10 Questions with ... Violet

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

'95-'98 WBER/Rochester, '98-'99 WNVE/Rochester, '01-'03 WZNE/Rochester, '03-'05 KWOD/Sacramento, '05 KRXQ/Sacramento, and '06 - present KVGS/Las Vegas, '10-present APD - KOAS/Las Vegas

1. Congrats on your recent promotion to PD. What can we expect in your new role?

Thanks! Hopefully a continued growth in the foundations that we've laid down here. With PPM, a full signal, and the team of people here in this company it's a really exciting time to be stepping into these shoes.

2. Why is KVGS having more success with PPM ratings?

Radio is still radio. Just because they change the way ratings come in it doesn't change how people actually use our medium. I'm not saying we do radio like it's still 1980, but we need to try and learn new rules for our particular market, throw in the people factor, and remain flexible in case something needs tweaking. We're still pretty early in the game here as PPM just launched as currency in January so it's a learning experience like everyone else still at this stage of the game.

3. Where is the station experiencing the most growth and why?

Men 25-54 and more particularly Men 25-44. Looks like those free concerts and free beer is paying off! Kidding (kind of) -- I believe it's our music and our delivery.

4. What has been the biggest change at KVGS over the past year?

The music. KVGS a year ago was very current and had a very indie vibe with a little bit of gold thrown in. The focus has changed to a more gold-based station that does play currents and is more down the middle of the road than the uber hipster breed of it's past.

5. How would you describe the music and imaging on 107.9 The Alternative?

KVGS is for the most part a mainstream type of alternative if you forced me to categorize it, but I don't like categorizing things because what does that term actually mean these days? There are so many variations. We play music that people love in our particular city. Mostly from the '90s and early-2000s. Imaging is simple; it's there but not irritating and full of buzzes and whips and zings that tune out the audience. They liked that stuff 10 years ago, but are now grown up and just want to hear their songs.

6. What makes the station unique?

Las Vegas! It's such a loud city by nature and there's constantly people moving in and out. That makes each break, each song, and each piece of imaging crucial.

7. What would shock people the most about the station?

There are a lot of really talented, passionate people here that put everything they have into making our two stations the best they can possibly be while continuing to think of ways to make it even better. If you saw what they can pull off, you'd fall out of your chair.

8. What do you like best about living in Las Vegas?

September to May! (If you've ever visited Vegas in the summer you know what I'm talking about). It's the most unique city I've ever lived in. You can do anything from grabbing a steak dinner at 4am to getting a beer at 9am to going to see a movie inside a casino to spotting "Disco Debbie" - a 70 year old woman wearing hot pink pants, sequined pink tank top, a pink cowboy hat, and pink alligator purse strutting down the street. Where else can you do that?

9. What recent promotion has caused the most excitement with your listeners?

We do free concerts throughout the year that really goes over well (especially with people not really having the cash they used to). We've done them with Alien Ant Farm, The Presidents Of The United States Of America, Eve 6, and our latest one with Marcy Playground, Sponge, and Imagine Dragons at the Hard Rock Café on the strip. People like to come out, have a drink, and enjoy free music by bands they know.

10. If you could work anywhere, what would your dream job be?

I love what I do and I feel lucky to be able to be doing it every day. Although I like warm weather, location isn't really a main factor for me. I'd rather be working with people I care about that get it and aren't afraid to pull up their sleeves and do what needs to be done. That's what makes me happy and is how I define a dream job.

When you're away from work, what are you music listening habits to the radio, iPod, online, etc.?

When I'm in my car I like to poke around. I try to just relax and listen. At home I like to check out eclectic Alt-ish stations online. It feeds the beast and reminds me of how amazing music is and what it can do to a person. My cat ate my iPod cable a while back and I've been too lazy to replace so that's sitting in a drawer somewhere. I'll either buy a new one eventually or hope that Steve Jobs will announce the new non-chewable iPod cable next year...fingers crossed.