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10 Questions with ... Matt Derrick
February 1, 2022
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
KHTT/KBEZ-APD/MD
KIZS-Tulsa 2001-2002-Night/MD
KNGY-San Francisco
Regional Programming Manager/Regional SVP Clear Channel/IHM-Delmarva
SVP Programming-IHM-Norfolk
OM-NRG Media-Omaha
OM-SummitMedia-Omaha
OM-DBC Radio-Savannah
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
I went to the University of Tulsa and at the time, everyone had to have some sort of on-campus job. Fortunately, my best friend’s mom was the Program Director at KWGS (NPR) and they had a local talk show at noon. I was the only one who was available at that time, so I got the job. I loved it, got hooked on radio and the rest is history.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
I grew up with a lot of music in my family and always loved listening to radio. I grew up with some great talent in Tulsa, at the time KAYI (K107) was the big Top 40. I would later work for that station for as KHTT. It was so surreal to work with Andy Barber and Carly Rush, people I had grown up listening to every day!
3. You’re wearing quite a few hats in your new position. How’s it going for you so far?
It’s normal. It’s how the industry is and that’s not going to change. I really try to keep things going in the right direction, bring as much strategic planning as possible with my team, stay focused on the brands and find ways to channel the passion and creative spark.
4. You’ve programmed all kinds of different formats throughout your career. While they all require their own special “secret sauce,” does any one of them require more attention than the others?
Every format you program deserves what I call “all the little things.” It’s what makes each brand unique and listener focused. I have never been a ‘set it and forget it until the book’ kind of programmer. Yes, it takes a lot of work and persistence, but each brand you program, regardless of ratings, signal, staffing deserves it, because the fans/listeners deserve the best product we can put together, daily! Top 40 has always been my core, but I’ve had a lot of fun with Rhythmic AC/Classic Hip Hop and Dance.
5. Do you have any tips on how to prioritize time management for fellow programmers?
Do your absolute best to have a good work/life balance. Find ways to stop for a minute or two and have fun and don’t be afraid to make that classic, task, who owns it, completed by list! Hold your teams and yourself accountable for what needs to be done.
6. How did navigating the pandemic make you a better programmer?
It reminded me that when your community is hurting and things are not “normal” it is ok to break the rules, go way outside the box and do things that can make a huge difference to your listeners.
7. “Local local local” has always been radio’s mantra. How’s it been connecting with your listeners? Are the stations back out there yet?
In the early stages of the pandemic, we got a call from a listener, who owned a hog farm. Keep in mind, it was Nebraska, so AG is a big part of life. He wasn’t able to send his hogs to the processing plants because COVID shut them down. He was going to have to put them down and just bury them. My promotions team and Program Director(shout out to Jim Spector), put together a promotion in a matter of hours, put together unique creative in a matter of a day or two and we went on the air to let listeners know, get their help and within a matter of hours the farmer had sold every single hog. It’s easy to laugh because it’s pigs, right? But we helped that farmer at a critical time, didn’t have to waste those animals and a lot of listeners had some amazing BBQ’s in their backyard.
8. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Creative does win. It wins listeners, ratings and advertising. Don’t be afraid of ideas!
9. What were your favorite stations growing up as a kid? Jock(s)?
KAYI(K107), WKTU, WAPE, KJ103, WZPL and WDRQ (the Alex Tear years).
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
I have the highest regard for John Peak, Alex Tear, Ben Hill and the late Tod Tucker. I always thought, even if I was half the programmer that John and Alex are I’d be pretty solid, Ben Hill gave me my first PD/OM gig and believed in me when a lot of people wouldn’t even return an email and Tod Tucker gave me the space to be me again, have fun and never said NO. He was a true friend and I miss him a lot.
Bonus Questions
Do you ever feel the desire to put yourself on the weekend schedule, pop on the cans and do an airshift?
Of course! Every PD/OM should, if you have formats you’re a fit for. It’s important to see what’s going on with your brands in real time, how they are truly connected to the community and besides, once It’s in your blood, you’re forever changed by it.
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