10 Questions with ... Dan Thomas

NAME:Dan Thomas TITLE:Director/Programming STATIONS:KZND & KNIK MARKET:Anchorage, AK (#171) COMPANY:TATI Broadcasting BORN:So Cal RAISED:NW Wisconsin

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KQDS/Duluth, WAPL/Appleton-Green Bay, WQFM/Milwaukee, KWHL/Anchorage, KLDE/Houston, and KGOT-KBFX-KTZN/Anchorage.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Sold wireless phones in between gigs once, before that it was hard labor at a post plant in Wisconsin.

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Kinks - Kinda Kinks

FIRST CONCERT:

Rush & Styx at The DECC in Duluth

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

Van Halen, but it changes all the time

1. How did you become interested in radio?

Radio was kind of accident for me. I was going to school for computers. I was always going to concerts and into the music and then I got a work study job in college (UW-Superior). You'll pay me to come play records for a college station at 10p and I can play whatever I want? Umm, hell yeah?

2. Why did you decide to segue from sales back to programming?

I've known one of the owners for over 12 years and I was actually his rep for his ad agency for the past five years. It was great opportunity to dive back into running stations and to build a local company from the ground up. With my six years in sales along with my on air and programming experience I think it gives me a leg up on most programmers who aren't as in tune to clients' needs, perceptions, and expectations of a broadcast company

3. What has been the impact of KZND's recent signal upgrade?

It's been incredible, funny thing is 94.7 The End did a soft launch midway though the Fall '06 book just trying to tweak the signal and the format amongst other things not really expecting much in regards to ratings. Metro numbers landed about where we expected. In TSA which included the Mat-su valley (additional 100,000 people and towers original location) WE KILLED with absolutely no marketing and promotion we beat or tied competitors in nearly all targeted demos. So, yeah its doing better than anticipated and ahead of schedule

4. How would you describe the music on The End?

Alternative that leans a bit Active. Our powers get played 30-40 times a week. We play Mudvayne, Three Days Grace, and Nickelback, but we also play Sick Puppies, Modest Mouse, White Stripes, Yellowcard, and Blue October.

5. What would surprise people most about KZND outside the market?

That we are no longer the LPTV signal and are 50,000-watts strong. AND on our staff alone have a combined 40 + years of programming experience. Our air and programming staff have all done the major market thing and no one comes close to us locally.

6. Could you rundown The End on-air line-up with a little insight of each jock?

Rowdy & JJ mornings. JJ is a market legend who was responsible for the Resurrection of KWHL in the '90s. He along with former stand up comic Capt Rowdy gives us a morning show that's funny without a lot of banal babble. JJ also built The End from the ground up, twice. He's programmed in Raleigh, Charlotte, Honolulu, and here at both KZND and KWHL.

Middays is Jamie Demattoff, the Rock warrior, a former KPOI vet /Hawaiian surfer dude. I keep telling him its not gonna get any warmer so go for it bro'.

I handle afternoons. I'm the market vet. I play a lot of new stuff during the 5 O'Clock Fun Bag and get feedback. It's kind of my testing ground.

Night guy Frank Riviera, also known as KDOT PD Jave Patterson. This guy is amazing, as well as one of the better rock PDs out there so having JJ and Jave as resources allows me to sleep well at night.

7. What is your biggest challenge at the station?

Having enough hours in the day and keeping up with our growth.

8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ________?

My crackberry and a 16 oz Americano (two yellows and cream).

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

Consistency is key. Also, something I learned in sales, under-promise and over-deliver. I can't tell you how many times I witnessed sales people promise the client something that they had absolutely no chance of delivering. I see it now in DJs and about every other dept in radio now too.

10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

I shudder to think, this industry has taking me a very curvy road but it has made me a pretty unique person within my field. I dunno, maybe a strip club owner or a real estate professional. How's that for diversity? It's the story of my life lately.

What are your hobbies?

I trained in the Martial arts for a number of years prior to my ruptured disks. I recently have gotten into snowmaching here in the 907. We have some of the craziest, most talented riders here in Alaska. The last couple years I've gotten into fishing for silvers/coho on the Yetna River, and just last weekend I was jet skiing in 53 degree weather (I'm still frickin freezing).