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10 Questions with ... Morgan E. Smith
May 26, 2008
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NAME:Morgan E. SmithTITLE:APD / Afternoon DriveSTATION:WHMXMARKET:Bangor, MEBORN:April 10, 1979 in Houlton, MaineRAISED:I was born and raised in Maine, then I moved to California for about eight years. I've been back in Maine for close to three years.
Brief Career Synopsis:
I started as a volunteer at KYCC/Stockton, CA in 1998 and worked there until 2005. I moved from there to Bangor and I've worked at Solution FM (WHMX) ever since!
1) What was your first job in the industry? Did you have any mentors early on?
My first job was at KYCC, an Inspo station in Stockton, CA. Brent Randall (he's still the host of a FANTASTIC kid's show called Kids & Company in Stockton but is otherwise retired from radio) has been a mentor to me for several years now. Brent taught my only broadcasting class and gave me my first chance on the air. Adam Nash (who now works at Family Life Radio in Arizona) helped give me the push that I needed to make it a career.
2) What does your routine for afternoon show prep include?
I have a grid that I use to try and keep track of what I cover (and when) throughout the week, just so I can make sure I'm mixing things up a little and the same people aren't hearing the same thing all the time. I usually start prepping for my show by staring at my blank grid and trying to figure out what in my life might be remotely interesting to anyone else. Ha!
3) What has been your favorite promotion in the past year at your station?
We actually just did a really cool Girls Night Out for Mother's Day. It was a free event and we gave away a ton of stuff. It was really fun to see how excited they all were!
4) Who is your favorite on-air personality NOT at your station?
It's a tie between Joe and Shannon at KDUV/Visalia, CA, and Mike Couchman at WaY-fm in Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo, MI.
5) What does Christian radio need to do to break through to a mass audience on a more consistent basis?
I think we need to get a real handle on who our audience is and how we can better serve them. We make a lot of assumptions about who does (or doesn't) listen to Christian radio.
6) What are the greatest challenges in your position/job?
Trying to decide which songs best fit MY audience. I know that there's a lot of talk about CHR radio being so different from one station to the next. What's tough is that our audiences are so different. The people listening in Bangor, ME, are not the same as the people listening in Kalamazoo, MI.
7) And what are the greatest rewards in your position/job?
I love people and I really value the relationships that are made in this business. I actually look forward to my tracking day and a chance to catch up with the people who call.
8) If you were just starting in radio today, and you knew what you know now, would you continue forward?
I would.
9) If you could have any other job outside radio, what would it be?
I really don't know. I've been asked that question a lot and I can never come up with a very good answer!
10) Any favorite or funny artist run-ins?
Artist run-ins? Are you kidding? I live in Bangor, ME. Artists don't come here. About the closest I get to seeing someone famous is driving by Stephen King's house on my way to work every morning.
Bonus Questions
1) Do you read everything or nothing? Do you have any favorite magazines, books, newspapers?
I love to read. My mom gives me subscriptions to "Good Housekeeping" and "Reader's Digest" every year. I'd buy "Real Simple" all the time but I'm cheap. The last book I read was the free one that they handed out on the corner at GMA called "My Name is Russell Fink" by Michael Snyder. It was really good!
2) Cat or dog person?
I'm totally a dog person but we have a cat (our place is too small for a dog). He's an orange kitten named Chuck Norris.
3) Describe your favorite meal.
I probably wouldn't care what it was as long as Gordon Ramsay cooked it. I'm not picky!
4) If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you and why?
A packet of M&Ms, a cheap magnet and a generic greeting card
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