10 Questions with ... Dustin Carlson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Got my start board-oping Casey's Top 40 and Rick Dee's Weekly Top 40 weekends on my hometown CHR station KW3. Eventually tricked them into letting me voice track weekends, then nights. Then I realized I couldn't support myself so I left radio and moved to Denver to see what would happen. While in Denver I fell back into radio working with KALC as overnight babysitter and helping with imaging until landing my first real gig in Milwaukee at Lazer 103 doing imaging. From there, escaped the frozen tundra to the Vegas Desert for eight crazy years at KXTE rising to APD/afternoons. Then a couple years in Boston doing nights and imaging for AMP until I couldn't take anymore blizzards so I returned to the desert and more tolerable music to help build the new ALT AZ 93.3. Four years later I'm still here so I guess its working?

1. How did you first become interested in radio?

I listened to the radio a lot as a kid while doing my paper route and for hours on end while tinkering with my computer in my bedroom. Being from a very small market there weren't many options so I tried wrapping copper wire around my bedroom celling in an attempt to pull in stations from further away. I was able to listen to KFFM in Yakima if the weather was right sometimes. I didn't think I would ever work in radio until I saw a job posting in my business management class my senior year of high school. Still trying to figure out if it was a mistake to apply.

2. It has been almost four years since you moved to Phoenix following the launch of ALT AZ. You wear a lot of hats. Tells us about your role at the station.

I like to be busy so this gig is perfect for me. I'm music director, afternoon jock and I handle writing and producing all the station imaging. It's probably a little too much for one person but it's helped us do a lot and move quickly. I can sit in a promo meeting, know what's coming up in the next few weeks, get ahead with writing imaging while getting ahead scheduling music and hopefully by Friday I'm far enough ahead that I don't have to put in any hours on the weekend.

3. I've gotten really good at time management. Give us the 411 on the ALT AZ. How the station positioned musically and what is is most important to you when deciding what new music to bring to the music meeting?

We're a hit machine. After four years we've begun to find the sweet spot for this market. We aren't trying to be anything but a great alternative station for Phoenix. I'm not sure I have single 'most important' criteria because every song has its own story. I'm definitely looking for mass appeal and look for patterns based on what has worked for us in the past while (hopefully) having some room for the more interesting stuff.

4. You have been called an imaging genius. How would you describe your imaging style?

LOL genius? Frost is a genius. I get the job done. My work load has forced me to move to a style of simplicity. I've found a comfortable balance between being creative and being effective. The message is the most important thing for me and I feel it's really easy for imaging guys/gals to get so creative the message starts getting lost. I used to be like that. Now I don't have time to mess around so I keep it simple but I still like to have some fun with it. The current imaging on ALT AZ doesn't even come close to where I think it should be.

5. What is most important for you to connect with ALT AZ listeners?

Obviously social media is the easiest way to maintain a consistent connection to listeners. I do my best to respond to every comment or message that's sent to me. I'll answer the phone and chat with whoever wants to call. I make sure I talk to listeners at events and shake as many hands as possible at our sessions. I want listeners to feel comfortable approaching me and I always want to make them feel great when they do.

6. How would you describe afternoons with Dustin from 3-7p on ALT AZ?

Going back to that simplicity thing... At the end of the day we're a new station, we're still burning in our music image. There's not a lot of reason for me to bring too much of me to afternoons yet. That said, I know how to be creative in 7 seconds so I can still present some personality in a speed break.

7. What is your favorite part of your job?

The race to the finish line on Friday afternoon. Every week is a marathon. There are no slow weeks for me. If I don't have meetings, I have logs. If I don't have logs, I have imaging projects. Every afternoon at 3p I run down the hall and throw on my headphones. I love it all and I don't cut corners so when Friday evening rolls around and I can take a deep breath and look back at the week and be proud of everything we did, it's a great feeling. I try not to spoil that great feeling by looking at all the things that didn't get done.

8. What do you like best about living in Phoenix?

I'm honestly really surprised how much I have fallen in love with Phoenix. The weather is obviously one of my favorites but the cost of living is a huge benefit too. We own an amazing home, we built out our backyard, put in a pool, all in the heart of downtown Phoenix, walking distance to our favorite bars and restaurants and we can still afford to day drink. Working for Hubbard Radio in our beautiful, almost brand new building is a major plus too.

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

My iPhone. From social media to remote broadcasts my iPhone holds it all together. I'm always writing myself notes and setting reminders, my calendars are synced, all my docs are in the cloud, etc. I used to be able to schedule music from my phone but that got locked out. For remotes I stopped bothering with Comrex boxes and just use voice recorder on the phone and email breaks back to the station. Now nobody can hear me mess up.

10. What would surprise people most about you?

After living in Vegas for 8 years I don't think there are any surprises about me anymore.

What are weekends like for you?

Very relaxing and/or jammed pack full of social activities. We spend a lot of time in the pool, on the lake, at the patio bar after brunch, partying with friends and working on house projects.

What are your hobbies?

I'm trying to become a day-trader of stocks. I wake up every morning at 6 to trade. I'm not making money yet but I'm not losing it either and they say that's pretty good for a beginner so we'll see. Other than that radio is my favorite hobby so I'm pretty lucky.

How often do you get back home to Washington and what are your top priorities in and around Wenatchee?

I don't get home nearly enough. I've been gone so long it feels more like a distant memory than home. There's also not much to do up there so next time I go back it's definitely not going to be in winter. I need a city.

Favorite new band from this past year?

Oh god I can't pick a favorite. How's 5... Grandson, Yungblud, LSD, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Billie Eilish

First record ever purchased?

Bryan Adams...I blame this on the limited music exposure I had on the radio growing up. I credit The End in Seattle for saving me from a life of boy bands.

First concert?

Van Halen (Hagar)

Favorite band of all-time?

Twenty One Pilots or Pink Floyd? I have a hard time picking 'favorites'. I have a favorite for every mood and state of mind.

Anything else you would like to add?

Anyone want to take over imaging for me?