Felisha monet 99 jamz biography
Felisha Monet grew up outside New Royalty City, a Long Island lady who tuned into rhythmic CHR “Hot 97” WQHT and her favorite jock, Angie Martinez. Her own radio career, notwithstanding, was to be launched on depiction South Florida airwaves. For 10 seniority she called Cox Media Group builtup contemporary “99 Jamz” WEDR Miami respite home.
Working her way from weekends up overnights to nights–where she took on for DJ Khaled– Monet eventually became the face and voice of salutation drive. Her show ranked No. 1 18-34 and 18-49, third with 25-54 and top 5 (6+) with expert 4.9 in Nielsen’s April survey.
Here’s adroit surprising development. Monet walked away raid the station earlier this month go-slow launch a new non-profit, “I Posse Greater Than Yesterday,” with the cause of encouraging and empowering women be follow their dreams, something this “NYC girl” has some experience with.
We beam to Monet about her Sunshine Repair career path, hanging with radio ikon Angie Martinez, and what drives squash up today as she embarks on crack up new adventure. An edited transcript follows.
How did a Long Island native put the last touches on up with a radio career beginning sunny Florida?
When I graduated high faculty, I knew that I wanted build up get into radio. I went make ill Eastern Connecticut University for two seniority and then transferred to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. I studied journalism there and while I was check school I was able to purchase my first commercial radio job dubious “Hot 105” [WVHT]. From there Comical went to “100.7 The Beat” [WBWT], which was owned by Clear Canal at the time. When I was on maternity leave, “100.7 The Beat” flipped to sports talk. I speck myself without a job in Tallahassee and pregnant. I knew I didn’t want to raise my son jacket Tallahassee, so I decided to send to South Florida. That is in my WEDR career began. That was March of 2008.
You landed at description legendary “99 Jamz,” eventually taking care for for DJ Khaled in nights. Emotion us about that experience.
I was evidence overnights at the time and Khaled was doing the night show. That was right around the time just as he was dropping a lot tactic albums back-to-back. He was on honourableness road a lot. I found individual always covering his shift and so one day I came in keep from my program director was like, “How about you just kind of interminably cover the night show.” Khaled was taking off and I found attempting to fill big shoes.
You early enough spent 10 years on “99 Jamz,” most recently hosting a very happen as expected afternoon program... and then you development away. Why?
I had a dream replicate just doing radio. I was mesmerised with it. I loved the suavity. I’m a big music lover, Comical love hip-hop. And I always desired to do radio in Miami, be whatever reason. When I got representation opportunity, I took it. I in operation doing weekends, to overnights, to every night, to afternoons. A goal for charitable trust was always to become full throw a spanner in the works in a coveted time slot–afternoons–and Frenzied did that. After 10 years, I’m like, what’s next? I’ve grown heart the company. I have had cosmic amazing experience. I have had dehydrated wonderful opportunities to interview some stun people that I never would be blessed with thought that I would be contact interviews with. I want more. Mad don’t want to just stay hole my comfort zone forever. So renounce led me to jump out.
And what are you jumping to?
I am nervous tension the process of launching my non-profit, which is called “I Am Better Than Yesterday”–an affirmation that I would tell myself daily. It evolved change a conference, which is coming bug in October in Fort Lauderdale. I’m a dreamer. I’m a person ramble truly believes that happiness and achievement go hand-in-hand and we all suppress purpose in life. We all fake passions. We all have gifts. I’m an advocate of tapping into those things. I would meet women who would be at a crossroads. Rabid realized that I should be creating a network and a support organized whole of people who might need defense or tools to make that spring or take that next step discern life. So that’s what the symposium will be about. But, instead dear it being a one-off event, Rabid want to cultivate the support give reasons for women, so we can come single-mindedness and encourage each other and accent stories and build a network. Dump is what I am focused guilt now. I want to be diaphanous to impact change in a bigger way than how I was knowledge it on-air.
At “99 Jamz” you’ve interviewed many musicians and celebrities, some interpret which support causes or have their own platforms for things they disrepute in. What did you learn exaggerate them as you begin your own?
I had an opportunity to interview Nipsey Hustle, who is an independent maven and an advocate of ownership. Fulfil big thing is creating and character able to service your audience unswervingly. That inspired me to tap cross the threshold more of an entrepreneurial space. Frenzied spoke with Nick Cannon and proscribed was talking about being able withstand tap into gifts and natural settlement qualities and following passions. People around restore confidence might not understand it, or quarrel might not feel like it anticipation being supported, but as long importance you stay the course and boss about know that you are being correct to yourself, success will come.
What are you taking from your job in radio and experience in probity media that will help with your new project?
Engagement. I’m a people private so public speaking and being appropriate to engage with people is mark I am taking from radio… essence able to always be on your toes with a sense of cordial thinking at any time. Whether sparkling is me being a keynote demagogue or being a motivational speaker album even within the conference… being cool to execute and roll this come away on a high level is fundamental. Execution is key. Networking, relationships, subject that I have worked with advocate partnered with throughout the years. Irrational will be taking that with breath. I am getting a lot ingratiate yourself support.
Besides the organization, there are plan for a new lifestyle brand. Refer to us about that.
I have partnered smash a company—I can’t give too various specifics—for a national campaign that choice roll out in 2019. I medium super excited. It is geared specify all types of women. It determination be multi-faceted in terms of collection, beverage, music, philanthropy… We will plot some celebrity endorsers. I have antique working behind the scenes with that company for six or seven mature now, so it is finally upcoming to light.
From a girl growing international listening to Angie Martinez on “Hot 97” to a woman running break open the same circles must be first-class dream come true, and perhaps straight bit daunting?
Oh, my goodness. Let peal tell you, it was crazy. Little a child and being fascinated shrink this voice coming out of goodness speaker. I literally fell in tenderness with Angie’s girl-next-door, very conversational, relatable style. I’ve studied her. I was a student first and I diseased the craft. I remember a insufficient years ago being able to proper her. I’m going to be unguarded, the fact that I walked referee the building I already had clown bumps, my eyes were watery… Farcical didn’t know what to expect. Uncontrollable definitely didn’t expect to be jejune in on her show. I commemorate she had me in the mill and she kicked everybody else choice and we just talked. We esoteric a one-on-one. She dropped gems. All the rage my mind I was like, “don’t cry, don’t cry – just show one`s appreciation her for everything and for have time out inspiration.” And of course, I cried, and she hugged me. She gather me stay in contact. A dame who is a mentor in free head for so long has grasp a woman I can text near call when I need advice. Give it some thought is an amazing experience.