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10 Questions with ... Sarah Bradshaw
October 12, 2015
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started as a volunteer with an overnight voice shift at The Bridge during my sophomore year of college, continued until promoted to a paid student position, decided to get my Masters so that I could continue to work for The Bridge (as only student positions were available). Got promoted to AMD/middays, took a brief hiatus, KCPT (Kansas City Public Television) bought The Bridge in 2013 and I accepted the MD position and afternoon drive. Of course, as with many smaller staffed stations, we ALL wear many hats here including promotions and production.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I've always loved radio; some of my earliest memories are listening to the radio. I think I was four or five when I heard Lionel Richie's "Dancing on the Ceiling" and loved how wonderful and impossible the idea of actually dancing on the ceiling really was, and in turn loved radio for giving me the notion. "Walking Like An Egyptian" around the kitchen table to the Bangles, laying in the VERY back of the family station wagon (no seatbelts) listening to Dire Straits, Pet Shop Boys, Tracy Chapman, Cyndi Lauper (can you tell my family listened to commercial radio?). As I got older I remember keeping half an ear open and started making bets with myself guessing which ones would be "hits" or "one-hit" wonders. So, when it came time for college and there was a radio station so readily available it was a natural, eventual fit.
2. Who were/are your mentors?
Jon Hart - he's brilliant.
3. How are the music meetings conducted?
Collaboratively, Jon and I constantly and consistently listen to and collect music independently and then bring it to the table.
4. How would you describe the music on the station?
Ha! Good, I hope? Thankfully Triple A is an elusive creature, though you probably want something more definitive, so let's go with ... cerebral (which is not at all pretentious).
5. What new artists are you most excited about?
Honestly, one of my favorite bands right now is this Kansas City band Hembree -- they are wonderful. Second, while he's not technically a "new" artist, I'm really loving the new Ezra Furman. Oh, and the new Samantha Crain is beautiful.
6. What do you like best about your job?
The lightbulb moments -- having them, and then being able to act as a conduit that enables others to experience them, too.
7. Tell us about the stations involvement with the VuHaus initiative.
We are the fiduciary partner in the VuHaus initiative ... and I just have to say, have you had a chance to check out VuHaus!? If I'm being honest, I love it WAY more than I thought I would. Seriously, it's awesome. You know that feeling you get when you go to Non-Comm in Philly and you're like, "This lineup is amazing! Wow, that was Church!?" etc.? VuHaus allows you to easily grab moments like that from around the country and then give them to your local community so they can feel it too. I love it.
8. How do you guys utilize the resources of the TV division in other ways?
However we can that makes sense. For instance, we have a local show on The Bridge called the "Eight One Sixty" (60 minutes of music from the 816 area code and surrounding areas) that airs once a week. When we bring in local bands we do "Eight One Sixty" sessions where we film the bands performances and interviews. KCPT then takes these sessions and incorporates them into our television show "Bridge TV," which airs Saturday nights at 10p. Since the launch of Bridge TV, every time we work a table at a show we have people come up and tell us a personal music discovery story related to Bridge TV.
9. Of all the skills you have gained, is there an area you'd like to improve?
Yes, all of them. We are always changing, hopefully evolving and therefore in need of improvement.
10. If you wanted to completely change careers today, what would you do?
Hmmm, I'd probably lean toward post-secondary education so I could teach things like Communication, Audio and Film... lightbulb moments.
Bonus Questions
Last non-industry job:
Community College Communication Instructor
First record ever purchased:
George Michael - Faith. I was with my sister in a mall record store when I was seven, got to keep it just long enough for my mother to read the song titles.
First concert:
Cannibal Corpse, Life of Agony, Anthrax and Misfits
Again, with my sister, I was 14... it was phenomenal.
Favorite band of all-time:
Can I change this to musician and say Ella Fitzgerald?
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
Spending time with my husband, friends and family, going places, doing stuff and drinking beer.
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