Brad Leggett Interview
Brad Leggett
Founder/General Manager
KJFT-LPFM 107.9 & 98.9 (TiM FM)
Lincoln, NE
Career Capsule: First radio job in York Nebraska at KAWL in 1975. Been on air, sales, sales manager, general manager and station owner. Markets include Sacramento, Baton Rouge, Springfield Mo, Lincoln, Helena MT, NE, Salt Lake City, Grand Junction CO, Spokane WA, Omaha NE, Madison WI.
Brad, tell us what’s new at Tim FM … any news, changes etc… and what’s new with YOU?
God has been so good to us! We just celebrated our 2nd birthday and have just upgraded our studio. We started the station in my house and started with absolutely nothing but a license. We now have a wonderful studio provided by the Back to the Bible ministry. We just upgraded our automation software, processing, RDS and fiber to our transmitter. We also hadn’t been able to broadcast “Live” from our studios until now. Later this month we are going to announce some new local air talent.
As far as what’s new with me, Let’s just say God is really blessing us. I became an ordained pastor a year ago and my wife Carol and I are starting a home church network.
How do you balance work & family, how important is it for someone in Christian Radio to ‘have a life”?
I am the wrong person to ask. I have spent 46 years in the radio business trying to figure it out. I have always tried to keep my family involved in what I do. I haven’t always be successful.
Overall, what is the best programming advice you’ve been given? The worst?
The best I got was to use word economy when communicating on the air and also that a bigger playlist doesn’t mean bigger ratings.
The worst, I don’t remember because I tend to forget bad advice.
What’s something you’ve learned due to the pandemic, about Christian Radio, that you didn’t know before?
It really was just confirmation on how important Christian radio is to people and the impact it has on their lives.
What are your thoughts on podcasting, should all Christian broadcasters have a podcast?…
Podcasting is just another way to get audio to people. I think it’s smart for air personalities to use podcasts to spend more time with listeners. My only advice it to make sure you are relating directly to your listener and not just using it to hear yourself talk. I get asked all the time to review podcasts and I always say that they should only be as long as they are interesting.
Where will new up and coming air talent for Christian Radio come from?
Simple, we must find the right people and then train them. It’s been too many years of stealing from each other. I want to find people with the right heart who love Jesus who wants to look at radio as their ministry not just a radio job.
Generally speaking to the industry what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian air talent?
I’m not sure on this one. Everyone has something different going on. My advice is to walk with Jesus, read the bible every day and stay in Gods will.
Who are your radio heroes and influences? and why?
Nikolai Tesla- We all know why
Programmer/Consultant Tracy Johnson- taught me a ton about great radio
Dave Santrella/ Salem Media- a real solid guy who encourages me
Tate Luck/Program Consultant- Teaches me about Christian radio
Chad Bradley- He gave me a lot of help & encouragement when TiM FM first went on the air