Kiss of the Snyder woman: Janet Snyder, disc jockey By Joe Sweeney In the day and age of iPods, computerized play lists, and digital radio empires, being a disc jockey may not have the sense of supreme coolness it once had (see Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Do the Right Thing). But nobody could disagree with this sentiment more than Janet Snyder, who has been a mainstay of the Buffalo radio scene since 1994, when she began co-hosting the Kiss 98.5 morning show. Like the top 40 pop hits that her station plays, Snyder fizzes over with enthusiasm and unshakeable positivity. Her job involves free concert tickets, schmoozing with celebrities, and getting paid for just being herself. Plus, she holds the title of the first female commercial radio host in the United States, making her a straight-up suffragette. This is what she has to say about her incredible achievement: Would you consider your job to be the coolest? On a scale of one to cool, mine has to be at the top. I get to hang out with people like Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas. I get to go to all the concerts I want. I get to wear jeans to work. I work in a profession where coffee is a religious experience, and I laugh all day long. How did you get your start in radio? I knew graduating high school that I wanted to do something in media, and I went to Ithaca for TV/radio communications. [After working in Ithaca and Buffalo] I went to Z100 in New York City, the biggest radio station in America, where I had an awesome time. I got married and had a baby, and I wanted to be near my family, so I came back to Kiss. I was put on the morning show as a newsperson, and it all fell into place from there. How much has radio changed over the years? The format the music comes on has changed, but the message is no different. Radio is immediate and it’s there for people, and the October storm has been a prime example. Local radio became a necessity–satellite radio wasn’t going to tell you what was closed and how to get the water you need. If you couldn’t do the DJ thing, what job would you like to have? I would like to be the mayor of Buffalo. I’m not kidding. I really feel I’d be great at it. Nobody loves the city as much as I do. I think you just need to have common sense. I want to have a political career at some point of my life. Joe Sweeney is a Buffalo-based writer and musician whose album reviews are archived at www.angelfire.com. Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top