Steve Marston Interview 12-11-15

Steve Marston
Operations Manager/Afternoons
KKSP
Little Rock

Career Capsule: I’ve been in radio since ’94. I was born & raised in Shreveport and have lived in Little Rock since ’96. I’ve worked in nearly every format and loved nearly every second of it.

1. Steve, Tell us whats new with you, at KKSP?

In a word: everything! We are a brand new station that just launched last April. It’s been the most challenging thing I’ve ever experienced professionally, but it has been very rewarding.

2. What is the best programming advice you’ve been given? The worst?

The best: trust your gut and follow your instincts. I’ve worked for a lot of really great PDs and watched how they handled leading the air staff and how they handled the tough situations. The worst: don’t think you know it all. Ultimately, when a decision needs to be made it’ll be my call. But to make the best decision is to engage everyone and their opinions.

3. Regarding your career, what are you most proud of?

I guess that I’ve been flexible enough to follow the doors God opened even when I wasn’t comfortable. Looking back, all those formats were incredible training ground for the position I’m in now.

4. What is the ONE thing you must have everyday to do your job?

Flexible attitude. I can’t tell you how many days that I’ve had my ‘to do’ list planned out and never got to any of it.

5. Where will future Christian radio air talent come from?

Funny enough, we were just talking about that the other day. Honestly, we couldn’t find an answer. I guess (hope) they’ll always be guys and girls like me that just love radio and will seek out opportunities to get on the air and be coachable enough to want to get better.

6. Tell us about the birth of The Fish in Little Rock, how did it all come about?

I moved to Little Rock in 1996. The first thing I said was that this market would be perfect for a format like the Fish! I prayed a long time about it and had all but given up that it would ever happen. Then, one Friday morning, in 2013 a Salem VP emailed me wanting to meet to discuss plans they had about Little Rock. I nearly fell out of my chair!

7. Generally speaking to the industry what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian radio?

I think it’s not falling into the temptation trying to change things to much when things aren’t going well. Make sure that every programming decision is made with your P1 listener in mind…trust that it will work.

8. Who are your radio heroes and influences? and why?

I have a lot, but the biggest is Brad Sham. This year is his 38th season calling Dallas Cowboys games. He brings so much information and fun to the games and is a master of painting a word picture. I have listened to, a least a portion, of every Cowboys game on the radio for decades now.