Matt Fields:
CLASS OF 2002
Douglas County High SchoolClass of 2002
Douglasville, GA
Arbor Station Elementary SchoolClass of 1995
Douglasville, GA
Matt's Story
It was seven (7) years ago when an 18-year-old high school senior got his 'foot in the door' of the radio business at an Atlanta Top 40 radio station. As the fates would have it, there was an opening for a promotions intern at Atlanta's Q100 (WWWQ-FM). That 18-year-old kid was me, and now it's seven years later. I've been truly blessed with the gift of good timing throughout my career. At 18 years old, I was a member of the very first Q100 street-team, as mentioned above. At 19 years old, I was a Promotions Assistant/Remote Tech for Atlanta's former 100,000 watt giant, 96ROCK (WKLS-FM). At 20 years old, I was "Door Matt," the Morning Show Stunt Guy on the Woody and Jim Morning Show at Nashville's Top 40/CHR formatted 107.5 The River. At 21 years old, I was playing "More Music and Less Commercials" at Chattanooga's former Top 40/CHR formatted 98.1 Kiss FM (WKXJ-FM).
Top 40 music and I were side by side, and who could have guessed what the coming years would bring? At 23 years old, I was running the board for the Atlanta Braves, Kim "The Kimmer" Peterson, Tom "The King" Hughes and Denny Schaffer on Atlanta's 640 WGST. Now, at 25 years old, I am employed by Cox Radio Group-Atlanta as a Producer/Engineer & Traffic Reporter/Producer for the Arbitron Media Research ranked #1 News/Talk station in the United States, News/Talk 750 WSB. What an honor it is to work at a radio station that has received four (4) Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters, which are the most prestigious awards in the radio business, and more National Edward R. Murrow Awards than any other radio or television station! To work with the likes of Scott Slade, Neal Boortz and Clark Howard is quite an honor, to say the least.
The Broadcasting Business Has Been Good To Me...
I am a proud Lifetime Member of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, and am blessed to be a friend of many of the 2008 inductees. I've had the good fortune of being able to attend a Q&A session with Garth Brooks (Thanks to Steve Gradick, President of Gradick Communications) at Country Radio Seminar 39 in Nashville. One of the greatest moments in my life was watching Garth Brooks perform LIVE with his FULL BAND!! I've also had the good fortune of being able to attend a Q&A session with Country Music Legend George Jones. I've met numerous Country music artists including Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, Jason Aldean, Jewel, Randy Owen, Doug Stone, and Sara Evans. I met Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. I've met Stephen Tyler from Aerosmith. I've chatted with Kelly Clarkson on the telephone. I've played paint ball with Story of the Year. I met Hoobastank in the basement of Philips Arena before a Linkin Park concert. I introduced former American Idol finalist and now friend, Diana DeGarmo, at a concert. I've spent an entire weekend hanging out in a motor home in the infield of Atlanta Motor Speedway....and got paid for it too. :) I met some guy named Geraldo Rivera, who apparently works for Fox News Channel. Remember the former Iraq POW, Ron Young Jr., who is from Lithia Springs? He and I met in the Marietta square shortly after his POW release. I've met numerous political figures, including the former Lt. Governor of the State of Georgia, Mark Taylor. I've been to more concerts and Braves games than I can count. And then there's my future wife, Carrie Underwood. She and I met a few days before she won the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year awa...Expand for more
rds in 2007. I like to think I was her good luck charm. All of these things happened because of radio. But, my friends, my most cherished memory of them all: How we've been able to touch so many lives in times of need. Whether it was collecting groceries for the victims of Hurricane Katrina ("Operation Good Neighbor"), or delivering Christmas presents to a needy family ("Ace and TJ's Breaking and Entering Christmas"), or raising money for Troops overseas during the Holidays ("Operation Homefront"), or being part of a team that helped to raise over $1,177,441.00 for Children's Health care of Atlanta's AFLAC Cancer Center & Blood Disorder Services, there are no words that could ever begin to express how good that makes me feel! "A little spark can kindle a great fire"
Over the past 7 years, I've made a lot of friends, both on and off-the-air. Nothing can touch your heart more than when a present or former co-worker or listener shows up at a family funeral, birth or wedding. Guys, there really are no words to express how meaningful that really is! It has been said that "Friends are angels that lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly," and I'm a believer in that!
I've seen a lot of changes over the past 7 years, and I've been a part of some of those changes. Us radio folks are like a fraternity in many ways---up at odd hours, hopped up on caffeine and learning a little more about each others daily habits than we may want to. I've wiped away tears of sadness, and I've wiped away tears of laughter. It has truly been a roller-coaster ride, and I'm so thankful that I've been able to hang on. We often refer to our competitors as "the evil one(s) down the road" but, at the end of the day, we are all a family.
A little bit about my personal life:
I am a single Daddy. My son is the most amazing and wonderful 3-year-old in the world! He is my world and everything that encompasses it. To be quite honest, there are no words that could even begin to describe the love that I have for him. In my eyes, he is the personification of perfection. When I look at him, I see a mirror.
I graduated from Douglas County High School (Go Tigers!) in 2002. I plan to eventually obtain a Bachelor of Arts ("B.A.") degree in Broadcast News from the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
I have an older sister, Jennifer (27), and a younger brother, Christopher (18).
What are some of my hobbies? My number 1 hobby: TRAVELING!
I absolutely LOVE to travel. In 2005, my ex-girlfriend and I rented an SUV and drove to Los Angeles. Yes, drove! We drove as much as we could, and it still took a few days. It took most of one day just to drive across the State of Texas. On the way back home, we stopped in Vegas. We didn't gamble, but we did eat good! :)
Pre Hurricane Katrina, my best friend and I drove to New Orleans (aka "The Big Easy"). It was one of those random road trips that you couldn't forget if you live to be 120 years old.
My number 2 hobby: EATING GOOD!My favorite restaurant is Houston's. You have officially lived life when you have splurged at Houston's. I recommend the Hawaiian Rib eye, which is marinated for approximately 72 hours. It gets five stars from me! Make sure you compliment it with a baked potato (I like mine with just butter, cheese and bacon), along with a caesar salad and cheese bread. You'll sleep for 15 hours when you get home, I promise!
And yes, I am on MySpace and Facebook.
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