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10 Questions with ... Carly Evans
June 27, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. It's the little things that come together to make the bigger picture, and 'how they come together.' Personalities, music, contests, benchmarks, imaging, stopsets, etc. There are all these puzzle pieces that can come together to make such a freaking cool picture—or a complete disaster if you're not paying attention.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
2002 - Began radio in Hays, KS, for a five station cluster owned by Eagle Radio as a night and weekend board-op. Moved up the ranks to fill-in on-air, co-host of a weekly request show, main dayparter, then eventually Program Director/Afternoon Drive of KKQY in 2008 and Middays on KJLS.
2013-2015 - Program Director/Middays of KXBZ, Manhattan, KS
2015-2018 - Program Director/Morning Show of KORA in Bryan/College Station, TX
2018 - Husband was transferred to Colorado. Began working remotely out of Fort Collins with KQSC in Colorado Springs and joined Jared Pete Gile on The Troubadour Podcast. Moved to Colorado Springs later that year and began working with KQSC full-time and was eventually promoted to Program Director.
2021 - At the end of 2021, stepped down from the Program Director role to pursue other opportunities and freelance work.
2022 - In May of 2022, joined Marathon Music Group as a booking agent for independent country artists. Shawn Lucero (then PD of KRXP, good friend and former coworker at Manhattan Broadcasting in Manhattan, KS) hired me for a part-time position open for the station.
- Texas Regional Radio, Personality of the Year, Large Market: 2017 & 2018
- Texas Regional Radio, Personality of the Year, Out of Region: 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022
- Academy of Country Music, Personality of the Year Nominee, Small Market, "The Roger & Carly Morning Show" - KORA: 2017
- Country Music Association, Station of the Year Nominee, Small Market, KORA: 2016, 2017
1. You've been working in radio for over 20 years. How did you first become interested in radio?
I've always loved radio, listening with my friends and family in the car and discovering new music. My parents got me a stereo for Christmas one year. It had two tape decks. I would put a tape in and hit record, then play it back, figure out where my favorite songs were, and dub them onto a new tape.
I always thought the jocks were so cool, too. They were celebrities in my hometown.
What really got me into working in radio, though, was my high school. We had a student-run TV station, and it was a class you could take. I did it in my Junior and Senior years and fell in love with broadcasting in general. I decided that's what I wanted to go to school for at my hometown university. A friend was working at the stations and asked why I wasn't applying there. I honestly hadn't thought I could just "get a job in radio." He took my resume (which only had jobs like "Gadzooks," "Golden Corral," "KFC," and "babysitting" on it) and gave it to his bosses. They ended up giving me a chance just running boards for sports during the evenings and weekends. I was hooked and it all went from there.
2. What led to you becoming PD of X1039?
When I heard Shawn Lucero was taking a new opportunity, I didn't think much of it, other than I was excited for her, but also sad I wouldn't be working for and with one of my favorite people. Shawn is the one who put the bug in my ear about applying, but I had really thought I'd put the PD reins behind me. As time went on and I really thought about what the station and the people—especially the people—meant to me, I started to get more excited about the thought. Eventually I made the decision to officially apply and interview. Sometimes things come together in unexpected ways.
3. So, you were working at the station part-time and are part of a group of friends and talent that previously worked in Manhattan, KS. Explain.
Yes! Radio can really be a small town. When I joined Manhattan Broadcasting in 2013, Shawn and Andy Crowl (X103.9 & KILO Production Director/X103.9 Morning Show), were already there: Shawn, as PD of K-Rock (KMKF), and Andy, as Production Director and K-Rock afternoons. Eventually, Caitlin Whetstone (former X103.9 Afternoons) was hired on to the K-Rock team by Shawn. It was a super talented building to say the least.
After I left for Texas to run KORA, Shawn got the offer to return to KILO, then moved over to X103.9. Eventually, positions opened up leading to Cate and Andy moving west. In the meantime, my husband got transferred to Colorado, and I began working remotely with another station in Colorado Springs (KQSC) from
Fort Collins. Very long story short, we moved down to Colorado Springs so I could be more involved with KQSC. As I mentioned previously, I moved up to PD there, but stepped down at the end of 2021 to pursue other opportunities that lead to a lot of freelancing from home.
I was in a big transition period and Shawn mentioned she had a part-time position open. I figured it would be a good reason for me to put on real clothes, get out of the house every day, and open myself up to a new genre and format. The fact that I would also be working with some of my favorite people and for one of my best friends was a definite bonus. I already knew most of the staff from having been to concerts and events with Shawn, so I knew the whole team was awesome. It was an easy decision.
We have a few other former MBC staff out here in COS now, too. Megan Vaughan, former PD for Z96.3 (KACZ) and B104.7 (KXBZ) at MBC (and also one of my best friends) is now in COS working remotely for several stations around the country since her husband was stationed here through the Army.
4. What is your biggest challenge programming X1039?
Probably getting to know the reps. Having been in Independent Country for so long, I knew everyone. We already had/have the relationships and rapport that develops over time. Many of them I count as great friends and confidants. It can be difficult being the new kid in a scene where everyone knows each other already. Settling into the PD role can be challenging on its own, but adding to that an automation change, a full events calendar, and hiring and training new team members, I have just barely had the opportunity to scratch the surface getting to know everyone and building those relationships. But things will settle down and we'll get there. It just takes time.
5. How would you describe yourself as a programmer?
"Cerebral" might be the best way to put it? I've usually always got something spinning in my mind about clock positions, music selections, contesting, or promotions. It's good and bad, but I've gotten much better at disengaging over the years. In the past, the hubs has had to implement a "no radio" rule if we were trying to relax or spend time together, because I would start analyzing and working. I think that might have something to do with the size of our record collection.
6. Tell us about afternoons from 3-7p with Carly Evans.
We start off with the 3:00 Throwdown, a feature that highlights and tests new music, inviting listeners to call or text with their thoughts. Extra 4:20 Vibes (very Colorado) is a fun giveaway, usually highlighting a local business or event. Then, of course, a long sweep of commercial-free music for the Drive @ 5. Around those benchmarks, it's just me, playing great music and having fun, usually making fun of myself, talking and texting with our listeners about music, prizes, or terrible movies that I need to add to my "must watch" list.
7. What is your favorite part of your job?
That's another nearly impossible question, in my opinion. If we're talking straight programming, it's the little things that come together to make the bigger picture, and "how they come together." Personalities, music, contests, benchmarks, imaging, stopsets, etc. There are all these puzzle pieces that can come together to make such a freaking cool picture—or a complete disaster if you're not paying attention.
Another favorite aspect is helping new talent or aspiring PDs grow and learn. I definitely don't know everything by any stretch of the imagination—everyone still has something to learn—but it's extremely gratifying to be a part of another generation's career and aspirations. Even making the slightest bit of a difference like that is worth the world to me.
8. You have a busy schedule. In addition to X1039, you book independent artists for Marathon Music Group and The Troubadour Podcast. What is a typical workday like for you?
I feel like busy is a relative term, but it can definitely depend on the day.
I also remote VT for two stations outside of the market. One is weekday afternoons and the other is Saturday afternoons. Typically, I get up, have some coffee with the hubs, then head down to my home studio to do my remote weekday show. I also use that time to catch up or get ahead on emails for X103.9, The Podcast, or booking. After that, I head to the station, work on music, scheduling, all the things that come with being a PD, then I go into the studio for my afternoon show. When I get home, I catch up on any VO requests that I may have gotten from my remote stations and sometimes do a podcast interview if we have one scheduled. Sometimes there's a concert or a get together with friends. Usually, it's dinner and a glass of wine with the hubs and the pup, catching up on our day, or watching a movie. I'm usually pretty talked out by the end of the day as you can imagine!
The Troubadour Podcast is a passion project for my co-host, Jared Pete Gile, and myself. We both have busy day jobs, so it doesn't always get the attention it deserves, but there's a lot of love there. We moved from releasing episodes once a week to biweekly last year and hired an editor/producer a while back. That has helped us both tremendously in keeping it going.
Booking is still something I'm very passionate about, but I've taken some steps back and am continuing on a more limited basis. Thankfully the owner of Marathon Music Group, Chuck Sweeney, and the artists, especially Will Carter, Morgan Ashley, and Zach Neil, are some of the most supportive and understanding people. As much as I wanted it to remain a top focus, I don't know how it would be possible to give all of them, X103.9, and my team the attention they all deserve. I had to be honest with myself about that.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________?
COFFEEEEE!
10. What would surprise people most about you?
This is probably not surprising to industry people, but listeners are always shocked to learn that I'm an introvert—an extroverted introvert—but an introvert all the same.
Also, I can waterski and wakeboard in my sleep, but snow anything is a completely different story. Living in Colorado can be hard in that aspect haha.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Definitely depends on the weekend and/or the weather. Lately, it's been a lot of station events, or art events with/for my husband (he's a painter), but it could be just doing stuff around the house or yard with the hubs and pup, hiking, camping, hanging with friends. We have a great group of friends that are like family. We get together once a month or so for what we call "Family Dinners," where we pick one of our houses and do a bit of a potluck. We just eat, drink, visit and listen to vinyl.
Tell us about growing up in Hays, Kansas.
It's a big, small western Kansas town with a foundation based on Volga German heritage and a whole lot of history going back to the Wild West days. Old Fort Hays is still there, as well as a bison herd. I grew up going out to our family farm to play with my cousins. I have a big family and am related to about half the county, so there were always a lot of cousins.
Summers were spent camping, boating and fishing at the lake with my family, and then my friends when we got to high school and college. You got a job as soon as you could if you wanted more than what your parents gave you for clothes or a car, and you spent weekends at house parties with your friends (at least until you were old enough to get into the bars). Concerts were a must when they were happening, too.
What are your favorite places to eat in Colorado Springs?
Also, a difficult question. There are so, so many great places here, and we honestly try to cook at home as much as possible, so we don't eat out as much as we'd probably like to.
I'm going to forget places, but my favorite food truck is Rocco's. I used to work with one of the owners. She became a close friend, and they even catered our wedding.
The Sushi Spot is the best sushi I've ever had, excellent customer service, plus the owner is just one of the nicest people in the whole world.
Public House at The Alexander has become a must-go-to when either of our parents are visiting. It's in an old airplane hangar, so it's got a great atmosphere and history, plus it has a great selection of local brews and delicious food.
Favorite food?
It really depends on the day for me. Some days, I want a steak, sometimes a salad, sushi, a hotdog or a cup of ramen—the food choice might also depend on my energy level.
Favorite drink?
Non-alcoholic: Coffee Alcoholic: Wine. Usually dry red, but sometimes a crisp white or rosé hit the spot, too.
First record ever purchased?
It was either Will Smith's "Big Willie Style" or Spice Girls' "Spice"
First concert?
I can't remember for sure, there's definitely been a few over the years! We didn't do a lot of concerts growing up, but I think the first ever was the country band, Little Texas when they played the county fair when I was a kid.
Favorite band of all-time?
That is a nearly impossible question to answer for me! I love so many for different reasons, but if I have to name just one, I'll go off my Apple Music "Most Played" playlist and say, The Great Divide.
You are a giant music fan. What would we find in your vinyl collection?
Oh man, everything from Loretta Lynn to Led Zeppelin…and music outside of "L," too. Otis Redding, Foo Fighters, The Record Company, Mike & The Moonpies, Tina Turner, The Beatles, Beethoven, we're pretty eclectic.
There's one album my husband got from a 99-cent bin that we listen to about every Sunday morning. It's Jonathan Edwards' "Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy." It sounds ridiculous, but it just has that "easy like Sunday morning" feel to it.
I'm a terrible estimator, but I'd say we're around 150-200 albums. There are a lot still on the wish list, we've just got to figure out where we're going to put them.
Tell us about your love for Texas Country music.
I was introduced to Texas Country and Red Dirt in high school. My buddies were listening to artists like Wade Bowen, Jason Boland, and Cross Canadian Ragweed. It grew from there to Stoney LaRue, Kevin Fowler, The Great Divide, Casey Donahew, Turnpike Troubadours, and just kept going. It's still going.
I think, for me, it wasn't just the music, but also that these artists were so accessible to us small town kids that didn't always have access to the big shows in the bigger cities. They would actually play my little town, or just down the road, and come out and drink with us at the end of the night and have real conversations. They are people who shared a love and passion for music, and sang about things we could relate to.
When I got into radio, the genre wasn't as big as it is now, at least outside of Texas and Oklahoma. I felt like I was a part of something bigger and genuinely helping grow careers. Some of them I count as friends now. I don't think 17-year-old me would believe me if I could go back and tell her.
Anything else you would like to add?
I just really appreciate you taking the time with me! Looking forward to the future and supporting awesome artists.
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