Nia Boom chats with Radio Veteran "Terri Avery"

Terri Avery is a 25-year veteran of the radio business, Inspirational speaker and author. She started her career at WWRL in New York City as an intern and became an assistant music director. She worked part time on the air until her career took her to Dallas where she worked as a midday on-air personality at KKDA-FM, later becoming music director and then assistant program director. From there she went to KKDA and added more credits to her resume before going on to KMJQ in Houston Texas and became program director. She then return to KKDA as Operations manager and entertainment reporter for the "Tom Joyner Morning show".  Soon after she became the Director of Programming for Radio One.

After a 6 year break Terri went to work at the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington, DC

and then got recruited to work for Davis Broadcasting in Columbus, GA as program director of WFXE, WOKS, and WKZJ.Terri was then asked to join CBS Radio in Charlotte to be Program director for WBAV and a year later she was promoted to Program director over three urban stations in Charlotte, WPEG, WBAV and WGIV.

Bill Schoening, the Marketing Manager then promoted Terri to Operations manager/Program director over the three urban stations.

She is the recipient of the Living Legends Foundation's award for her many achievements in radio and of the  first annual MIW (Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio) Achievement in Programming Award. She was also recently named one of "The Best Programmers" in the country for Radio Ink.

This week I had the pleasure of speaking with Terri Avery about her new book Urban Birthday Beats, her work as an Inspirational speaker and her magnificent career in radio.


Nia Boom: How did the idea to write the book come about?

Terri Avery: Being a creative Program director, I would always be looking up information on the artists I played on the radio. Todays show prep services let you know when someones Birthday is, but I needed a source that I could go to to know that birthday ahead of time. hence..Urban Birthday Beats. its a complete list of your favorite recording artists birthdays.

Terri Avery Who are some of the entertainers that are featured in the Book? Listed are artists like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Drake, ol’ school artists like Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, by the way, also lists his death date.

Nia Boom What are you hoping to accomplish with the Book?

Terri Avery Two fold, it’s a great tool for radio, TV, producers and programmers so that you can prepare for a show knowing its an artists birthday. you can do music specials, create a virtual birthday card, etc. Then for just regular folks, you could see who you share a birthday with all for fun.

Nia Boom: Are you doing any Tours, whats next for you?

Terri Avery: The POP Star birthday Beats book has just been released. I’m trying to plan a book tour now but, with my hectic schedule, it might just be in the southeast for now.

Nia Boom: Any Last words?

Terri Avery: Get the book, even if you’re not in the entertainment industry, you’ll have fun with i

Nia Boom:How can people get in touch with you? you can go to my website  terriavery.com, I’m also an inspirational speaker!

Click to Listen to the full Interview and purchase Urban Birthday Beats! on Amazon or Kindle and look out for Pop Birthday Beast