10 Questions with ... Don Jantzen

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KSCB/Liberal, KS '91-'92, KWKR/Garden City, KS '92-'96; KILO/ Colorado Springs '96-'2000; KQRC/Kansas City 2000-'04; and KTBZ/Houston '04- present.

1. What do you like best about living in Houston?

It's too simple to just say "no winter." People who have never been here would be shocked at what a great city Houston really is. There's a theater district that's second only to New York, it's got one of the youngest populations in the nation, only New York has more Fortune 500 company headquarters, and the city is big...and when I say big I mean Houston is only a little smaller that the state of Massachusetts, but larger than New Jersey....and there's no winter!

2. Of all the things you've accomplished at The Buzz, what are you most proud of?

In all honesty, being able to take over the pilot seat and not crash the plane.

3. Congrats on KTBZ's PPM monthly ratings. The station has gone from a 4.9 in January to a 6.1 in June. What is the reason for all the success?

Nobody seems to believe me when I say this, but focus on your market. Focus on your audience and find out what they want and give it to them... and give them lots of it, then go find some more. It doesn't matter if the "cool kids" hate you; if you've got great numbers then you're doing your job.

4. Why have The Buzz ratings been substantially higher in the PPM measurement, compared to the diary?

I think part of it is the fact that PPM is a little more accurate. It shows that people don't normally turn a station on when they wake up and leave it there all day. They punch around. They go places you didn't expect, come to the station from places you didn't expect. I think it also shows that the format is viable if it serves its audience.

5. What has been the biggest adjustment since becoming a PPM station?

We've been dealing with PPM for what seems like an eternity. We were one of the first markets to deal with it. The biggest adjustment would be being able to digest a billion pieces of information and not kneejerk. There are fluctuations good and bad that someone could look at and freak out, when in actuality, it may have nothing to do with what the station is doing.

6. How would you describe the music and imaging on the station?

Musically, the station is very fluid. We get the luxury of being able to straddle the line between Alternative and Active depending on the musical climate. Our imaging is topical, fun and lighthearted. We enjoy making fun of ourselves, and those around us, but mostly ourselves.

7. How do you stay connected with your audience?

These days it's harder to disconnect than it is to connect. Our website (looking at June) does nearly 300,000 unique visitors a month and over 35,000,000 page views. Between that, the social networks AND DON'T ignore the phones (studio phones...I'm trying to get our IT Department to just take the phone out of my office); it's pretty easy to connect.

8. What would surprise people most about you?

That I should be hosting about three different shows on the DIY Network.

9. What do you remember most about your first job in radio?

Completely bull$&*#@ing my way into a part-time gig, then realizing I really had no idea what I was doing...but whatever it was, I loved it.

10. What are you most passionate about?

At home: Art. I love all forms of it. I paint, make music, and write. Oh... and wine. If I could find a way to just be the front of house guy at a vineyard and be able to pay my bills, I'd be in heaven.

Away from home: I still love radio. I love the history of it and I am still passionate about it. To the people who complain that radio isn't what it used to be... well neither is anything else. Take that energy and do good radio. That's what can make the biggest difference.

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

I find that most people go insane if they're around my house for any period of time. I've got the worst musical A.D.D. on the planet. I listen to everything, but if I actually get through two entire songs without switching around to something, run for the hills it's one of the seven signs.