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Ace's
Career Capsule
I've been working in
radio for 15 years. The first 6 were in mainstream radio ranging in
Oldies, AC, Country, Top 40 and News Talk in the Birmingham and
Huntsville Markets. The last 9 have been with WAY-FM Media Group. I
started out in Nashville hosting the network Night show and then a
tiny stint in Tallahassee, Florida to put that WAY-FM on the air and
then moved to join the Huntsville WAY-FM just 8 months ago.
1.
Personally how do you keep the ministry in the “business”?
I set up boundaries
and help my team set them for themselves. I care deeply for my team
and want their personal and spiritual life to be in check before
they come to work everyday. I don't want to mandate so much from
them or myself, all for the sake of "ministry", and then have our
families suffer. That's not something I'm willing to answer for as I
stand before God someday.
2. Overall, how is Christian radio different today, from 5 years
ago?
It's much more
professional. Great talent and programmers are stepping up and
looking to whose doing great radio and then seeking ways to make
that work at their own stations, despite budget issues. Also, the
music is SO much better as the talent that's out there is so
amazingly reflective of the generation listening.
3. What do you think are the main characteristics of today’s
Christian radio PD?
To care for his people and make
coming to work fun. There's
so many hats we have to wear due to staff restrictions or budget and
if you don't check on your team and draw some laughter into the job,
it becomes only that, A JOB! This is radio, it's suppose to be fun.
I don't want to ever let my team get too stressed out that they
can't enjoy coming to work. Who wants to live like that? We get
handed down stuff on our plates that we look at as "Team Possible"
and only as a 'team' can it get done.
4. What criteria do you require for a song to be played on your
station?
It is relevant to my listener, does
it fit the criteria of what my listeners have told me they want to
hear and is the artist living the lifestyle that reflects a positive
image to my listeners.
5. What kind of promotions work best for Christian
radio?
Community events.
What are we doing to give back to people who live here? What are we
doing that allows listeners to get involved and help as well? Those
kind of events partnered with a big prize, word of mouth about the
station and/or a concert always WIN.
6. How do you think Christian Record labels can better serve
Christian radio?
Return phone calls
and follow through with request. Don't tell me you'll do whatever it
takes and then 3 months later you dropped the ball.
7. In your opinion
what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian radio today?
Staff! There's too
little money to hire the great people you need, too little staff to
delegate the work evenly and then you loose the great people you
have because of burn out and creative frustration. In the end,
Christian radio expects too much all for the sake of ministry and
marriages, careers and lives are wrecked.
8. What do you believe is the primary role of the Christian radio
air personality?
To relate to the
listener! Nothing else! Don't tell the listener what to think, feel
or do, invite them to spend time with you and talk about what
they care about.
9. What (if any) Christian radio stations do you consider as
innovators today?
I tend to look at
the mainstream side for that innovation. So many people in Christian
radio have been taught badly, because Christian radio was done badly
for so long, that we have to look at whose doing target filtered
compelling radio and then mimic them until we find a style all our
own.
10. Where do you see Christian radio in 5 years?
Probably HD! I also
hope it's more mission driven and less vision driven. That'll kill
it all if we're not careful.
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