10 Questions with ... Chris Ryan

NAME:Chris Ryan TITLE:APD/MD/middays STATIONS:KDGE MARKET:Dallas (#5) COMPANY:Clear Channel BORN:Gilmer, Texas RAISED:Gilmer, Texas

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Began in radio in 1990 while working at Dairy Queen (you heard me). Started in AC in Mt Pleasant, Texas, then a year at KISX/Tyler, TX. I came to The Edge in '93 for 9 months, and then went the The Eagle in '94 for 10 years as APD/middays. Returned to The Edge in 2004.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Dairy Queen

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Quiet Riot "Metal Health"

FIRST CONCERT:

David Lee Roth on the Skyscraper Tour with Poison opening.

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

Rolling Stones

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I've always been a fan of music and just happened to get into radio. Randy Ricci came into the Dairy Queen I was working at in Gilmer, Texas and he said I had a good voice. He told me to come up the Mt Pleasant (KPXI) and he'd put me on the radio. I made the 45-minute trip up to the station and didn't realize till I was walking in the front door that I didn't even get his name. Anyway, he walked into the lobby as I walked in and said, "The dude from Dairy Queen", and gave me a job running Rick Dees.

2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

KTAL/Shreveport, LA.

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

I was in a horror movie called "American Nightmare." Google it.

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

Best? Working with creative people.

Least? Red tape.

5. What would an outsider find most surprising about the Dallas market?

There aren't any cows... :) it's a complicated market, on the one hand it's very metropolitan in the city itself, but the outlying areas are a little more rural and we have to take that all into consideration when thinking about the station. The market is huge in area.

6. What makes The Edge unique?

We have some of the best jocks in the business with Ayo, Jessie, and Josh. Truly amazing and, I think, unique.

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

A nap.

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

Whatever station I'm at will never be "Chris' jukebox."

9. Besides KDGE, what is your favorite radio station and why?

KROX, Austin's such a great town and they do a great job down there...

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

Dairy Queen. No, hopefully something in the music business or at least something in a creative field

What are your hobbies?

Painting, music, writing, reading the newspaper, and cooking.