Feder: Meet CC's Brotha' Fred

"I expect to have to prove myself"
From Robert Feder, chicago.timeout.com

Anyone who knows him will tell you that Christopher “Brotha’ Fred” Frederick (pictured left) was born to do radio. The question no one can answer yet is whether he was born to do radio in Chicago.

His grandfather was a station owner and manager. His father was a legendary disc jockey. As a kid growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona, young Christopher spent hours pretending to be a DJ. During high school, he hung out around radio stations. In college, he turned his passion into a profession.

Last January — following on-air stints in Austin, Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina — Frederick, 30, landed his “dream job” as morning personality at WKSC-FM (103.5), the Clear Channel Radio Top 40 station known as Kiss FM. He replaced seven-year veteran Kevin “DreX” Buchar, who’d been dropped because of declining ratings.

Although the jury is out on whether Brotha’ Fred will make it in the long run, the latest Arbitron Co. figures are looking up: In March his ratings jumped from eighth place to fifth with a 5.0 percent share of listeners between 18 and 34 — Kiss FM’s target audience. But he still faces an uphill battle against his main rivals, Jamar “J Niice” McNeil and Julian Nieh on CBS Radio rhythmic Top 40 WBBM-FM (96.3), now second with a 6.0 share.

In his first extended interview since he started here, Brotha’ Fred reflected on his move to Chicago, his new show, his heritage — and that awful nickname.

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