2008 Woodie Awards
MTA Graduate Rocks WMMR
Tyszler Brings God to Modern Rock
Joshua Shinefield
Issue date: 9/20/05 Section: Arts & Culture
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"Why become a doctor or a lawyer when you could do something you really enjoy?"
These are the paraphrased words of one Sean "Rabbi" Tyszler, 28. Tyszler is the Music Director for WMMR Philadelphia, the biggest rock station in the city. WMMR is a hip station playing hits from the 70's to the 00's. An MTA graduate, Tyszler now decides which music is played to the thousands of Philadelphia commuters.
Tyszler began his radio work as a part time intern for K-Rock in New York, where he picked up his radio name "Rabbi". While Tyszer is not a rabbi, he claims that the title is not one of mockery, but rather one of respect. Growing up in a Modern Orthodox home in the Bronx, Tyszler was exposed to the art of music, specifically rock. "I have always been a rocker and a fan," says Tyszler, explaining how he was certain at a young age that his calling was to the radio.
As the Music Director, Tyszler is responsible for gathering and deciding which music the disk jockeys play. Commenting on the fact that Pearl Jam was voted the number one band in Philadelphia by WMMR listeners, Tyszler states, "I stick to the Pearl Jam hits - the songs that the listeners know & love - but I like to throw a curveball every so often." Since the recent closure of Y100, a competing modern rock station in Philadelphia, Tyszler has been forced to compromise a bit by playing some more modern hits along with the classic rock. "We always have to keep in mind what our listeners who have listened to us for all these years want to hear," says Tyszler on the recent influx of listeners which have almost tripled WMMR's popularity. He describes his job as being given the basic ingredients and having to make a salad out of it.
When asked about Jewish music, Tyszler seemed disappointed. He says that while he is not a big fan of Jewish music, he finds some of Mattisyahu's lyrics absolutely brilliant, and he has been known to enjoy an occasional Moshav Band or Blue Fringe song. Tyszler's true favorites, though, fall into a much heavier genre. Bands like Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, and System of a Down are all favorites of this rocker.
These are the paraphrased words of one Sean "Rabbi" Tyszler, 28. Tyszler is the Music Director for WMMR Philadelphia, the biggest rock station in the city. WMMR is a hip station playing hits from the 70's to the 00's. An MTA graduate, Tyszler now decides which music is played to the thousands of Philadelphia commuters.
Tyszler began his radio work as a part time intern for K-Rock in New York, where he picked up his radio name "Rabbi". While Tyszer is not a rabbi, he claims that the title is not one of mockery, but rather one of respect. Growing up in a Modern Orthodox home in the Bronx, Tyszler was exposed to the art of music, specifically rock. "I have always been a rocker and a fan," says Tyszler, explaining how he was certain at a young age that his calling was to the radio.
As the Music Director, Tyszler is responsible for gathering and deciding which music the disk jockeys play. Commenting on the fact that Pearl Jam was voted the number one band in Philadelphia by WMMR listeners, Tyszler states, "I stick to the Pearl Jam hits - the songs that the listeners know & love - but I like to throw a curveball every so often." Since the recent closure of Y100, a competing modern rock station in Philadelphia, Tyszler has been forced to compromise a bit by playing some more modern hits along with the classic rock. "We always have to keep in mind what our listeners who have listened to us for all these years want to hear," says Tyszler on the recent influx of listeners which have almost tripled WMMR's popularity. He describes his job as being given the basic ingredients and having to make a salad out of it.
When asked about Jewish music, Tyszler seemed disappointed. He says that while he is not a big fan of Jewish music, he finds some of Mattisyahu's lyrics absolutely brilliant, and he has been known to enjoy an occasional Moshav Band or Blue Fringe song. Tyszler's true favorites, though, fall into a much heavier genre. Bands like Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, and System of a Down are all favorites of this rocker.