10 Questions with ... Kevin Jackson

NAME:Kevin Jackson TITLE:PD/MD STATIONS:WTGZ MARKET:Auburn/Montgomery AL COMPANY:Tiger Communications BORN:in the 70's RAISED:in Florida and Texas

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

PD at WTGZ/Auburn/Montgomery, AL from 2003-present. Before that, I had various jobs in various places with music usually involved somehow.

1. What has been the biggest change at The Tiger since you first joined the station?

It seems like the Tiger has always played a lot of good music, but I think we leaned a little more Active Rock before I got here than we do now. That is still a part of our audience, but I have also tried to expand our sound to appeal to others as well.

2. Describe the music on The Tiger?

We're an alternative station playing music dating back to the early '90s and are fairly gold heavy, but still allow for a lot of good new music as well. We try to maintain the balance of the familiar and the unfamiliar, and have the freedom to play the big new songs mixed with some songs that will become familiar to our listeners.

3. Explain the slogan change earlier this year from "New Rock" to "Always Alternative?"

Like I said before, our music has expanded over the years and I think the term new rock eventually became somewhat confusing to people, especially if there was someone who was sampling the station for the first time. I don't think it is a good idea to confuse your potential listeners.

4. Tell us about your new lineup?

Radio vet Steve Ocean anchors the morning from 6a-10a and pulls off what seems to be a rarity, a solo morning show. Ripper Price handles production and middays from 10a-3p. Longtime midday personality Marti Jackson has now moved to afternoons from 3-7. After being back on air for a few years, I am now off air programming the station and working with some of our sister stations. With the shuffling of the on-air lineup, we have added some new features that helps keep the station fresh.

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

I think most people are aware Auburn University is here with their 20,000 plus students. What they might be surprised at is the number of other colleges in the area as well. There are also lots of people that come to the area for school and end up staying here so that gives us a great opportunity to build loyalty and keep a listener for years.

6. What has been your biggest accomplishment at The Tiger?

You mean other than keeping a job at the same radio station for four years? HA. I have lots of things I am proud of during my time here but I really do believe the biggest accomplishment is still to come. There is always more work to be done.

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

Most people are surprised that I am such a huge Red Sox fan (been a fan for more than 20 years) even though I have no actual ties to the area. I just couldn't stand a lot of the fans of teams where I was living, so I found someone I could live with, and a place I enjoyed visiting, rather than having some geographical loyalty as the only reason.

8. What music do you listen to when you're not working?

I listen to a lot of the music we play, but I also will go back and sample various things I used to listen to as a kid. That includes stuff from many different eras and formats.

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

I didn't have one station that I really could call a favorite as my choices were often limited. I do remember being happy when we could occasionally pick up some of the stations out of Dallas and hear some of the things they were doing or playing.

10. Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?

Musically, I jump around a bit but overall, my favorite would probably have to be sports talk.

Your radio dream gig?

Anyplace I have a chance to have some input but still learn at the same time is a pretty good combination to me.