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10 Questions with ... Chris Jackson
January 18, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. The tough part about launching an Alternative station in a market that never had this format is how much music this audience has missed out on. So, I had to start by making the music library as familiar as possible. It’s almost like I have to turn people on to recurrents for the first time. Which is why I built the station on the classic 90’s & 00’s hits. But that allows me to keep people listening while turning them on to the new stuff too. As far as imaging goes, I’ve always loved KROQ’s sound and attitude. All the stuff John Frost did was outstanding and that same level of humor and entertainment still exists on the station. I did my best to bring that same humor to this station. Besides, all rock radio imaging in this market has been way too over the top. We will never take ourselves too serious on X1075 and the imaging reflects that.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
KZIA/Cedar Rapids, KLUC/Las Vegas, KXTE/Las Vegas, and KHMX/Houston.
1. Welcome Back to Alternative. It’s exciting to have a new Alternative station in Cedar Rapids. What led to the launch of X107.5 Real Alternative on KZIA-HD4 to start 2022?
Boredom? No, not that. Too busy to be bored. But this is a format I’m passionate about and Cedar Rapids needed something new. Active & Classic Rock have always been around and done well here, but there’s a gigantic gap in the market with all the great alt rock out now.
2. You mentioned when the station launched that X107.5 is a Rock Alternative playing mostly 90’s & post 00’s Alternative hits and “programmed by the biggest Alt-Rock nerd in Iowa." Explain.
Most people get home after a long day of work and sit in front of the TV to binge watch their latest show. I get home every night and put records on. I was always the kid who bought an album and studied it inside & out. I could tell you the lyrics, the writers, the producers and even what recording studio they recorded at. As a result, I have a large amount of useless alt rock knowledge. Hence, being a NERD about this music!
3. Tell us how you decided on the music and imaging for X107.5.
The tough part about launching an Alternative station in a market that never had this format is how much music this audience has missed out on. So, I had to start by making the music library as familiar as possible. It’s almost like I have to turn people on to recurrents for the first time. Which is why I built the station on the classic 90’s & 00’s hits. But that allows me to keep people listening while turning them on to the new stuff too. As far as imaging goes, I’ve always loved KROQ’s sound and attitude. All the stuff John Frost did was outstanding and that same level of humor and entertainment still exists on the station. I did my best to bring that same humor to this station. Besides, all rock radio imaging in this market has been way too over the top. We will never take ourselves too serious on X1075 and the imaging reflects that.
4. Who are you targeting with X107.5 and how are you getting people to listen to the station?
The local music scene here is huge. We live in a market with no professional sports teams and rock music is everything for a good chunk of the people here. This is for them! Modest Mouse did a stop here a couple years back with zero radio airplay and after observing the attendance of that show I knew there’s a need for this station here.
5. The station is anchored by The Dave And Mahoney who you previously worked with in Las Vegas. What made you decide on adding them to your new Alternative station in Cedar Rapids?
Besides the fact that we’ve worked together and they’re great friends of mine, I am one of their biggest fans. My father is also a big fan as well. I knew they’d be a good fit not only for the station but for the market here too. That and they bribed me with craft beer & cupcakes…
6. It’s great to hear you back on-air at Alternative. I always thought you were a great jock and lived the lifestyle. How excited are you to be hosting middays from 10a-3p and what you love most about being on the air?
So excited. I was definitely bummed when I took myself off the air a few years ago, but it was necessary for me to focus on my programming duties. The problem with that was every day of my life I was still prepping for my air shift in my head. I have too much to say to not be on the air! I love that I don’t have to do breaks in my head while driving anymore, I get to say that on the air again!
7. Why did you decide to use the same X107.5 branding as your former station in Vegas?
Mostly out of fear of saying the wrong station name. That slogan was embedded in my head. The fact that I had the same frequency here in Cedar Rapids as I did in Las Vegas was pure coincidence, but with Dave & Mahoney and myself back on the air together, it felt right to bring that station branding back. Especially after KXTE was rebranded as Alt 107.5. I guess I’m just reliving my glory days now!
8. After cutting your teeth in Alternative at KXTE/Las Vegas, what led you to return to your hometown 5 years ago where you started your radio career at Top 40 KZIA (Z102.9)/Cedar Rapids?
Family. Creative control. Working for the most amazing company in this history of radio.
9. Tell us about the locally owned company KZIA, Inc.
I answer to one person who is 10 feet from my office. Julie Hein, our CEO, believes in my programming philosophies and allows me to operate my stations the way I believe they should be run. She understands what radio is supposed to be about. Everyone else I worked for only cared about numbers. She believes in providing quality radio first. Everything else comes second and that’s hard to find in this business anymore. At KZIA, Inc I have a simple motto: “Have fun or you’re fired!” We are all doing more than we ever have in radio, especially since Covid. So, working for this company is a great reminder of why we all chose to be in radio, because we love it! The company I work for keeps that love alive every day.
10. Are you still taking your walks to clear your head?
I am. However, in Iowa we have some pretty brutal winters. When I worked in Vegas, I could take a walk outside of the building anytime of the year. Since the weather doesn’t allow me to do that here I put a treadmill in my office. I think the noise of me blasting music while walking on a treadmill annoys the rest of the staff here, but it keeps me sane.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Weekends are honestly the best time for me to work. Less distractions. But I do try to maintain a good social life here too. So, if I’m not buried in my laptop I’m out and about having drinks with friends. Sometimes you can catch me at happy hour having a cold one and scheduling logs…
Favorite food?
Tacos
Favorite drink?
Single Barrel Jack Daniels. (Thanks to J Love from KMXB for turning me on to this whiskey!)
What are your favorite places to eat in the area?
The culinary scene here is crazy! Most people wouldn’t imagine Cedar Rapids is as hip as it is, but we have some great culinary options from local restaurants. If it’s local, I’m eating it. If it’s a chain restaurant, I’ll pass …
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Iowa Hawkeye football is everything here. Though I was born in Denver, my mother’s side of the family came from Iowa, and I was born a Hawkeye as a result. After that it’s the Denver Broncos. Vegas Golden Knights are up there too.
Tell us about your record collection.
Sadly, it’s not what it used to be. Trying to bounce around the country like I have all these years with a massive record collection has been tough, so I downsized after I left Houston. I kept all the albums that have personal meaning to me. Albums I can listen to from start to finish. A lot of Lana Del Rey in my collection. That and just about every iconic alternative album form the 90’s!
Favorite new band over the past year?
Sadly, there hasn’t been anyone lately that has blown me away. Royal Blood & alt-J have been my favorites over the last few years. I have a lot of respect for what AJR is doing right now too, so if I have to give my thumbs up to anyone that’s fairly new it would be them.
Anything else you would like to add?
The radio industry has been tough these last couple years. It’s been heartbreaking to see so many great people that worked in the Alternative format lose their jobs lately. Though there are days that I lose my mind with how much I have on my plate I am so grateful that I still get to do this for a living. For all the brilliant radio people that are still programming their radio stations they way they should be, I respect and envy you. To all of radio people that are consolidating everything and destroying what made these radio stations great, get out of my industry and go find yourself a nice corporate desk job!
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