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Home / Newsroom / Building an Audience by Breaking a Record
WJCU

Collin Kennedy ‘24 (left) and Zachary Sinutko ‘24

Two John Carroll students will test their endurance to break a Guinness World Record. Zachary Sinutko ‘24 and Collin Kennedy ‘24 host a show for the campus radio station, WJCU 88.7 FM. Next week, they'll try breaking the record for the most extended consecutive radio interview. This endeavor is no small feat; the current record stands at 25 hours, 26 minutes, set last November at a Nepalese radio station. Sinutko and Kennedy have their sights set on breaking that record, attempting an interview lasting 25 hours, 30 minutes. 

 

Collin and Zach’s attempt to break the world record runs deeper than bragging rights. They formed the initial idea as a unique marketing opportunity to gain more listeners.

 

Through radio market research, we’ve found it is hard to grow an audience organically, so we wanted to find something bigger than radio to do that.

The interview will begin Saturday, February 5 at 7 a.m., and to break the record will have to last until 8:30 a.m. on February 6. Zach’s asking the questions, and Collin’s providing answers. The two are friends and co-produce a weekly hip-hop radio show, “808’s and Mixtapes,” on WJCU. 

 

Because Guinness recognizes the radio interview record, there are rules and protocols to ensure its legitimacy. Collin and Zach only get one 5-minute break per hour; it's the only time they’ll be allowed to be off-air during the attempt. Additionally, auditors must be present during the entire interview. Zach and Collin have enlisted local police officers, firefighters, and teachers to take shifts monitoring their attempt since auditors must be known community members. Zach has also reached out to University Heights City Hall to see if Mayor Mike Brennan is willing to oversee the interview for an hour or two. 

 

WJCU

Zachary Sinutko ‘24 in the WJCU Studio

Sinutko and Kennedy are not taking this challenge lightly. “We put in about four hours a day, five days a week, to produce two hours of programming. We’re putting in the time and effort growing our brand as a digital influencer,” Collin says. They’ve spent the past year compiling a list of 3,500 questions for the interview. They say their listeners sent in hundreds of those questions and cover a wide range of topics. The pair also has a support system in place for the event. Two stagehands will be in the studio providing food, drinks, and whatever else Zach and Collin need to keep the interview going. 

 

 Tune in to WJCU 88.7 FM next Saturday, February 5, to find out if Zach and Collin can break a Guinness World Record. Click here to listen online.