Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Rodriguez.
Melissa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, it all started with an amazing opportunity at iHeartMedia. I started as an intern for the promotions team, and at the same time, I was interning at Telemundo for the national newscast. The tough part was doing all that as a 21-year-old, with barely any social life, still in college, and having a job. I was going a little crazy with the lack of time and sleep, but deep down I knew that the hard work would pay off at some point.
The two internships ended, and I was devastated because I was almost sure I was going to get a job offer right after, but it didn’t happen. So I went back on the search, applying for internships, searching for entry-level positions in media, until three months later, as I am at a coffee shop looking for jobs on the web, I get a call from my boss in iHeartMedia, saying there was a part-time position available with them in the promotions department. I said yes right away, and went the same day for my photo ID. As a promotions coordinator, it wasn’t easy.
I had to carry heavy boxes and equipment, drive a huge radio promotions van, spend late nights cleaning venues after our events. In other words, it wasn’t what I wanted, but I knew it was getting me closer to where I wanted to be. And one day, during a meeting, Mega 94.9’s main host at the moment, Joe Ferrero, said to me he would give me the chance to go out on the streets during his morning show, give away prizes to listeners and talk on the radio for one minute live.
I remember my first time going live on radio remotely. I called the station from my phone, and they played my call live. My biggest fear was stuttering, but somehow, it didn’t happen. And when I got back to the studio, he said: people called the studio, I asked them to mention a character from the show, and the first name they would say was Meli. I could not believe it, but I was static.
Three months later, the co-host position opened up for the morning show at 94.9 and Joe Ferrero, with Raymond Hernandez (program director of the station at the moment), gave me the chance to have my first on-air position. You can imagine, a 21-year-old, still in school, in a morning show radio, with one of Miami’s heritage voices (Joe Ferrero) and with barely any experience, was hosting a show in her city. I could not believe what was happening in my professional life.
Then came a lot of opportunities, like traveling to Mexico and Dominican Republic to broadcast the show live from over there, hosting the iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina on international TV through Telemundo, hosting big community events like El Festival Calle 8 and Mega Rumba Colombia, hosting private meet and greets with someone like Daddy Yankee… it was all surreal. Those were all great opportunities that I enjoyed while the show lasted, but once the show was over in 2016, I was again back in the search for doors to open. That’s when LaMusica App came into my life. I started producing content for the app and doing voiceovers.
The director of content, Edgar Perez, and the Head of Content Development, Bianca Alarcón, gave me the chance to explore my skills as an on-air talent with my own show “Enredados,” and doing interviews with the artists. I always had the support of the team which always pushed me to explore my talents even further, like Vladimir Gomez, who is the face of Public Relations of the app, and always took me to events in representation of LaMusica. I interviewed many artists I admired like Chayanne, Melendi, Ricardo Montaner, just to name a few.
It was like an out of body experience in each and every interview. I would tell myself: are you aware of how blessed you are? Good thing is, I was… I was very grateful for everything that was happening. Then came the opportunity of covering the Latin Grammy Awards for the first time, and I was static with the experience. I remember calling my mom screaming like Mami, voy a cubrir Los Grammys! It was like when you want to cry and laugh at the same time, something like that.
This is the second year I cover the Latin Grammy Awards, and I still can’t believe I am living my childhood dreams. And that’s where I am at now, still soaking into all the knowledge I can, and living the dream of bringing people laughs, no matter if it is through an interview with their favorite artists, or with a funny story of IG, or just a plain moment of pure rawness with a 25-year-old girl who just like them, is trying to figure out life and pursue a career she is proud of.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was not a smooth road. I was the kind of girl who when my friends would go out, I would stay in studying or creating a video. Then going into the industry is not easy at all. There are very few opportunities, and there’s a lot of competition. But I was once told that opportunities are rare, but when one finally reaches you, you have to be able to recognize it, and take it, and defend it like there’s no tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I would prepare myself taking communications classes and courses that would prepare me for that moment. Once you are in, the struggle is dealing with the pressure. The pressure of producing numbers, of looking pretty, of being likable on social media, of having many talents in order to compete in the markets.
Then there’s the extra pressure that comes with being a woman in the industry. I feel like we have to work double as hard. But despite all the hard work, it’s been worth it
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the LaMusica App story. Tell us more about the business.
I work for LaMusica app. It’s a streaming app plus a digital channel with original content for artists. I am known as a host and producer for the app. I love to do an interview and create segments where people could laugh as they watch their favorite artists answering the most random questions. What I am proud of is that we try to create content that’s different. It’s not the regular interview with the artists. We do fun games with them, create cool segments. It’s very enjoyable to watch.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think everything is a combination of luck and hard work. It is a fact that not always the most talented person is the one that makes it, its usually the one that’s the most consistent, the one that doesn’t give up, and also the one that’s in the right place at the right time. If you got the talent, the drive and you happen to be at the right place at the right time, you are winning by 90%.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2470 Centergate Dr. Miramar Fl 33025
- Phone: 305-877-5985
- Email: melir1993@yahoo.com
- Instagram: melimellive
- Facebook: melimellive
- Twitter: melimellive
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX2TVPw6kMQlDo9-SgKLyDQ/videos?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Hector Eugenio Orozco
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