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10 Questions with ... Steve Hodges
August 30, 2005
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NAME:Steve HodgesPOSITION:Senior Director National PromotionCOMPANY:Capitol Records
1. First off congrats of the National Promotion stripes! Tell us, what has been the hardest adjustment in your move from the regional level into a National position?
Trying to find enough hours in the day! I went from trying to pay attention to 40 stations to trying to give my time to 140... while still juggling the other promotion meetings and internal responsibilities.
2. Since your promotion, is dealing with radio on a daily basis any different?
The only difference is that I'm trying to deal on a larger scale and more 'futuristic' thinking. We have a great regional staff taking care of the daily list of responsibilities at radio which allows VP- Jimmy Harnen and me some freedom to try and be creative in providing the best tools to get the job done.
3. Your wife is in the business, how do you guys juggle a relationship with both of you being on the road sometimes and working crazy schedules?
Katharine and I try our best to leave work at work. Luckily our travel schedules haven't been too crazy and we both understand the rigors of the long work hours and travel. She's a golf widow on the weekends so she gets all the credit for making our relationship work!
4. What is the first thing you do when getting into the office every day? And the last thing before leaving?
First thing is turn off the alarm! Last thing is to make sure my "check list" for the day has been completed...not sure that's ever possible though.
5. What would you say is the toughest region in the country to work Country music today?
That's a close call between the Southeast and Southwest.
6. Do you think that showcases, artist visits and conference room concerts are all viable in getting new acts introduced to radio?
Anything to get your artists in front of programmers and station staff is great. It's getting harder to find people who can attend showcases and nothing beats plain ole hard work and beating the streets.
7. In your opinion, what do you think of so many stations putting too many songs in Daypart only categories, some with no day-time spins at all?
I understand and sincerely appreciate their willingness to get a song started but as we all know it's the 6a - 7pm spins that make a difference. Any solutions? None that anyone wants to read or has to admit to having to make such a dramatic change!
8. In your opinion, how has the slowness of the chart hurt the format, and what would you like to see done to speed it up, if in fact that's something that should happen?
The chart is strictly a reflection of what's being played on the radio. If a radio station holds on to a song for 33 weeks in a daypart category then it's going to reflect slowly on the chart. Radio and records need to understand that they have each other's best interest involved. A label hopes radio will embrace a song with enough spins to let the audience make a decision that they want to listen to that particular station longer in hopes of hearing that song, or ones similar too it or from the same artist, more often.
9. In your opinion, does the use of callout research help to determine "real" records?
Hummmmm...should I even get started???? Yes, if the callout is real...meaning conducted by a reputable firm with a high rate of core respondents, then the information is a useful TOOL. Callout research is all in the eyes of the beholder. All we (promotion people) can ask is that programmers please watch for trends and don't do a "knee jerk" reaction to one blip on the radar.
10. If you had the opportunity to work any act/artist from the past, present or future who would it be?
I would have loved to have been on the ground floor of the Steve Earle "Guitar Town" project. That album stretched the spectrum for Country music. Johnny Cash...when Nashville turned it's back on him he did nothing short of winding up being more successful than ever over the last 5 years of his life. He was an amazing musical/cultural giant.
Bonus Questions
How many times as a "guess-timate," does Jimmy Harnen walk into your office with different ideas?
He's a walking thesaurus always thinking outside the box. I would guess-timate he's good for 10 different ideas a day.
Do your remember the first record that you ever bought?
"Amos Moses" by Jerry Reed
Name a record person, not on your label, that you really admire?
Clive Davis
What is your favorite road meal?
Whattaburger! (I'll never convince Jimmy to eat there though- they don't make soy-burgers!)
Do you hate talking on the phone when you're not working?
YES!
How do you balance your family life?
That's easy....my family is priority number one....period.
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