Janet Chow

How long have you been involved with WUSB and how did you first hear about the station?

I’ve been involved with WUSB 90.1 FM for 3 years now. I started my freshman year and knew right away after I got accepted to the university that I had to reach out to WUSB. I started attending all their general body meetings even during the pandemic. When the restrictions were taken off and I was able to step into the radio station, I immediately practiced for my practical test and became a DJ! I was able to host my own morning show since my sophomore year and it’s been amazing ever since! I became WUSB’s social media manager during my sophomore year and MD as well as vice president earlier this year. WUSB has allowed me to connect with my listeners and staff through stories, tunes, and laughs.

Tell us about the duties of your job and what part of it you love the most and what is most challenging.

As MD, I host music check-ins for Stony Brook students and we all get to check out new and cool music sent from all over the world. I have also been speaking with music artists and labels to see if their music matches or if an interview at the station or through the phone could be possible. Along with charting for NACC, I also create monthly music submissions newsletters so that my staff can receive new music from all genres.

What advice can you offer other MDs regarding the ways you encourage your DJs to play the new music the station receives from labels and promoters?

Advice I’d give to fellow MDs to encourage their DJs to play new music is to be open to all sorts of music. Nowadays, music is curated for you and it’s personal. But I believe that everyone has a story to tell and music to share so have an event or a meeting for all staff to come together to hear music from all genres and vibes!

What are your career plans for the future? Would you like to pursue a career in music or do your work ambitions lie elsewhere?

Ultimately, I want to become a morning show radio host. I would absolutely want to continue my career in the radio industry and bring inspiration to people’s morning drives to school or to work.

What was your favorite album released in 2022 and why? Is there a 2023 release on the horizon you are eagerly awaiting?

My favorite album released in 2022 has to be SZA’s SOS album. It’s intimate and really gets you in your feels. My favorite song on SOS would have to be Snooze and her wanting to be in the moment with her significant other moved me. In terms of a 2023 release I am eagerly awaiting for, it’d have to be Miley Cyrus’s Endless Summer Vacation. We already had a glimpse of her album when she released Flowers, and it was incredibly iconic and I can’t wait to hear the rest of it!

Do you have a favorite artist or album you never get tired of listening to?

My favorite artist that I will never get tired of listening to is Giveon. His voice is incredibly rich and soulful. His performances (besides from the BET awards) captivates you and brings so many emotions throughout his songs. As an artist, you hear his heartbreak and even self-discovery. It’s so powerful to see through his music.

Who is an artist or band totally outside the realm of the music you play on WUSB that people might be surprised to know you love?

I am a Chinese-American and I always try to find music that highlights Asian-Americans. Most of the music I play on WUSB are R&B, indie, and alternative. It wouldn’t be a surprise for the people at WUSB to know but it’s a change that I love listening to Asian American artists like NIKI and Thuy.

If you had the power to instantly change one thing going on in the world at the moment, what would it be?

If I had the power to instantly change one thing going on in the world at the moment, it would be the rise of temperatures recently. Climate change is a real problem that’s happening now. It’s not a “later problem,” and I would absolutely hope that we can make a change soon.

What event or person in your life would you say has shaped you the most as a person?

My mom has shaped me most as a person. She raised me to always practice empathy and humility. She cares deeply for her family and her friends. I appreciate all that my mom has done for me and I hope that I always maintain her strive to always be the best she can be everyday.

If you could choose, what time period in the past would you most want to travel back to visit and why?

I’d love to travel back to the 80’s because I loved listening to musicians like Phil Collins, Hall & Oates, and Madonna. If I were to travel back, I’d love to watch them perform!

Do you have a favorite nearby restaurant (dine-in or take out) that you recommend people try?

Yes! If you love tacos or tex-mex food, check out Taco Island Tex-Mex in Mt. Sinai! They have the best tacos de birria!

What in your life brings you the most joy?

Lately, I have been journaling what’s been bringing me the most joy and truly, life has just been great! My family, friends, and my partner have brought me so much joy. I love spending time with them. My career as an on-air personality has also brought me joy. I had the pleasure of being an intern for a top 25 radio station out in New York City, WNEW 102.7 where I honed my skills as an on-air personality and it was such an incredible experience. Being MD has been such an incredible experience as well. Sharing music and stories is truly such a tremendous joy in my life and I hope that I can continue to do it for all my life.

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? DOG
Morning Person or Night Owl? MORNING PERSON
City or Country? CITY
Beach or Mountains? BEACH
Watch TV or Read A Book? WATCH TV
Sunny or Rainy? SUNNY
Restaurant or Home Cooking? HOME COOKING
Pants or Shorts? SHORTS
Warm or Cold drinks? COLD DRINKS

Do you have any current favorite TV shows you’re enjoying/binging? How about a movie (new or old) that you’ve watched recently that you would recommend?

It’s a guilty pleasure but I’ve been watching Bluey on Disney+. It’s heartwarming and fun to watch! (My favorite character is Bingo.) A movie I’ll always recommend to my friends is If I Stay. It’s a romantic drama around two musicians following their dreams. P.S.A. Keep your tissue box close by!

Finally, just for funsies, share with us your most detested pet peeve!

I’m from Brooklyn, NY so I would have to say that my most detested peeve would have to be when people are walking too slowly ahead of me and take up the entire sidewalk. I got places to be!