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10 Questions with ... Jason Moon Wilkins
November 22, 2021
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
In reverse order: Was a host/reporter at WPLN/Nashville from 2016 until last fall when we decided to launch WNXP. Won some awards during my time on the news side and did stories about everything from Asian Carp to Titans punters to RCA Studio B which aired nationally on programs like All Things Considered and Here and Now. Helped Thirty Tigers launch a publishing company and was part of Red Bull’s Sound Select years. Co-founded Do615 and came back to WRLT/Nashville to do evenings in 2014/2015.
Spent most of 2006-2012 focused on Next BIG Nashville, the multi-day music fest and SXSW-style conference that helped give an early spotlight to artists like Alabama Shakes and Cage the Elephant. Before that, a myriad of things from music journalism to artist management to playing bass in the ‘90s with Josh Rouse, Neilson Hubbard and Garrison Starr. In 1994, Heather Lose gave me my very undeserved shot on the Nashville airwaves via WRLT’s alt-rock sister station Thunder 94 where I moved up to MD before leaving for the aforementioned road life. Along the way I’ve been involved with various organizations in the city, most of them focused on music ala the Mayor’s Music Council, Leadership Music, NARAS etc.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
Listening to Casey Kasem and Rick Dees as a kid. After the Top 40 countdown finished, I’d use an old cassette recorder with the little built-in mic on a string to record my own versions. My senior year of high school we took a field day trip to a radio station and took turns speaking into the mic. When I did, the producer poked his head out of the booth and said, “Who was that?” So, the battered teenage ego took note. Got my first commercial job at 19 at a classic rock station in Monroe, LA.
2. Nashville Public Radio seems very committed to making the station success. What tools have they given you?
Steve Swenson, CEO of Nashville Public Radio, the board and the entire staff have been incredibly encouraging and generous. It’s been a challenging time to launch, but the organization is very dedicated. We did billboards early this year and followed with some online marketing spends. In addition to the full-time staff, we’ve been able to get some help from knowledgeable part-timers and two great consultants – Mike Henry and Steve Davis. The organization also invested in converting the studio space into what we now call the Sonic Cathedral, allowing us to record some incredible sessions which we share through YouTube and the NPR Music site.
3. How would you describe the music on your Music Discovery station?
Indie. We play a lot of music that really defies genre boundaries, especially from this new wave of artists raised on the “celestial jukebox” who are making what a friend refers to as “pop music from an alternate universe.” Indie in spirit regardless of label affiliation and often with conscious lyrics. Our friends at WMOT have Americana covered but we still pay attention to boundary pushers and key Nashville-based artists.
4. How much “local music” factors into what you decide to play?
We are fortunate that playing local means everything from Brittany Howard, Black Keys, Yola, Kings of Leon, Adia Victoria, Jack White, Cage the Elephant, Bully, Soccer Mommy, Julien Baker and many others with national profiles. And there’s always new stuff developing (Terry Presume, Briston Maroney, Bren Joy, Dreamer Boy, Haiva Ru, girlhouse) or artists moving here (Samia). But we actually avoid the word local as it can be used to view an artist as limited.
5. How are your music meetings being conducted?
We play two songs at a time in blind “taste test” mode then talk through them. Full WNXP crew and sometimes guests from our sister station and the new daily news show (both have lots of knowledgeable music lovers on staff). Ayisha Jaffer (APD) and I take the feedback into consideration along with lots of other elements and make the choices.
6. Besides diversity in the music, you have a diverse staff. Tell us about that.
We do. In all senses of the word – age, gender, race, work background, lived experience. As a public station, it’s important to reflect your community and that starts with the staff who then inform all the creative choices we make which, hopefully, makes the station more reflective and inclusive. I got some great advice from a public station mentor “Don’t hire people with the same biases as you.” They were specifically referring to news, but it certainly translates to music stations.
7. Tell us about the editorial/special features side to the on-air product largely spearhead by Jewly Hight
This was a huge part of the DNA of WNXP from the beginning. Jewly Hight saying yes was a really happy day for us. From the start we wanted to use the skills, lessons and approach learned from NPR and incorporate that with the music mix. And you’re right, Jewly has led the way. With her now moving to full time editorial, it’s really exciting.
8. As you come up on your first-year anniversary, do you have any plans to celebrate?
Yes, we have a big show at the Exit/In on Dec. 1 with several Nashville artists who we love and play including our first Nashville Artist of the Month Namir Blade and our current Nashville Artist of the Month *repeat repeat (their first show since lockdown). On the actual birthday – Nov. 30 — we have some special programming looking back at the first year.
9. It must have been nice to receive three Best Of Nashville awards from The Nashville Scene recently. Tell us about that.
It was validating and a boost to help us appreciate what we’ve accomplished so far. We have a very ambitious crew so we’re always looking at ways to improve and grow but it’s nice to get some recognition. I have a lot of respect for the Scene writers and editors who worked on the picks who’ve all been in Nashville a while.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without …
Coffee, family and meditation.
Bonus Questions
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
Coaching! Started like a lot of parents with coaching my son in various sports, mainly football and basketball, but have grown to love it so much I volunteer for others and attend conferences and clinics. Love the strategy and love working with kids.
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