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Seth's
Career Capsule
I attended Columbia School of
Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. from 1999 -2001. And I received a
degree in Radio and Television Announcing. I then interned for six
months at WARW Classic Rock 94.7 in Rockville, MD. In 2001 I got my
first radio job as an Account Executive at Verstandig Broadcasting
in Pennsylvania. Then I moved to Nashville in 2002 and started
working as a Board Operator for the Salem Music Network and I am
still currently there. In 2003 I came to WNAZ and was doing
afternoons then mid-days and in 2005 I became the Music Director and
went back to doing Afternoon Drive. Around that same time I signed
on as a Marketing Assistant for Hit Music Research and Amped
Creative. And that leaves room for my forth job as a Traffic
Producer and Reporter for Metro Networks Nashville. So in my free
time I like to sleep.
1.
Personally how do you keep the ministry in the “business”?
I make sure I put God first in all
I do. And constantly remind my self that it’s not about me. And ask
my self the question “Who’s coming with me and what have I done to
invite them to eternal life in his presence!”
2. Overall, how is Christian radio different today, from 5 years
ago?
I honestly feel that CCM as a whole
has kicked it up a notch with a more professional sound. If you
look at the Arbitron numbers in many markets across the country you
will see Christian stations competing or sometimes even beating out
the mainstream competition. Stations have gotten more involved in
the community and events like 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina really
showed a great use for radio in regards to fundraisers and
ministries.
3. What do you think are the main characteristics of today’s
Christian radio PD?
Is what I’m sending out over the
airwaves relevant and useful to help encourage and inform listeners
in their daily walk.
4. What criteria do you require for a song to be played on your
station?
Does it have a sound that will make
the listener stop and take notice? Is it different enough to stand
out and speak to their heart. Production is another huge factor as
well as the overall emotion of a song. Would a Christian listener
want to tell their non-Christian friends about the song. Does the
song have the ability to grab someone hitting their seek button and
stop and say Wow! What’s this! And YES it’s ok to say JESUS in a
song. In fact many songs are using the J word again and I encourage
it.
5. What kind of promotions work best for Christian radio?
Surprisingly CD’s are always
successful but, I fear they will meet the same fate as records and
cassette tapes soon. Concert tickets are abundant especially here
in Nashville. In fact next week we will be giving away and
autographed guitar along with an Ipod Shuffle.
6. How do you think Christian Record labels can better serve
Christian radio?
Get our input in song
selection before going for adds. Oh and my favorite! The album
version is just fine. I don’t need 5 versions of one song. As our
listener rushes to the store to buy the CD or downloads the song
online they are often disappointed to find that what we play is not
what they bought. That being said I prefer the album version only.
7. In your opinion what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian
radio today?
HD radio may
challenge smaller Christian stations that don’t have the funds to
advance. At the same time it could open up more space for larger
Christian stations to have different music formats as well as
teaching programs. Satellite radio used to worry me but it lacks
when it comes to getting in touch with a local audience.
8. What do you believe is the primary role of the Christian radio
air personality?
To spread the gospel
by providing scripture that might be exactly what God wanted that
listener to hear at that time. Also keep them informed about ways
they can get involved and break the day to day routine with concerts
and Christian events they could invite their non- Christian friends
to. At the same time keeping them in community with other
Christians. There is nothing more encouraging than to have a
listener contact you and tell you how God touched them because of
your station or something you said.
9. What (if any) Christian radio stations do you consider as
innovators today?
I hate to toot our
own horn but God has used 89.1 NAZ The New Music Revolution here in
the buckle of the Bible Belt to reach out to many people who
normally would have never listened to Christian Radio. Our imaging
rivals that of the mainstream stations in town and in many cases has
grabbed the attention of non-Christians who have called and said
“They never knew there was Christian music like that. “ I also have
to give props to our sister station SHINE.FM and with out question
RADIO U.
10. Where do you see Christian radio in 5 years?
I have no doubt in my
mind that Christian radio will continue to directly compete with
mainstream stations in markets nationwide. As technology becomes
more advanced we will continue to have the ability to reach
listeners around the world. I will never forget how excited I was
to discover a few years ago that we had online listeners in
Australia and all over Europe. Christian artists continue to gain
respect on mainstream airwaves at the same time being a light in the
darkness. There’s a simple reason why! “ If God is for us, who can
be against us!”
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