10 Questions with ... Chris Ripley

NAME:Chris Ripley TITLE:PD STATION:KXTE MARKET:Las Vegas COMPANY:CBS Radio BORN:Many moons ago RAISED:By my family and a bullfrog named Jeremiah

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started at KUNR while attending the University of Nevada Reno doing an alternative show from 3-6a. No pay just a college credit and sleepless nights. After I graduated and got kicked off KUNR because I was no longer a student, I got a gig at an Oldies station spinning the Lost Lennon tapes, Crusin' Cousin Brucie, Dick Clarks American Countdown (all on vinyl) and doing a couple weekend overnight shifts from time-to-time. Soon KRZQ flipped and was the 30th Alternative station on the panel at the time. I worked my way up from weekends to morning show sidekick to AMD to afternoons and MD. I got the call sending me to the show in Las Vegas for a new startup station called Xtreme Radio to do afternoons and MD in 1996. I did that somewhat successfully, meaning I didn't get fired, until I became PD of KXTE in 2004 to today which will mark 12 years at this station. Now I can say all my goals have been achieved because I'm finally doing "10 Questions" on Allaccess.com.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Ski shop tech in Reno

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Beatles "Sgt. Pepper"

FIRST CONCERT:

Rush with Tom Petty opening

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

U2

1. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid and what do you remember most?

We used to hang out at Lake Tahoe a lot and if you were in the right spot you could pick up Live 105 in San Francisco. Later we would go to concerts in SF and bring our boom box to tape hours of Live 105 to listen to when we weren't at Lake Tahoe. Those were the carefree days where discovering new bands on the radio was exciting.

2. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

That I'm a lot older than I look.

3. What part of your job do you like best? Least?

The best part is putting all the pieces of the puzzle together just right so the right noise comes out of the radio.

Least? Having to run a great and creative idea through the legal dept. and watch them come up with all the ridiculous reasons why we can't do it.

4 What motivates you daily?

The chance that legal will actually approve that great and creative idea.

5. How would you describe the music and imaging on the station?

Ha ha ha ha, Xtreme of course. DUH. Goto www.xtremeradio.com and listen for yourself.

6. What makes the station unique?

The fact that we can play Slipknot and Weezer is pretty unique. KXTE's playlist has the perception of being loud and angry, but in fact we go from one spectrum of the Alternative chart to another on the Active chart, or one Xtreme to another if you will....get it?

7. What would an outsider find most surprising about the Las Vegas radio market?

They would find that the bright lights and big hotel casinos of the strip could give a rat's ass about the radio stations in Vegas. People are always surprised that there is anything else off the strip, but really Vegas is like any other city except we have gamming in our 7-11's, the bars are 24/7, way more strip clubs, and it's hotter here. Other than that, it's about the same.

8. Of all the things you have done at KXTE, what are you most proud of?

I'm pretty proud of the 12 year career here, but most recently there have been a few people who have been plucked out of KXTE for much bigger markets. I like to think that they learned a thing or two here that helped them get where they are now.

9. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Every day is new challenge.

10. What's the best concert you've been to in the past year and what made it so great?

That's the best question you could come up with for a finale? Wow, I would expect more from such an esteemed website like Allaccess.com ... I saw LOVE at the Mirage and anyone else who has seen that show will know why, if you haven't it's worth the trip to Vegas.

What are your hobbies?

Riding my mountain bike and building stuff around the house.