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Radio Interview

                                     

Grayson Long

Program Director

WCIC

Peoria

 

 

Grayson's Career Capsule

I started in radio doing weekends at a country station KBWS  (I’m originally from South Dakota, what else is there?) playing the Crook and Chase Country Countdown!!. In time against their better judgment they gave me their PM Drive and I really started to love this animal called radio. I was there a year before it was bought out (hail to consolidation) and fortunately the new owners kept me on but moved me to KGIM/KQKD in Aberdeen, SD. I worked there from 96-97 and then moved onto a KCGN a Christian station where I was the morning drive guy and voiced about every commercial there was for every client we had (or at least that’s how I felt it was) J. Then in January of 1999 I came to 91.5 WCIC in Peoria, IL as PD.

 

1. Tell us about your market and how it is unique?

Peoria is an older city located on the Illinois River, it is the home of Caterpillar and the saying around here is “as goes Caterpillar so goes Peoria”. This can be interesting at times when they are having a downward turn economically and it is felt all throughout the city. Interestingly enough for an older river city it is developing quite rapidly as far as retail growth and newer building construction.

 

2. What is the most fulfilling aspect to you personally about Christian radio?

This is a tough question to answer because there are so many things that I can take a hold of and say this is why but just like the audience we’re targeting I’m glad to let my children 8, 5 and 8 months listen to music that is God honoring.

 

3. How do you personally keep the ministry in the business?

Well I really try to incorporate prayer into the day to day of radio life instead of just trying to “muscle it through” myself. I find when I do that it comes easier and when I don’t the incline to incorporate ministry is much steeper.

 

4. What is the criteria that determines if a song receives airplay on your station?

Payola, oops did I say that out loud??? LOL, seriously I think it’s fairly similar to most stations litmus tests. Does it fall within the mission statement and ministry goals of the station and target our core demographic along with the more obvious requirements such as production quality, lyrical content etc.

 

5. What kind of promotions work best for your station?

Really two broad stroke thoughts go into promotions that have worked best for us. 1: Does it impact “Lisa’s” life positively?  2: Does it have a tangible ministry impact that she would want to support?

 

6. How do you think Christian Record labels can better serve Christian radio?

I honestly salute what the labels are doing currently, when I think of all the stations out there that are asking for stuff whether it be product, artist appearances, liners special promotional considerations the list goes on and on and I know it’s not an easy road.