day basis. She has lived all her life in a small town two hundred miles north of Atlanta. Jaime has a degree in Early Childhood Education and currently teaches Language Arts online. In her free time, Jaime enjoys reading, writing, singing and graphic design. She has written several published books. Jaime and her husband have three adorable and sweet puppies. A New Kids fan since 1988, her favorites are Donnie and Jordan. You can find Jaime doing pop-up shows and appearing on special shows from time to time.
Toni, aka Jorgia Princez
Kevin Kevin is on the admin team of NK Airplay Radio and is our tech guru. He became a New Kids fan the moment he heard Cover Girl for the first time. As a five-year old, he would sneak into his aunt’s room to steal her tapes, one of them being Cover Girl. In fact, he liked Cover Girl so much that he would sing it to the little girl next door. When Kevin is not on New Kids adventures, he works in retail management. Along with shoes and Starbucks, Kevin enjoys traveling. As a music lover, he enjoys all types of music and even started his career as a DJ in a club. Today, you may find Kevin rapping while doing some karaoke. Kevin’s favorite New Kids album is Face the Music. Kevin is not currently on air but hopes to be making a comeback soon!
Patricia, aka Luckee Patricia is one of the behind-the-scenes partners of NK Airplay Radio. She is an original staff member from back in the day, and lends her talents to us in on-air specials, administrative consulting, and website maintenance.
Toni is one of the co-owners of NK Airplay Radio. She is also head of product development at the station. Toni lives in Augusta, Georgia, but calls Cornwall, Canada her second home, where her fiancée resides. She is a Pre-K teacher and mother of 2 boys. She loves to craft in her spare time. Joey McIntyre has always been her “rock star”. Toni is on the air on Saturday evenings at 6:00 pm ET.
Sam, aka Sam Mac Sam was born and raised in New Jersey. She has been a New Kids fan since 1988 and a long time Joey girl. Sam joined NK Airplay in 2010 and is very happy to be back as station co-manager. Sam enjoys working with the NK Airplay crew to help bring the best product to New Kids fans. When she is not doing anything New-Kids related, Sam likes to travel, write, volunteer, spend time with friends and family or relax at home with her cat, McIntyre. The best part of the New Kids coming back for Sam is the friends that she has met along the way. You can find Sam on air on Saturday afternoons at 3:00 pm ET.
Laura Laura from Wahlbonkers is a special collaborator here at NK Airplay Radio. Her favorites are Donnie Wahlberg, and of course, Mark Wahlberg. 3
Lyssa, ask Dj Spicy Lyssa was born and raised in Texas, and music has always been her passion since a very young age. Eleven years ago, after managing a loan office, Lyssa made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom and with this, came the job of a full-time grandma. In her free time, Lyssa enjoys helping others, including stray animals, crafting, reading, horseback riding, camping, and the beach. Lyssa is the administrative assistant at the station. She has been a BH since 1988 and a loyal Danny girl from the start. Lyssa is one of our morning DJ’s - she is on air Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00 am ET.
Kristen, aka DJ Konfetti Kristen, aka DJ Konfetti, was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, where she still resides. She has been a fan of the New Kids since 2008, her senior year in high school. Kristen joined the NK Airplay Radio team in 2020 as a member of the Street Team, which she now leads. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys writing, watching Disney movies, and just hanging out with friends and family. When she’s not listening to New Kids, Kristen also enjoys listening to Pop and Country. You can always find Kristen cheering on her Pittsburgh sports teams. Kristen co-hosts our weekly talk show, “Oh My Fan Girl!” Thursdays at 6:00 pm.
Jenny, aka DJ Jenny from the Block Jennifer, aka DJ Jenny From the Block, was born and raised in Indiana. She studied radio/tv/film at Indiana State University. Jennifer has been a Blockhead since 1989, and her very first concert was the Hangin’ Tough Tour. During her free time, she enjoys crafting, reading, and watching movies. Jennifer is a member of NK Airplay Radio’s social media team. Her favorite New Kids are Joey and Donnie. Jennifer is one of our morning DJ’s - she is on air Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11:00 am ET. She also hosts the group podcast, “Josh and Mike Said What?!” - a response show to our collaborative podcast from Josh and Mike - New Pod on the Block.
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Jason, aka JBLOCK Jason, dubbed JBLOCK by Donnie Wahlberg, is a former member of the New Kids on the Block tribute band, Troy Kids on the Block from Troy, Michigan. He also has had the privilege of performing with the New Kids on their 2009 cruise. In addition to his tribute band, Jason has starred in a Proquest infomercial and has shared the stage or performed on stage with greats like Tony Award winner Sutton Foster and actress Ivana Milicevic. Jason earned his bachelor’s degree in Advertising and a master’s degree in Information Science, both earned from Michigan State University. He continues to live in Michigan, where he is a diehard Michigan State University and Detroit Lions fan. Jason is a fan of all members of the New Kids on the Block. You can catch JBLOCK every Saturday night at 9:00 pm ET.
Sue, aka DJ StickyAngel Sue, aka DJ StickyAngel, has been a New Kids fan since she discovered them in elementary school. Her personal favorite New Kids are Jon and Danny. Sue is an online ESL teacher. In her free time, she enjoys meditative adult coloring, knitting and being creative. Sue is also a freelance writer, proofreader, and editor. At NK Airplay Radio, she is a member of the social media team and research/ content creator. Sue is on the air on Sunday evenings at 7:00 ET.
Shannon, aka DJ JoeyMacFreak Shannon was born and raised in southern New Jersey. She became a New Kids fan in 1988 and has been a Joey girl ever since. In 2000, she earned her degree in Advertising and Graphic Design along with a minor in Photography. She is the lead graphic designer at NK Airplay Radio. Shannon currently resides in the UK with her English husband and son. In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, and listening to music. She also enjoys walking around the town she lives in, especially around the Framlingham Castle, worldly known as “The Castle on the Hill”. Shannon is not currently on the air but plans to be very soon.
Victoria, aka DJ V
Debra, aka DJ Loop D Loop
Victoria, aka DJ V, was born and raised in Illinois. She earned master’s degrees in both Clinical Social Work and Organizational Management. Victoria is visually impaired. In her free time, she is a disability advocate, voice-over actress, and enjoys helping others. Victoria lives in Illinois with her daughter. Victoria can be heard on NK Airplay Radio on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm ET.
Debra has been a Blockhead since the age of four. Her first and forever crush is Jon, but after becoming an adult and having four children, she slowly discovered that she has Danny tendencies. She is on the social media team and helps maintain the station’s 24/7 loop (hence her DJ name). In her free time, she enjoys listening to all the boybands from the 80’s to 00’s. Her youngest child, her daughter, is a Baby Blockhead and a Danny Girl. She is on air taking requests on Mondays at 8:00 pm and is also a co-host of our weekly talk show, “Oh My Fan Girl!” Thursdays at 6:00 pm.
Raven, aka The Wahlburgers Chick & Dj Phyberdoll Raven is a Latina Puerto Rican from The Bronx. She has been a Blockhead since 1986. Outside of New Kids, she is a mother of four girls and a grandma of a baby boy. Raven is a professional club DJ but has also done stand-up comedy and owned her own heavy metal store. Raven hosts our weekly talk show, “A Day in the Life of a Blockhead” Thursdays at 5:00 pm ET. She also DJs for the station’s live events.
Lisa Lisa is from NKOTB History. She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in management from Indiana Wesleyan. She currently works at a small college as the Registrar/Retention Coordinator and moonlights as a waitress on the weekends. She loves all of the New Kids, but Donnie is her favorite when forced to choose. Lisa helps with additional magazine content.
Patron of the Month
NK Airplay Radio would like to take the time to introduce and congratulate Malene Korte. She is our very first Patron of the Month. Marlene has been a listener of the station since it began in 2009. She was so excited at the fact that a fellow Blockhead had created a radio station that catered to New Kids on The Block music. She loves the fact that she is able to listen to her favorite boyband, listen to live DJs, and request her favorite NKOTB songs. When Marlene got the news that the station was shutting down, she was saddened; however, she was relieved in 2019 when NK Airplay Radio was again online and going strong. That is when she made the decision to become a patron. She had always had it in her
heart to help the station in one way or another but, personally, could not figure out a way to do so. It wasn’t until 2019 that she found a way, she and has been a patron as well as an active loyal listener ever since. When asked if she had a favorite DJ, her answer was simple, “I think all the DJs are my favorite.” The Staff at NK Airplay Radio thanks you for your loyalty. If any of our readers would like to become a Patron of NK Airplay Radio, any amount is appreciated. Please visit www.nkairplay.com and click on the “Become A Patron” link.
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So, with a good bit of planning and determination, three months later, in April of 2009, NK Airplay Radio hit the airwaves. Within the first month, NK Airplay Radio maxed out its listener capacity and by the third month of existence, NK Airplay Radio was in the top 4% of total listenership out of 20,000 online radio stations. By September 2009, NK Airplay was the #1 station in its genre. Live365 took a hiatus in 2016, and as such, so did NK Airplay Radio. We returned to the airwaves in 2019 with the support of the original staff and some fresh faces. NK Airplay Radio has a total of 17 dedicated staff members, all of whom volunteer their time and energy to the station. It has received recognition by the New Kids on the Block, Color Me Badd, Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees, and Brad Fischetti from LFO. While not in any way affiliated with the New Kids on the Block or any boybands, NK Airplay Radio looks forward to playing great music from the New Kids on the Block, other boybands, and associated artists for many years to come.
NK Airplay Radio started as a discussion between Jaime Scott and Elisabeth DeRichmond, concerning the lack of mainstream airplay New Kids on the Block had on national radio stations. As fans of 20 years, they had an idea that a station that played mostly New Kids on the Block music would be well-received in the “blockhead nation”.
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This Month in
NKOTB
HISTORY By: Lisa Alessandro
AUGUST
I think most NKOTB fans would agree that one of the best parts about being a fan is the opportunity to re-live our youth while dancing at a concert, listening to old cassettes or looking through their old stack of Big Bopper magazines. Blockheads are lucky to have 30+ years of amazing memories with the guys, and I am here to help you take a walk down memory lane every month. August 4th - In 2013, NKOTB, 98 Degrees & Boyz II Men wrapped up The Package Tour in Indianapolis.
August 12th - In 2008, NKOTB released their 2nd single off of ‘The Block’ - “Single” featuring Ne-Yo.
August 4th - In 2016, NKOTB performed at Coney Island in New York.
August 13th - In 1990, NKOTB appeared on the cover of People Magazine.
August 6th - In 2016, NKOTB performed at the Mixtape Festival in Hershey, Pennsylvania with O-Town, Paula Abdul, Boyz II Men, and 98 Degrees.
August 17th - In 1969, Donnie Wahlberg was born. Happy Birthday Donnie!
August 7th - In 2011, NKOTB and Backstreet Boys performed in London, Canada at the John Labatt Centre the last date of the NKOTBSB North American Tour. August 11th - In 1989, NKOTB released the single ‘Didn’t I Blow Your Mind’. August 12 - In 2008, NKOTB released the album ‘New Kids on the Block: Greatest Hits’. th
August 17th - In 2012, NKOTB performed at the first Mixtape Festival in Hershey, PA. August 18th - In 2012, NKOTB and Backstreet Boys performed for the last time as NKOTBSB at the Mixtape Festival in Hershey, PA. August 22nd - In 1989, NKOTB released “Cover Girl” as their 5th single off the Hangin’ Tough album.
SEPTEMBER The month of September has been monumental for New Kids on the Block over the years. They were on tour with Tiffany in 1988 and 1989. The Magic Summer Tour wrapped up in September in 1990, while their cartoon was just getting started at that same time. Plus, we’ve had the pleasure of enjoying Donnie Wahlberg in our homes on Friday nights since 2010 on Blue Bloods. Here are some more of the month’s biggest highlights: September 2nd - In 2008, NKOTB released ‘The Block’! September 4th - In 2008, NKOTB performed “Single” with Ne-Yo on The Today Show. September 6th - In 1988, NKOTB released their 2nd album, ‘Hangin’ Tough’. September 8th - In 1990, NKOTB’s single “Tonight” peaked at #7 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart. September 9th - In 1989, NKOTB’s single “Hangin’ Tough” hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
September 18th - In 2008, NKOTB began their first concert tour in 15 years in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre. September 19th - In 1989, NKOTB released their album ‘Merry, Merry Christmas’. September 28th - In 2008, VH1 aired the NKOTB ‘Behind the Music’ special event. These are just a few of the many highlights from the months of August and September. If you would like to re-live even more fun times, please visit us daily on Twitter @NKOTBHistory1.
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Have you ever thought to yourself, “I want to be happy, but I don’t know how? I have dreams, but I can’t seem to make them come to fruition.” Well, relax! You’re not alone. These thoughts have raced through the minds of people for centuries. Fortunately, some have been able to receive guidance to understand that one of the biggest road blocks standing in their way is fear. Fear is one of the most subtle and at times, damaging, human emotions we have. Fear is a natural reaction to keep us from doing something we believe to be dangerous. This is good as it protects us from getting hurt, but it can also become an obstacle from achieving your life’s purpose. We all have some fear. The difference is how you handle it. You have to call upon your inner desires to face your fears, rather than running away from them. 8
William Shakespeare wrote, “A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once”. You have to give yourself permission to fail. You have to give yourself permission to fall. Only then, can you learn, re-calculate, move forward, and conquer. Always keep in mind that the most successful people throughout history, including the people you admire the most, used their fear as a tool for growth, not as a crutch. Once you get on the other side of fear, your dreams can become a reality. Allow your desires and love of self to override the fear. I believe in you. I just ask for you to believe in yourself.
-Victoria (DJ V)
MUNICIPAL
CLOTHING
NK Airplay Radio interviewed the CEO and Marketing Manager of MUNICIPAL, Mark Wahlberg’s clothing line, last month. We also held a charity drawing where four people, who donated to Alma Cares, were able to win hoodies donated by MUNICIPAL Clothing. All proceeds from the drawing were donated to Alma Cares, a non-profit charity started by Mark’s mom.
What is MUNICIPAL? When you hear the name Mark Wahlberg, what usually comes to mind? Music, award-winning movies, Wahlburgers, or possibly even the name of his brother, Donnie? You may need to add just two more words to that list: entrepreneur and co-founder. Anyone who has seen the HBO series, “Ballers,” may have gotten a small sneak peak of what to come for Mark Wahlberg. There was a hint of a fictionalized apparel company, a skating company if you recall, named “MUNICIPAL”.
You would think with the extremely busy lifestyle Mark lives, he would not have any time for MUNICIPAL; however, it is quite the opposite. With his keen sense and ideas, Mark is very handson. He will give his ideas on logo placements and, of course, the type of fabric he likes to wear. The three men wanted something that felt luxurious, but not too bulky, and for it to last a long time. When you purchase a garment of clothing from them, consider the price an investment.
The pandemic did have an impact with the start of MUNICIPAL, but it did not stop them from doing what they loved, leading to something h u g e . They were set back three months, but the ideas were just flowing. Although it was a stressful time, and they did not know what the future held, they knew they could do it. It was a slow growth, but they had help with outside funding. This made life more interesting for them. They had a marketing strateMark, along with his long-time friend, Stephen Levinson gy that consisted of a d e s i r e (Lev), had been partners in several businesses for over f o r a brand f o r people and two decades. Both grew up around playgrounds, basketball real situations. courts, pools, and golf courses. Both Mark and Lev knew What is in the future, what they wanted to do, and they already had a cool you ask? C onsidering name, but they also knew it had to have potential for MUNICIPAL has a something big down the road. large customer base While many companies shared endorsement opportunities of women, you can plan with Mark, he really wanted something more on his level. Both Mark and Lev took notice that there was no type of clothing made for people who started their days off in a gym, jumped to a meeting, or any other on seeing a women’s line, possibly place they needed to be, without havb y the end of the year. Do take into ing to constantly change each time. consideration that a piece of clothing Mark and Lev are no different from can take from 90 days to 10 months those who practically live out of their until the final product is ready for cars, from backpacks or their gym shipping. Another possible idea is a bags. So, Mark and Lev decided to shoe line, which will take a little loncreate what everyone lacked in gear. ger to create! Make sure you are Somewhere along this route, they keeping your eye out for new things to met their third co-founder, Harry Arcome for MUNICIPAL by visiting their nett. The three men teamed up website at www.MUNICIPAL.com. and began collaborating ideas, and the result was MUNICIPAL.
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I think, after the 2008 reunion, we’re all Donnie girls in some way or another. His heart and his spirit are so amazing, and he is a shining example of how to treat people and how to face the challenges of life with grace and positivity. Donnie Wahlberg is proof that good people still exist in this world. I love his dedication to his fans. No matter how busy he is, he always makes time to make someone else’s day better, and the world is a better place because there are people like Donnie in it. We love you Donnie, and I hope you had an amazing birthday! Jennifer (DJ Jenny from the Block)
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I love Donnie Wahlberg because he’s a born leader, and over the years, he has become an inspiration. He has always been an inspiration of positivity. I fell in love with the peace sign because of him. Sue (DJ StickyAngel)
Why do I love Donnie? I have met so many awesome blockhead sisters through our love for him. Donnie makes me laugh and smile. He’s sweet, and down to earth. He is true to himself. I will love Donnie to infinity and beyond 24/7/365. I will always be a proud Donnie girl! Kristen (DJ Konfetti)
This is going to be a difficult task because it is hard to put into words why I love him. Donnie has taught me to be humble. He has taught me to “Spread Love and Love Will Spread”. He has taught me how valuable family is and how to continue to strive for the betterment of myself and all those around me. I love him because he has a way of making me feel like I’m the only person in the room. He connects with his fans on a personal level that no other celebrity has ever been able to master. He is a genuine soul and cares about his fans and treats us all like family. I love him because he has a sense of humor, doesn’t take himself too seriously, and, yet, is serious about all he does - be it his career or his personal life. He sympathizes with the pain of others and works effortlessly to help heal that pain. That’s what he did for me when my best friend, Alma Pinder, passed away in 2017 and didn’t make it on that cruise. He made one night of the cruise about love for her, and that moment changed my life forever. He is the man all men should aspire to be. I love him because he is simply CAPTAIN DONNIE WAHLBERG! Raven (That Wahlburgers Chick aka DJ Psyberdoll)
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I love Donnie because he shows his fans unconditional love. He is sweet, kind and caring. He consistently teaches everyone to spread love. He doesn’t act like he is a celebrity. He treats everyone with kindness. He also has a great sense of humor and doesn’t take himself too seriously; yet he is still Rising ‘n Grinding everyday with all of his work. I could go on and on with how amazing and wonderful he is. I try to make myself a better person each day by following Donnie’s examples and spreading love and positivity each day. By DJ Loop D Loop
I love Donnie Wahlberg because he is one of the kindest, most humble, and most amazing human beings that I’ve ever known. I love his compassion for others and the sincerity in his words and actions. There is not another person on this planet that comes close to the light that he shines. He is definitely one of a kind, and I am so grateful to have him in my life. Jaime
My renewed love for Donnie started in 2010 when I started having seizures. We had no idea that’s what the first one was, and neither did the hospital personnel (initially). Jaime decided to create an online Get Well card, and she tweeted it multiple times! Donnie saw it, wrote a sweet message and signed it. I was released just days before the guys visited Bellevue, WA for their Coming Home screening and Q&A. I didn’t think I would even get to see the guys, but they ran in through the middle, right in front of the wheelchairs, and I got a hug from all five. Later, I saw Donnie in the lobby. I rolled over to him, and I told him my name. He gave me a huge hug and said he was glad I was doing better. While I’m not necessarily a Donnie girl, Donnie is the only New Kid to know about my seizures, and it feels like he’s giving me this knowing glance every time I’ve done a 5* VIP. I will always love Donnie for that! Erzsie (DJ Lady Erzsie) I’m a Joe Girl from day one, and the good Lord above knows that I LOVE my Mac! But there’s something special about that Cheese, y’all! His positive energy is so strong, it can be felt on a boat or in an arena with 4,000+ people. When talking with him, he makes you feel like you are the only one who matters. You have his undivided attention, even if it’s for a brief moment. This man’s heart is pure and huge! He loves hard, and it shows. He’s as real as they come. He has the ability to make us forget all of our troubles and worries with a single word. He loves us just as much as we love him. He gets us, he understands us, and he encourages us to do better, be better and love better. “Ooh you’re like the sun, chasing all the rain away. When you come around you bring brighter days.” This line, from the Atlantic Starr song, “Always”, makes me think of Donnie every time I hear it. Because that is exactly what he does! “Whatta man, whatta man, whatta mighty good man!” Toni (Georgia Princez)
Why do I love Donnie? The answer is quite simple. He was the first member of New Kids on the Block to follow me on Twitter, and he has proven that he has a heart of gold. He always seems to know the moment a #Twug is needed, or when to tweet his famous Words of Wisdom. He does not care about race, gender, or ethnicity. Donnie sees no difference. He is dedicated to all his fans and followers, and he has been such a true inspiration to this great big family of Blockheads. Regardless of what we have faced, he has taught us the true meaning of, “Spread Love and Love Will Spread”.
While my heart belongs to Joey, there is a big piece of it that belongs to Donnie as well. Donnie is 100% pure and genuine. His feelings and love for the fans is something special. He loves what he does and who he does it for. Donnie wears his heart on his sleeve so the world, especially the fans, can see it. It is true that, “We are all Donnie Girls”.
-Lyssa (DJ Spicy)
Sam (DJ Sam Mac)
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A Chat with
s n o m m i T f Jef of 98 Degrees
Sam: Hey guys, it’s DJ Sam Mac. I’m here with Kevin, and we have a special guest here. We’re so excited! It’s Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees. Welcome Jeff and thank you for taking some time out of your day to hang out with us. Jeff: Of Course! I’m honored to be with you today. Thanks a lot for reaching out, and I’m glad we could connect. Kevin: Who would you say is your biggest musical influence and why? Jeff: 98 Degrees collectively have a ton of influences, and it’s really hard to pinpoint one because we come from a very diverse background. We grew up in an era where you had classic rock, and you had Michael Jackson, and Prince, but I think, quartet wise, for us, our biggest influence collectively would be Boyz II Men. It was an honor for us to be on the road with them and, of course, the New Kids on the Block back in 2013. Sam: I saw that show, and you guys were awesome! Jeff: Thanks! Kevin: That was an amazing tour! Jeff: It was like a dream come true for us. We were honored to be a part of that! Sam: Where were you the first time you heard your song on the radio? Jeff: As we get older, it’s hard to recollect things, and you start to have creative memories, but this one is pretty clear. I was in LA, and I was parking a car and going into a swanky hotel - the kind that future stars stayed in - and as I was pulling up for it to be valeted, I heard “Invisible Man” come on the radio on Kiss FM for the first time. I cranked it up. The valet didn’t know what was going on. He was like, “What are you doing? Get out of the car so I can park it!” I was like, “I can’t! This is us on the radio!” That’s a very fond memory for me. Sam: I’m going to go off script a little bit, but I was a big TRL fan back in the day. I was in college, and I put my schedule around TRL. I was actually outside a couple of times, and one of the times I was outside, you guys were there. Jeff: We love that support! When we first came out with “Invisible Man”, TRL wasn’t out yet, and our record label, Motown, had this idea that they wanted people to think we were an urban black group. That didn’t work, and here we were thinking our career was over, and we were going to have to regroup, and then TRL came on. It was like, “Look, you can put us on TV, and fans show up. It’s a really novel idea.” What TRL did for us and MTV in general, I can’t put into words. They really embraced us over at MTV. They had us do everything, and the imagery with that, and the support we got from fans like you - there was really nothing like it in the world. In fact, I’m trying to create a show like that to come back right now in Las Vegas. Not an everyday thing, necessarily, because the media has changed, and people can see things in different ways, but maybe a once-a-week kind of thing. Sam: Times have obviously changed since you guys first started. What advice would you give to up and comers? Jeff: I’m here in Clearwater working with a really new cool artist that I believe in. Her name is Vara. I think that people are so enamored with social media, Spotify and Spotify playlists, and those things are extraordinarily valuable and give you great exposure, but I think that some of the old traditional stuff like going and performing live for
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people, doing some grass roots stuff, actually letting people see it in person and get the vibe out with you and become a fan. Press the flesh, and campaign for your music in real time. It’s also important because it sets you apart from a streaming service. I’m not disparaging those who see the value in those things. Certainly, I wish we would have had them at our disposal back in the day because we would have been even more successful, I think. There’s just something to be said about the real grassroots promotion, grinding away, growing your fan base in an organic way, and really working hard. I think hard work is something that is a little bit lost on the generation now because you have everything at your disposal and quickly. I think hard work, dedication, self-belief, and faith are very important key elements to usher your way to success. Sam: I think it’s great that you say that! I think that’s one of the things that’s different between like back in the late 90s and early 2000s, and even when the New Kids on the Block came out. It took hard work. They were out in the streets, and it wasn’t easy for you guys. Jeff: No, none of it was easy. There are still a lot of circumstances today with all the different versions of technology and the existing vehicles out there to promote yourself. There are still obstacles to being a recording artist, and getting out there because there’s more to choose from. They have their own set of circumstances. It’s not easy. You’ve got to work at it really hard. To be the best and be at the top of your game, you’ve got to work harder than anyone else. And you need a little luck in the process as well. Kevin: You’ve come a long way since the beginning of your career, both group and solo wise. You’ve performed with many other artists. Who would you like to collaborate with in the future? Jeff: There’s so many young talented artists, and definitely artists from our generation that we admire, like Christina, Britney, even Backstreet, NSYNC – all the people we’ve been compared to - Brian McKnight and all the classic folks. We’d love to work with Stevie Wonder again, but there are so many talented artists now like Bruno Mars, I’m amazed by. I’m a huge fan of the Weeknd. Taylor Swift is a genius. Ariana Grande has a beautiful voice, and she is dropdead gorgeous. I could go on and on. There’s so much talent out there, that certainly I could see us fitting in with some music. Sam: By the time this airs, Free Britney Day with be over, but can you tell us about that? We are totally going to get involved in that. Jeff: I appreciate you asking me because I just got off of an interview right before this. I interviewed Lisa McCauley who has been an advocate. She’s on the legal side of things as a legal advocate. She’s been plastered all over the Free Britney blogs and has been really instrumental outside of all the support from the fans. She’s been very vocal, from a legal standpoint and an expertise standpoint. We all experience these kinds of things, not nearly as much as what’s going on with Britney, but in an incremental way from family, friends, and who knows. The people closest to you try to take from your hard work, but what has happened to her has been tragic. The Free Britney Block, that I had the honor of hosting, is going to draw attention to not only conservatorship with regards to Britney, but guardianship, with regards to elderly. There’s a movie on Netflix that won a Golden Globe, I think it’s called ‘I Care About You’ - that sort of makes a mockery in a fictional way about these guardianships that are egregious and ruin people’s lives; so, the conservatorships will definitely have to become competent with regards to these laws. If there is a silver lining, people will have to start paying attention to what are some tremendous cracks, loopholes, and negligence in the American court system.
Kevin: While we are on the topic of the Free Britney movement, it’s reported that Miley Cyrus, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Paris Hilton, and Mariah Carey are all trying to come together and create this campaign, which I think is pretty awesome, as well. Jeff: I’ve heard about that too, and I think it’s amazing! It shows a solidarity, and it’s a competitive landscape in the entertainment business. The media likes to pit people against each other, genres against one another, rivalries against one another, but ultimately, we’re all human beings, and we all experience journeys that those who aren’t in the business can’t even imagine. There’s that experience and roller coaster ride that they have all experienced in their own lives as well, so it’s very inspiring to see them all come together. I think Pink might be a part of that as well. Regardless of if it’s one, five, or ten artists coming together to show their support for Britney, I think it’s a beautiful thing. Kevin: It really is because no one deserves to go through what she’s going through, and like you said, we’re not in the entertainment industry like that, so we have no clue what’s really happening. We just know what we’re hearing. Jeff: Even entertainment industry or not, nobody in any walk of life deserves to be treated like that and have their rights to live and make decisions taken from them like what’s happened with her. It’s absolutely a crime. I asked at one point during the interview, even if people are negligent and they’re not conspirators, they didn’t conspire to do this collectively. Are people going to be held accountable legally? She had a very interesting take on that, and she said there very well could be some repercussions legally for how gross incompetence has led the ship with this. Not to be too political but having gone through things personally with the court system myself, it’s very important for me that these things be addressed for people, so they don’t have to go through torturous events like this. Kevin: Whether you were directly or indirectly involved, you’re still an accessory to the crime. Jeff: I think that very well may be the case. I’m not an expert. That’s why I was trying to ask the questions of a legal expert, but it seems like if you’re going to choose a line of work that peoples’ lives depend on, you should know the rules. Do what they call in the legal system your fiduciary duty to do the right thing. Kevin: I do agree. Your fans have grown with you over the years. How has that impacted you and your career? Jeff: This is a very cliche thing to say, but we wouldn’t be anything without our fans. You can put the music you want out there, but if you don’t have fans supporting your project, and spreading the word about your brand, and getting excited about your music, you don’t have a career. I was talking to someone earlier, and never did I think we would have the career and selling these many records for this long. For us to be almost 50 years old, getting up on stage, acting like little kids, singing love songs, goofing around, having drinks, and enjoying ourselves singing music. That’s like a dream come true. That doesn’t happen without
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people supporting your music. It’s easy when people cater to you or look after you in a certain way and treat you a certain way that’s not really realistic. It can be easy to fall into that hype and believe it. For us, collectively in the group, I think a lot of it has to do with our upbringing and being from Ohio and being blue collar guys. We’ve never taken that for granted. We appreciate every moment that we have to do this dream job for a living, and respect, appreciate, and revere our fans. Sam: As the fans are adults, it’s a lot more fun for us too because as I was saying to another fan, we don’t have to ask permission. We can just go. Jeff: That’s what we love about it. We do like to think we’re the coolest guys on the planet with the best music, but we do also know that there’s a bond with the fans that equals, if not surpasses their love for the music and the group. We all know that you all like to get together and go through the experience together as much as you like to see us up on stage. I never thought in a million years when I was a young guy, and we were putting this together, that would even be something that had an effect, but to see people create long term relationships and friendships that last decades because we sang, “Invisible Man” or “Una Noche”. That’s pretty profound, I think. Sam: We’re all coming out of this pandemic in the next year. How has that affected your career as a group and as a solo artist? Jeff: I think, as a group, we were pretty excited about what we had going on, so we toured with New Kids and Boys II Men, which was a big tour, and then we did a couple big tours on our own, where we headlined. We did a Christmas tour where we were away from our families, and we started wondering how we could construct this so we could be with our families during the week and tour on the weekends. So, we started doing it that way. I guess you get spoiled by the fact that you can be a house dad and a husband during the week, then on the weekend you can go be a rockstar or a popstar on stage. I think that we didn’t take it for granted, but we got pretty comfortable with that. The pandemic turned the world on its ear and changed everything, so that it disrupted everybody’s lives. What it did was put things into perspective for us. What if we never get to do music together again? So now we’re doing new music, which I have been hoping for a long time. We’re doing new music, doing remixes, shooting music videos again, and just enjoying and relishing in the moment even more than we had in the past. As terrible as the pandemic is, and how it destroyed people’s lives, killed people, made people sick, and disrupted the economy of the world. There are positives. There was a silver lining in it, and that you look at what you really care about, and don’t take things for granted. Even if you don’t consciously take things for granted, sometimes, you subconsciously do, and I think it has made people more aware of the order of importance of things in your life. Sam: That is for sure. When I listen to commercial radio, I’m finally hearing about live shows now and it’s nice. It’s exciting! Jeff: A year ago it was like, “What if we can never do live shows ever again?” So, people are in a frenzy to get back out there in the excitement. I can’t wait until August 21st when we come together and do our first show in Syracuse at the New York State Fair, which is going to be a great thing. I can’t wait to see what the energy’s going to be like with that audience, and not only that, but we’re also going to have to relax a little bit on stage cause we’re going to be jumping around like jack rabbits up there with excitement, and we’re going to have to calm ourselves down. That’s how pent up and excited everybody is. Kevin: Speaking of upcoming shows, I don’t remember the date right off the top of my head, but I saw where you all are coming to Georgia. I want to say it’s in October to one of the fairs there. Jeff: I think you could be right, but I’ve got to look at the schedule because it keeps on changing. If we get a chance to do the Georgia State Fair, we’ve got some of the best fans all over the place, but that is a really great fan base for us. There was a station called Star 94, that played us for many years, and some other great people and great stations. There’s a friend of
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mine named Adam Bomb that’s a big DJ that’s always been very supportive and had a ton of success. So, if we have the opportunity to play there, I’ll be jumping for joy. I also think we’re going to do something in Atlantic City, but I don’t want to confirm anything because I’m always getting in trouble. Sam: Do you have a most memorable performance? Jeff: There are so many really great highlights. It’s really tough to pinpoint one of them. Performing at Michael Jackson’s special for his anniversary with Usher and Luther - that’s sort of surreal. Performing with Mariah doing, “Thank God I Found You” on stage in Minneapolis, where we shot the video, was pretty incredible. The list goes on and on. It’s been a wild ride. You close your eyes and ask yourself if this is real or not. Then you blink and it’s 25 years later. We are fortunate and blessed to have so many memorable moments that anybody would die for one opportunity. Sam: What message would you like to give to your fans? Jeff: We love our fans. We feel blessed, fortunate, and absolutely dedicated to making sure we do good stuff for our fans, whether it be on stage or new music. We certainly appreciate and revere our fans, and the opportunity they have given us to do this for a living, and to provide for our families. We owe everything to our fans and how generous they have been with their dedication to us and their time. Sam: Before we let you go, we have a game we like to play here at NK Airplay called, “Fast Five”. Jeff: Let’s do it! Sam: Browns or Bengals? Jeff: Browns for sure! Sam: Small venue or large arena? Jeff: Large arena, when you’re really crushing it, but there’s nothing like an intimate venue. I’ll choose small venue. Sam: TLC or Salt-N-Pepa? Jeff: I’ll go with TLC; although, I love Salt-N-Pepa too. Sam: Singing in the shower or singing in the car? Jeff: I like to rock it in the shower because there’s an echo. There’s a natural reverb in there. Sam: Last one, recording in the studio or singing live? Jeff: 100% recording in the studio. I know that’s a weird answer, but I get nervous before a live performance. Sam: Thank you so much, Jeff. We really appreciate it Jeff: We’re thankful for you. I appreciate the questions and the energy. You guys are great, and it’s nice to see you all again. Let me know if you need anything. Thanks for your time!
Recent Community Events:
Free Britney Event
July 14, 2021 – NK Airplay Radio participated in the countrywide #FreeBritney radio event. Beginning at 11am, DJ Jenny and DJ Spicy played specially chosen songs from Britney Spears. A snippet from our interview with Jeff Timmons on the Free Britney event was aired along with his introductions of the event. From 4pm to 9pm, DJ Sam Mac, DJ Lady J, DJ Loop D Loop, DJ Konfetti, and Toni (aka Georgia Princez) came together to share interviews from fans at the courthouse where a rally was held in support of Britney Spears. They also kept up with breaking news and played some of Britney’s greatest hits. NK Aiplay Radio shared on all social media platforms leading up to the day of the event. The biggest breaking news to come out that day was the California court allowing Britney Spears to have a new lawyer for her conservatorship case. We would like to thank Jeff Timmons for his interview with the station, those that helped promote the event and the DJs who went on air to make this event very special. 15
My First
NKOTB
Concert
(A Jon Girl’s Perspective)
By DJ Loop D Loop I honestly don’t know where to begin. I am still coming down from the highs of that night. I’ve been to many concerts, seen different artists in the past, and I have watched the older concerts from NKOTB on YouTube, but nothing prepared me for that night. It was all a very surreal experience. That morning, I woke up at 8 am, even though the concert was in Merriweather, which was only a few hours away from my house and didn’t start until later that evening. I knew I had to pace myself, but that still didn’t matter to me. I was still ready to go about an hour before we left. Now I should warn everyone that I went with a non-New Kids fan, which is my sister. With that being said, she dreaded going. We ended up leaving later than I would have liked to. Due to construction on the road, we got a little lost and had to re-route ourselves a few times, which made my anxiety act up. I was thinking that I was going to miss something. We did make it on time - about 30 minutes before the show started. It was a smaller venue than I am used to. I was glad because it meant I was going to be closer to our five favorite guys. 16
They had a smaller opening act in the beginning, who was trying to get the crowd pumped up. However, to be honest, they were not the best, but most of the crowd tried to get pumped. It wasn’t until Salt-N-Pepa hit the stage that you could feel the excitement in the venue. It felt like I was at any other concert when the ladies were on stage. Don’t get me wrong; their performance was amazing, and they did great, but they just weren’t who I was there to see. Once Salt-NPepa left the stage, you could REALLY feel the excitement in the air. It wasn’t until about 30 - 45 minutes later that NKOTB finally came out. That, however, did give people a chance to run and get drinks, which is exactly what my sister did because I was glued to my spot, metaphorically speaking. It also gave me a chance to get to know some of the other blockheads around me. The funny thing is, I could not tell you anyone’s names from that night. They were very kind people and kept checking on me throughout the entire show just to make sure I was doing ok. The lights finally dimmed again and almost immediately the
didn’t think I would see Jon up close and personal. Danny actually caught my eye first, as he was in my line of sight. Suddenly, I felt someone tap my shoulder. It was my sister. She was pointing out to me that one of the guys was actually closer to us. But I didn’t care. I was thinking it was Joey or maybe Jordan. She took ahold of me and moved me. I thought, “Ok, maybe she was taking pictures for me of Danny”. As she turned my head, I saw none other than Jonathan Knight!! He was literally less than 50 feet from me! At that point, I was so excited, that I became a jumbled mess. The next thing I knew, the concert was over. I went through so many emotions, that even a day later, it was hard to express. crowd stood to their feet. People were screaming and hollering. The music started and the stage lit up. On the big screen, they showed each guy singing the beginning verse of, “We Were Here”. I saw Jordan first and started shaking. I automatically took out my phone and started to record. I saw Joe and Donnie, and then I started to shake even more. Then, I saw Jon on the screen and my eyes started to fill with tears. I held it together when I saw Danny. Suddenly, lights flashed, and the curtains came down. I was overcome with so many emotions that I’ve held in for 33 years, waiting to see these 5 men. I started to cry. I didn’t even notice Danny was on my side of the stage. All I could do was look at Jon. It is all such a dream-like trance that I was in.
We walked out to get merchandise. As we stood in line, my sister and I discussed how awesome the show was. I really cannot put it into words. You just really have to go and experience it for yourself. I will say this - my sister, who has never been a NKOTB fan, came out as a Donnie girl that night. She still doesn’t consider herself a blockhead, but I am convinced that she is now. She was already talking to me about planning to go to another concert. She even walked away with her own t-shirt. As for me, my love for all 5 of the guys grew stronger. I didn’t know how much I could fall in love with every single one of them. They are very special men who have changed the way I view any artist. It was definitely a highlight to my day, month, year, and life. It was the best time ever, and well worth the 33-year wait!
The next thing I could fully recall was them doing the quick-change cam and coming back out on stage. During the quick-change cam, the lady in front of me told me that she didn’t think that the guys were going to come out into the audience like they normally do, which was fine with me because I knew with Covid that they were going to take a lot of precautions. They came back on stage and Donnie, of course, just had to be in the crowd. They did, however, take safety measures and only went to certain marked-off areas. I honestly
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NK Airplay Radio Schedule NK Airplay Radio Schedule Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9 am ET
Saturday Saturday AM Dance Loop 9 am – 12 pm
10 am ET 11 am ET
DJ Jenny 11 am -1 pm
12 pm ET
A Day in the life of a Blockhead Re-Air
1 pm ET
Oh My Fan Girl! Re-Air
2 pm ET
New Pod on the Block Re-Air
DJ Spicy 11 am -1 pm
DJ Jenny 11 am – 1 pm
DJ Spicy 11 am -1 pm
DJ Jenny 11 am – 1 pm DJ Lady Erzsie (every other Saturday) 12 pm – 2 pm
Motivational Monday Loop 2 pm – 4 pm
L*A*W’s Tha Planet 12 Podcast 2 pm – 4 pm
3 pm ET 4 pm ET
DJ Sam Mac 3 pm – 5 pm Josh & Mike Said What?! Re-Air
5 pm ET
This is Where It’s at Podcast 5 pm – 7 pm
6 pm ET
Interviews / Specials Re-Airs
7 pm ET
DJ Sticky Angel 7pm – 9pm
8 pm ET
9 pm ET
New Pod on the Block Podcast 5 pm – 7 pm
Josh and Mike A Day in the Life of Said What?! a Blockhead w/ with DJ Jenny That Wahlburgers and NKA Staff & Chick Listeners 5 pm – 6 pm 5 pm – 7 pm Oh My Fangirl! with DJ Loop D Loop and DJ Konfetti 6 pm – 7 pm Interviews / Specials
DJ Loop D Loop 8 pm – 10 pm
DJ V 8 pm – 10 pm
Interviews / Specials
Interviews / Specials Re-Airs
DJ JP aka Jorgia Princez 6 pm – 8 pm
Interviews / Specials Re-Airs Rock The Block 8 pm – 10 pm
DJ V 8 pm – 10 pm
RO’s Soft Rock Show (Roger Ortega) 9 pm – 11 pm
JBLOCK 9 pm – 11 pm
10 pm ET 11 pm ET
Club Flabulous (every other Friday) 11 pm – 1 am on Zoom OR Flashback Friday on the Loop (every other Friday) 11 pm – 1 am
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NKA After Dark 11 pm – 1 am
Merchandise $
8.00
g! h shippin Price wit
This water bottle will help keep your water or any other drinks ice cold. They are made with stainless steel material on the bottom and have the station’s logo on them. Colors may vary upon ordering.
$
10ith.sh0ipp0ing!
Price w
Wear your NK Airplay Radio pride in custom-made t-shirts. They come in grey with the station’s logo on them.
$
20.sh0ip0ping!
These bottle koozies are also made of neoprene and are very similar to the can koozies but for a water bottle. They come in two colors: black and white and have the station’s logo on them. Price with shipping and handling.
Can Koozies Bottle Koozies
These can koozies are made of neoprene that come in black or white with the station’s logo on them. Price with shipping and handling.
S A L E !
$
8.00
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What are “pop sockets” you might ask? They are round plastic attachments that stick on your phone and help keep it stable while sitting on your desk or table. They are white with the station’s logo.
$
8.00
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This is a different kind of keychain, because its more of a lanyard made of neoprene material. You can wear this lanyard on your wrist to keep your keys close to you or as an additional decoration to your keychain set. Comes in white or black.
Keychains
T-Shirts
Water Bottles
Can Koozies
F O R
$
8.00
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h Price wit
Face Maks
Show your NK Airplay Radio pride with a custom-made NK Airplay Radio face mask. These masks are made of a thick cotton fabric and have a sturdy fit when worn properly. Comes in white or black.
$ * These masks are not medical grade.
8.00
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If you are interested in buying any of the products listed above, please go to the NK Airplay Radio Facebook group and click on the “Products for Sale” event page. 19
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