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10 Questions with ... Ryan Wild
May 5, 2009
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Following our interview, Ryan Wild was part of the Clear Channel layoffs last Tuesday (4/28). Reach out to Wild at wildonair@gmail.com.
NAME:Ryan WildTITLE:PDSTATION:KCCQMARKET:Des Moines, IACOMPANY:'The Mighty' Clear ChannelBORN:January 6, 1980RAISED:Colona, ILBRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
2001-2004 - KALA (St. Ambrose University) on-air
2003-2004 - WLLR, KMXG, WHTS on-air
2004-2007 - KBEA, KQCS, KBOB, WXLP on-air
2005-2007 - KBOB (The River 104.9) PD
2007-WXLP (97X) PD
2007-present - KCCQ PDLAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Shipping Clerk for a sporting goods store.
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
Doobie Brother - Best Of (I Know tough to believe!)
FIRST CONCERT:
Chicago/Beach Boys (as a young lad)
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
O.A.R.
1. What do you like best about living in Des Moines?
Everyone that lives here is so down to earth, and they are really hip peeps. People have this perception of Des Moines being this small town in the middle of tons of corn, but we aren't. Des Moines is an exploding area that continues to amaze me every day with people who are constantly thinking about ways to grow the area more. In fact, I have been here two years, and Des Moines has moved up two market sizes in that time. I love that I can get all the perks of a big city without all the big city hassle. My wife Sandy and Grace love it here too, it's a great, affordable place to raise a family. WAIT A SECOND...Did I just do a testimonial for Iowa Tourism?
2. What is your favorite part of your job?
The fact that I get to go to work each day at a station that I love, and work with some great people. I have a great support system in the Des Moines/Ames cluster, and we look out for each other. Nice to know that when you need something you can count on at least five people that will come running to help. I also have a great partner here in Tony Tarbox. Tony bought in to things when I first got here, and has been a key part of the stations success. I couldn't have asked for a better dude to work with.
3. What are you most passionate about?
When it comes to radio, my biggest passion is having fun. This is a business yes, but a fun business. I have said this a ton lately with everything that is going on, but when you start to forget to have fun in this business, why are you still here? We get to do great things every day, and maybe in the process, we change someone's life, I think that gets lost in the shuffle sometimes. In life my biggest passion is family. My wife Sandy and my daughter Grace are my rock, and no matter what happens in life, I always have them. Pretty good feeling to have.
4. What is the most challenging part of the job?
The biggest challenge for us is the same for many stations...our signal. In saying that, I have always believed that stations can succeed despite a weaker signal. It's a tougher road to travel, but with all the resources we have to our disposal in this business, we can reach those, who in the past we thought couldn't be. That is obvious to the crew here when we have shows we present in Des Moines that are artists exclusive to Channel Q selling out. We are getting the market out, and in a big way.
5. How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?
Des Moines is highly competitive. We have some legendary sticks in this market, but we also have some great up-and-coming stations that have begun to change the face of the market a little. All in all, this is a great market to do radio in, and I believe I have a great GM in Joel McCrea, that has an unbelievable way of understanding what the market is looking for, then fostering those stations into big time contenders.
6. Biggest change at Channel Q in the past year?
I shaved my head... Oh the station? We made a tough decision to drop Mancow from the roster to focus the station in a direction that allows us to highlight the things we do well. We entertain between the songs, and deliver great music that the Alternative audience wants. Can't forget we fired Tony for 24 hours (April 1), and replaced him with the now legendary Andy Storm.
7. What are you most proud of since joining the station?
I came to grips with my pending baldness! When I came here the staff didn't have much ownership in the station and everyone was so on edge. My goal was to immediately change that and break down some walls. I wanted the staff to know that it was okay to have ideas, it was okay to mess up once in a while, and it was okay to have fun, IT WAS OKAY period. I think you have to make your team feel like they are in fact part of a team. I am not the pinnacle of ideas, nor is Tony Tarbox my MD; I hire people that I believe can do the job, and contribute great ideas. I am not a dictator, micro-manager, or a perfectionist, that would make me miserable. I believe you should be a good captain, and you will never be short of a crew.
8. What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
WOW! LOADED QUESTION PERHAPS? Kidding! I take in a ton of radio from all genres, and they all do great things. I would have to say that I am a huge fan of WLUM in Milwaukee; I think Jacent has done some great things with the sound of the station, and breathed some new life into the Alternative world up there. KRNK has a killer morning show that does great by not being traditional, not to mention a great playlist. The End in Seattle...come on...It's The End. And, I can't leave out The Point in St. Louis. Tommy Mattern is an unbelievable programmer, and it comes across on the air. The Point is killer!
9. What stands out the most about your first few days in radio?
Wow, memories...I remember being so freaked out about screwing up on the air, having a ton of hair, and getting to learn under some great radio minds in Jim O'Hara, Jeff James, Darren Pitra, and Dave Levora. Each one of them gave me a chance, and hopefully I haven't let any of them down.
10. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Don't forget the reason you got into this business. Try to always remember the moment you first wanted to get into radio. You were probably a kid, and you heard some DJ having a blast, and thought, that would be a fun, awesome job to do. You got into this business because it was fun, don't forget that, and don't let the fire burn out.
Bonus Questions
How has your life changed since becoming a Daddy last year?
It has been the best year of my life. My belly has gotten larger, not because of food, but because I am full of love for my daughter Grace, and my wife Sandy. Having a baby really changes your perspective on things. I don't worry about the small stuff, and my priorities changed a ton. At the end of the day I am not Ryan Wild from 105-1 Channel Q, I am daddy to a beautiful girl, and husband to an unbelievable woman, and if that is all I am, life is perfect.
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