By: Marissa Spencer
From pioneering the early days of 107.7 The Bronc, alumni, Brandi Lukas ‘12 sat down with Beyond the Mic and discussed her successful catapult into the professional world of music, media, and beyond!
It was no surprise to the 107.7 The Bronc community that former executive staff member Brandi Lukas would eventually translate her dedication and vast skillset into a successful post-collegiate career. After nine years working at music management company Q Prime, this former college radio dreamer has had the opportunity to work alongside some of the biggest names in music today. “In short, I get to work for some of the coolest artists in the world,” exclaimed Lukas. “Over my nine years here, I got to go behind the scenes for some of the coolest artist album releases including, but not limited to, Metallica, Disturbed, Three Days Grace, Silversun Pickups, Volbeat, Baroness, Nell Mescal, Declan McKenna, Cage The Elephant, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers…it’s truly a full-circle moment that I take a lot of pride in.”
This lifelong rock fan-turned-music media extraordinaire recounts her proudest achievements within the industry, “My biggest accomplishment has been working with the band Disturbed. It’s really awesome to be creative for an artist, put their art and personalities on a pedestal, and achieve viral moments over and over again,” added Lukas.
Fostering a college radio community from the ground up proved to be no easy feat. The radio station’s early days required staff to be extremely versatile and open to any and all new tasks that came their way. “It was a lot of fun and a lot of work! I scheduled and trained DJs, produced live events on and off campus, and board-operated for a lot of the sporting events we aired,” said Lukas. With efforts as esteemed as these, the determination of Lukas and others ultimately led to the professionalism and standards our staff is held to today.
Lukas helped champion a team of fellow students to embark on a venture that helped to take the station to the next level. “I was a part of The Bronc when a lot of changes were happening; when it went from WRRC/We Rock Rider’s Campus to 107.7 The Bronc,” she added. Our students have many thanks to attribute to Lukas and her efforts within The Bronc community.
In addition to her many duties as an executive staff member, Brandi happened to produce and host her very own music show on the station as well, entitled The Brew with Brandi. “My slogan for my show was ‘topping you off with a blend of tunes from the past, present and future’.” The WRRC show evolved into her current passion project of today, a podcast called BRANDI IS GOING TO HELL.
On the podcast Lukas interviews artists, bands and shares her new musical findings with her audience. “Working in music, watching a lot of interviews, and being a fan of music, has shown me that the art of a good interview has gone by the wayside, so I take a lot of pride in having a meaningful conversation with artists big and small.”
Moreover, Beyond the Mic received some invaluable career advice from Lukas. “I cannot stress enough how important it was back then and even more so today, that it takes more than just getting A’s and B’s in class in order to score your dream job or career. Extracurricular activities, internships, and experimenting on your own is so important when making yourself stand out,” she said.
“No matter what job you get into, I think evolving with the ever-changing ways of the online world will keep you relevant and help you grow,” said Lukas. She attributes much of her success in her current role at Q Prime to the station and all the invaluable lessons she took away from her time with General Manager John Mozes and former staff members. “I got so many skills being a part of The Bronc…Managerial skills, thinking outside the box, communication skills, problem-solving in real-time, continuously learning, and being creative,” she finalized.
Many thanks to the courageous efforts of Brandi Lukas and the early executive staff of 107.7 the Bronc, our Bronc community has remained able to flourish due to the strong community of alumni it was built upon.
For more information on Brandi Lukas and her whereabouts check out: brandiisgoingtohell.com, BRANDI IS GOING TO HELL on Spotify, and @brandilukas on Instagram.
