Lady Jane's Haircuts for Men brings live radio to its Birmingham salon

Chad Johnson had a “wicked awesome” light bulb moment eight months ago.   

Johnson, CEO of Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men, wanted to build a broadcast studio at his Birmingham headquarters and hair salon, where customers could watch live radio shows while getting trimmed and styled.  

“I looked over there and the thought popped into my head. I said, 'I’m going to make this area there into the most amazing broadcast studio ever,'” said Johnson, who had mentioned the idea during a corporate staff meeting. “Everybody looked at me and said what are you talking about? Eight months later, they’re seeing it come to fruition.”

Lady Jane’s, which has more than 100 locations nationwide, forged a two-year contract with Beasley Media Group, allowing its radio stations — WRIF-FM (101.1), WCSX-FM (94.7) and WMGC-FM (105.1) — to use the location on a rotating basis for remote broadcasts. 

Juline Jordan kicked off the first live broadcast Monday at the Wicked Awesome Productions Lounge with her mid-day classic rock show. The WCSX DJ told listeners she had never seen “anything like it.” 

“You really know how to do it here at Lady Jane’s,” she said. “So if you’re looking to get a little haircut guys, come on out and you too can see this beautiful studio.”

That’s exactly what Dave Schnoblen of Macomb Township did. He needed a haircut and had seen a Facebook post about the new studio. 

“I was kind of curious,” he said, as salon manager Melissa Martin clipped his hair. “I think it’s cool having a radio station out here. It’s different than any other haircut place. You can’t go to BoRics and see a DJ booth.”

$525,000 investment

The broadcast studio enhances the “unique atmosphere” created by the combination corporate offices, hair salon and adjacent coffeehouse, Birmingham Roast, according to Lady Jane’s president Tim McCollum. It has windows on three sides that separate it from the hair salon, the corporate offices and the sidewalk along Woodward Avenue. 

McCollum pegged the cost of the studio build-out, the advertising investment and “everything else” it took to bring Johnson’s idea to fruition at $525,000. 

“We’ve had over a decade relationship with Beasley radio, so this is a culmination of all that hard work coming together,” McCollum said. “We have big plans for this studio. Now that we have it, we’re going to open this up to all kinds of opportunity.” 

More:'It's been a long time coming:' Birmingham reopens its second fire station

More:Still no decisions on who will create Birmingham's master plan

A fantasy football show and athlete podcasts are among future possibilities. 

On-air talent

Jordan has broadcast from remote locations “all over town” during her 27-year career in radio, but said she felt honored to launch the studio at Lady Jane’s. 

“I’m stoked. I’m really excited,” she said, as Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker” played over the air. “It’s something new and different. They are incredible here. They have gone above and beyond to make us comfortable and make sure we get what we need.”

That’s all a part of Johnson’s plan to treat on-air talent “like royalty” by giving them a work environment with a “different vibe.” 

“Normally at a radio station, they are locked in a room, one person, and they see nobody for four or five hours. Here, they will mingle with stylists, with customers,” he said. “We want to create the most amazing space for the on-air talent to work out of in metro Detroit.”

And for customers?

“We want them to come say hi to the talent, get a haircut, listen to a little radio, get a coffee and bagel and go on about their wicked awesome day,” he said.

Contact Sharon Dargay at sdargay@hometownlife.com.