Jayar Reeves Interview 12-17-18
Jayar Reeves
Afternoon Host
THE JOYFM
Atlanta/Tampa/Jacksonville
Career Capsule: It all started in a Seattle skyscraper me. Filing CD’s for the MD! There’s something spiritual about getting into a line of work and having to do the tough and dirty work before you get to enjoy the good stuff. I had my fair share of troubles as I cut my teeth in Seattle. Sleeping in a prod room at CBS 3 nights a week. Working 20 hours a day and very little sleep while doing overnights and valeting expensive cars at Nordstrom! These 4 of 5 years built me… so i am grateful to God!
Starting around 1999 went from Green River CC to: STAR 101.5, Seattle, KISS FM 106.1 Seattle, MIX FM, Missoula, MT, Air 1, Nights in Rocklin, Magic 93, Mornings in Bois, Total Axxess host for WAYFM, out of Nashville, Afternoons at THE JOYFM in Tampa Bay nearly 11 years now.
Jayar, tell us what’s new at The JOY FM… news, changes, & new with YOU… etc?
Growth! This past year THE JOYFM has added Jacksonville, Athens, and Macon to Tampa/Atlanta. More listeners is good but definitely forces a shift in the approach to a show. I believe this team is the best in the country.
Rated in the top 5 multiple times in Tampa/St.Pete this past year… It’s an amazing season for us right now. God’s hand is upon us. One can sense it. We try not to mess it up!
Christian Radio has become very competitive… what do you do to stand out from the crowd?
The very thought of future competition forces one to deliver excellence to the audience and true engagement with the audience. What THE JOYFM has created with it’s audience is a bond like I have never seen. (In 3 states!)
As a jock I am not only trying to convince the listener to choose me over ‘the other guy/girl’… but I am also trying to offer something in my show that Spotify can’t deliver on! That’s the daily goal… be so interesting that you make Spotify feel like a lifeless robot.
We simply have the best team on every level IMHO.
Owner in Jim Campbell that is Kingdom minded but a maverick!
Jeff McFarlane wields his music wand with precision and leads humbly.
Carmen is the heart beat of the operation.
A great morning show in Dave Bill and Carmen
Strong day parts through out.
Although the afternoon show is very mediocre!
Our director of support Johanna Antes is the best in the country and I bet NPR wishes they had her back.
Kris Byerly (Krispy Kreme) is the best prod guy in the country.
Amazing hard working producer in Benji Shepherd.
A social media team that is top shelf.
Can’t forget the listeners that view THE JOYFM as family. Its unreal.
What is the best show advice you’ve been given?
Best advice… Only good things come from hard work. It true.
Some say more Christian stations in a market the better, do you agree with that, why or why not?
If we were sitting drinking coffee I’d tell you one answer that is different to the answer I would give in a public forum lol.
The more people hear the Gospel the better right???
Except when a station can’t reach their fundraising goals because the audience is over taxed on giving. Then a station has to sell or lay people off.
It’s a question with so many layers to it and I think I’ll just stop there.
What is the ONE thing you must have everyday to do your show?
Scott Herrold and I have run a website called www.creativecardio.com for nearly 6 years now. We have between 30-50 shows all over North America. Some of our jocks have even kept with us after leaving Christian radio.
It’s a fraternity of creative minds that spur each other on with show ideas and strategies and audio.
I can’t do a show without a daily dose of Creative Cardio and 5 cups of strong black coffee.
Where will future Christian radio air talent come from?
A couple years ago on Hisair.net I recall answering this question by saying “I have no clue where future jocks will come from”
I will change my tune here… We started a Christian hiphop channel on THEJOYFM this year called “LF Radio”. All of the jocks on LF came from within the building.
It is a passion of mine to coach young talent and the new line up of jocks at LF has opened the door for growth on air with in our own building.
So don’t discount that your current receptionist could be your future midday host!
Generally speaking to the industry what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian radio?
Lack of funds.
Apathetic jocks.
If the music loses the Spirit side of it.
No new talent to engage the audience as legendary voices start to retire.
As the industry starts to shrink… I’d say acquiring too many signals where you can’t reach out and touch the local audience.
You can only buy up so many Burger Kings before the customers start to notice the Whopper doesn’t taste same.
Who are your radio heroes and influences? and why?
I was blessed to be groomed by 3 talented guys:
Bender- Mornings KISS FM Seattle
Matthew Reid- Mix 104 in Boston
Marcus D – Mornings at Star 101.3 in San Francisco
Side note: My favorite faith based radio show right now is Bjorn and Josh of LifeFM in New Zealand. They are everything a faith based radio show should be.