10 Questions with ... Chris Frank

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KPNT - 1997-2001 (on air & promotions)

Interscope Records - 2001-2005 (assistants to Tom Martens, Tom Schmall, Chris Moradi in Midwest, and Robbie Lloyd in Los Angeles)

Universal Motown - 2005-present (Midwest Local 2005-2009, Director Of Alt/Rock 2009-present).

1. What got you interested in the record business?

I had been working at KPNT and sat in on a few music meetings. I was always interested to hear the new music the reps had, and their pitches on why we should play it. I did a lot of my research papers on the local record reps while in college. I credit Tom Martens on me graduating.

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

As a kid it was KSHE. They were the only game in town for a fan of rock music. In 1993 KPNT signed on and I was instantly hooked.

3. Where do you get your greatest pleasure in doing record promotion?

In seeing a band come through a market for a show and watching the crowd go nuts. A few months ago we did a Crash Kings show in Jacksonville for WXXJ and the crowd knew every word to every song. That was a very proud moment.

4. What may surprise people the most about Universal Motown Records?

That we have built a pretty solid stable of bands over the last few years from Blue October, Crash Kings, The Veer Union, Violent Soho, and others. We're making people take notice.

5. Do you have a favorite market you like to visit and why?

It's hard for me to answer that definitively. I loved my time in LA so anytime I have a chance to head back out west is always great. I just went to Seattle for the first time recently and it could be the most beautiful place on earth I've seen so far. But I also love everything about the Midwest -- Chicago, OKC, Des Moines, KC, Indy...I like seeing it all.

6. What is the toughest part of your job?

Being away from my dog, that sounds corny but it's true. The job itself is intense, but if your organized and on top of everything you can navigate it.

7. What would surprise people most about you?

I was ranked in the top 100 high school basketball recruits when I was in school. The first team to ever recruit me was Butler. The next was Duke.

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

My Blackberry.

9. What has been your biggest career highlight?

It has to be taking "Mountain Man: by Crash Kings #1 at Alternative. It's the first #1 for Universal Motown at Modern Rock, and the first one for me personally as a National. I think Todd Glassman and Steph Harty are getting tired of me thanking them for giving me this gig.

10. If you were to leave the record business today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

When I was in college I built decks and did basements with a friend and his dad for a summer. As brutal as the work was there was something great about standing back and saying I made that. So either that, or Darth Vader...I've wanted to be him since I was four.

What are your hobbies?

I love hockey. I've never been on skates, but I live and die for St. Louis Blues Hockey.

Last non industry job?

I washed private jets in a hangar. Worst job EVER.

First record ever purchased?

Michael Jackson - Thriller (I was 5)

First concert?

Guns N' Roses in St. Louis -- July 2, 1991. The full on riot show! AWESOME!

Favorite band of all-time?

Guns N' Roses. And it's STILL GNR! I don't care what the haters say. Also, Chinese Democracy was a good record. PERIOD!