Magic Matt Alan
Encyclopedia
Magic Matt Alan is an American radio personality best known for his stints at leading CHR/Top 40
stations Z-100
in New York
and KIIS-FM
in Los Angeles
. He also performs as a magician, and is a former host on music video channel VH-1.
Alan was born in Portland, Oregon
in 1962, and began his career in radio at KRKO
in Everett, Washington
. After stints at Seattle's KYYX and KJR, Alan came to prominence as the afternoon drive time
DJ
at the leading New York Top 40 radio station Z-100 in the '80s. However, Z-100star DJ Scott Shannon
was a fixture in the morning shift, blocking any possibility of Alan graduating to that slot.
In 1989, after a successful stint in New York City, Alan was lured to leading Los Angeles Top 40 station 102.7 KIIS-FM. Alan's "high energy" afternoon show was again very successful in this market. In fact, by 1991, Alan's ratings had surpassed those of nationally-syndicated KIIS-FM morning host Rick Dees
. Alan pressed the KIIS-FM management for a promotion to the breakfast shift, but the station refused, according to Alan, because Dees was tied to a long-term contract. This impasse led to Alan being fired from KIIS-FM in October 1991, with management citing philosophical differences over the direction of his show.
After a stint in San Diego, and a brief return to KIIS-FM in 1996, Alan began a live Internet radio broadcast. He is currently heard on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network
'70s on 7 channel.
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
stations Z-100
WHTZ
WHTZ — branded Z100 — is a commercial pop/contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Newark, New Jersey serving the New York metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM
KIIS-FM is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based radio station with a partial Top 40 musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcasted on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He also performs as a magician, and is a former host on music video channel VH-1.
Alan was born in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1962, and began his career in radio at KRKO
KRKO
KRKO is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Everett, Washington, USA. The station broadcasts an All Sports format to the Seattle metropolitan area...
in Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
. After stints at Seattle's KYYX and KJR, Alan came to prominence as the afternoon drive time
Drive time
Drive time is the daypart analog to prime time for radio broadcasting. It consists of the morning hours when listeners wake up, get ready, and/or head to work or school, and the afternoon hours when they are heading home and before their evening meal. These are the periods where the number of...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
at the leading New York Top 40 radio station Z-100 in the '80s. However, Z-100star DJ Scott Shannon
Scott Shannon
Michael Scott Shannon is a radio disc jockey, current co-host of the "Scott and Todd in the Morning" show on WPLJ, host of The True Oldies Channel, and the official voice of The Sean Hannity Show.-Early Radio Career:...
was a fixture in the morning shift, blocking any possibility of Alan graduating to that slot.
In 1989, after a successful stint in New York City, Alan was lured to leading Los Angeles Top 40 station 102.7 KIIS-FM. Alan's "high energy" afternoon show was again very successful in this market. In fact, by 1991, Alan's ratings had surpassed those of nationally-syndicated KIIS-FM morning host Rick Dees
Rick Dees
Rigdon Osmond "Rick" Dees III is an American comedic performer, entertainer, and radio personality, best known for his internationally syndicated radio show The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown and for the novelty song "Disco Duck." He is a People's Choice Award recipient, a Grammy-nominated...
. Alan pressed the KIIS-FM management for a promotion to the breakfast shift, but the station refused, according to Alan, because Dees was tied to a long-term contract. This impasse led to Alan being fired from KIIS-FM in October 1991, with management citing philosophical differences over the direction of his show.
After a stint in San Diego, and a brief return to KIIS-FM in 1996, Alan began a live Internet radio broadcast. He is currently heard on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
'70s on 7 channel.