Radio runs in Hayley St. John’s blood. She followed in the footsteps of her mom and started working at her hometown radio station in Jamestown, ND in 2007. She worked as a board op and on-air talent until 2011 when she decided to take a blind leap and moved to Nashville. About a year into her move, she got a part-time job at 102.9 The Buzz, which turned into a full-time on-air position, while eventually taking on the website/social media for the station and APD position. 2024 marks 17 years on the mic for her and 12 years at The Buzz. “I wear a lot of hats,” she says. “But I’m proud to have a big role at an amazing station. A typical day for me is website/social media content, show prep, scheduling music, meeting with the PD, and then live on the air until 7pm. As if I don’t talk into a microphone enough, I host trivia on weeknights at different locations in Middle TN, and I also volunteer at an animal shelter on the weekends.”

The state of the rock format is forever growing and always changing, according to St. John. “It’s sounding better all the time. I’m elated that rock music giants that have been around forever, like Smashing Pumpkins, Staind, The Offspring, and FFDP, continue to make new rock. Even reuniting bands like Blink-182 and Jane’s Addiction are making comebacks. It’s so cool to see! The rock format is such a passionate format as it is. Going to a great rock show is like an escape, and I’ve made so many new friends over the years that share the same love for the bands that I do. And it’s timeless! Rock songs that were popular 40-50 years ago are still just as beloved as they were back then.”

“And as far as local music, We play local rock every weeknight! The local music scene in Nashville is undeniably the biggest and best in the country, so we try to incorporate these bands in our regular rotation every evening. We also have a page dedicated to local bands on our website with new releases, upcoming gigs, etc.”

“The rock community is a fun place to be. The bands, the listeners and fans… it’s a very passionate group. I still pinch myself over all the cool things I’ve gotten to do just by being in the rock industry. ‘Hey, do you wanna introduce Shinedown on stage?’ ‘Is it cool if Sully from Godsmack comes in for an interview?’ HELL YEAH! The rock format has been so accommodating as far as letting the Buzz get closer to the bands and artists. Many of them are local and live in Nashville too!”

Besides providing Nashville with the best of rock: old, new, and local, The Buzz plays a big role in the Music City community. “Recently, I began showcasing adoptable pets from the rescue I volunteer at (True Rescue) on The Buzz socials to raise awareness and hopefully help the rescue,” says St. John. “I’m a big animal rescue advocate and hopefully can use my role at The Buzz for greater good and help animals in need. The Buzz is always very involved in the community, and we’ve partnered with excellent organizations like The Nashville Predators Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank, Soles 4 Souls, and Folds of Honor, just to name a few. Each year, we have a golf tournament for a good cause, too! The Buzz loves every chance to give back to the community.”

Bands St. John is into right now? “Beartooth,” she says. “I’ve liked the band for years, but I’ve been wearing out their album ‘The Surface’ that came out last year. It’s so positive and uplifting, yet badass at the same time. The new Nothing More album ‘CARNAL’ is amazing too, and they’re an incredible band. (Is it still even possible to ‘wear out’ an album?)”

Some of St. John’s favorite stations to listen to? “We recently rebranded a new station called 93.3 FM, which is part of Cromwell Media, and it sounds amazing. I love the familiarity during the day and new music at night. I’ve also been a fan of Lightning 100 for years and applaud them for being so attentive to the local scene. I’ve discovered many bands and artists I love through Lightning.”

Like every format, rock has its challenges. “There are so many different types of ‘rock,’” says St. John. “So it’s a matter of finding the best style for the station. Just because a song sounds good doesn’t necessarily mean it belongs on The Buzz, which gets challenging. The Buzz has experimented with being a more alternative station, a more classic-forward station, a much harder rock station… It’s challenging to find the right lane, but we’ve become successful by listening to feedback and, as rock fans ourselves, how it sounds to us. We can’t please everybody, but we try to.”

“As far as my on-air shift, I try to incorporate as much local news and happenings as possible. Nashville is growing and changing like crazy, and all of our listeners know it. We’re all tired of the traffic and the country bars on Broadway, so talking about it is relatable to the listener. I like to use local news and websites like Loudwire and Consequence to be informative of the music I’m playing. Since many bands and artists have been through the Buzz Studios over the years, I like to share my personal experiences with these bands, too.”

“As far as my favorite Talent, I love listening to Theresa (@theresarockface), who’s on 94.5 The Buzz in Houston and multiple other stations. She’s charismatic and amiable, like listening to a friend talk, although she probably doesn’t even know I exist.”

Out of curiosity, I had to ask St. John, “How do you feel about music icons like Dolly Parton being inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame, and what about the ‘rock’ album she released?” “I admire her longevity in the industry and the fact that she hasn’t slowed down,” she says. “The fact that she even tried to decline her invite speaks volumes, but releasing a rock album to follow up with it is amazing. And the collabs she pulled off on the album are immaculate. Plus, she is a Tennessee treasure. Bravo, Dolly!!”

Speaking of collabs? Who are the best in the format so far? And what would your dream collab be? “A couple of recent ones that blew my mind were Nothing More with David Draiman for ‘Angel Song’ and Eric Church with Lzzy Hale for ‘That’s Damn Rock and Roll.’ Are they as iconic as ‘Walk This Way’ and ‘Numb?’ I don’t know, but I was pleasantly surprised by them. I would absolutely love to hear something dark like Deftones and Lana Del Rey together.”

And your ideal songs for an Olympic soundtrack? “’Get Up’ by Shinedown, ‘Rise Above This’ by Seether, and ‘This is the Time’ by Nothing More.

Follow Hayley St. John @Facebook.com/HayleyonAir, @buzzhayley on Instagram, and @buzzhayley on TikTok.