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10 Questions with ... Mike Couchman
February 7, 2006
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NAME:Mike CouchmanTITLE:Program DirectorSTATIONS:WAYK, WAYGMARKET:Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Battle Creek, MICOMPANY:CU Radio (Cornerstone University)BORN:YES, and then again. Niles, MI for the physical portion.RAISED:Lansing, MI
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Mainstream CHR @ WKQI/Detroit & WHZZ Lansing. I've done lots of Country in Grand Rapids and Lansing, with a smattering of Jazz, Urban, and Rock on my resume too. WAYK/WAYG is my second Christian CHR station (first was WLGH/Lansing).
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I gave myself my first job, running multiple pirate stations from my bedroom. Early influences: George McFly and everyone on WBBM in Chicago during the early 1990's. WJLB and WHYT in Detroit during the same time frame. KRBE and KBXX in Houston (my dad lives there and I would listen on visits).
2) What does Christian Radio need to do in order to break through to a mass audience on a more consistent basis?
MASTER the same basics that help every station win, then focus on what your specific target wants from you. Consider what you can do to reach the majority of people who profess to be Christians but do not consume "Christian" radio/music.
3) Who has had the biggest impact on these facets of your life: Personal, Professional and Spiritual? Why?
Personal: My wife and our 10 month old. Becoming our own family unit has transformed my worldview quite a bit.
Professional: Dave St. John, who probes deep into matters in an objective, yet very caring way. Tom Poleman at Z100, John Ivey at KIIS, Dom Theodore at WKQI: they're some of the kings of mainstream CHR; they've lasted in the format a long time yet continue to reinvent it and win.
Spiritual: Ricardo Torres, a college roommate and a youth pastor at Mount Hope Church in Lansing, MI. Perfect balance of mentorship/leadership and genuine friendship with this guy.
4) Who is your favorite air/personality not on your air staff?
Beau the Jammer at WKQI/Detroit. So tight, so energetic, so real. He has the quintessential mass appeal CHR personality.
5) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as say, six months ago? Better than it was? Same? Elaborate please!
Same. And if it's the same, it means it is not improving, so I am tempted to say WORSE. All the quality songs for Christian CHR drag our energy down, and/or are written for uber-Christians only.
6) If you could add any one full-time position to your budget, with no questions asked, what would it be?
Guerilla marketing director.
7) What are the most important tools/resources you use to stay on top of the Christian format's growth and changes?
The CHR PD/MD forum (e-mail mike@way.fm to join). Our night guy, Joe Szymanski, does imaging for quite a few in the format and stays on top of things. I also listen to any Christian CHR station that streams audio every week. I try to follow whatever ratings are made available through RRC and Arbitron. I voice track and do imaging for others too, so that helps.
8) If you could have any job outside the music business, what would it be?
Political journalist, or a talking head on the E! and VH1 channels.
9) Which character in the Bible do you most relate to? Why?
Solomon: the thirst for wisdom and the fact that we'll never have it in its fullness makes Ecclesiastes resonate loudly.
10) What is it that motivates you to be 'All You Can Be?'
A taste of success. When a listener shares how God has used our station, or when the ratings come out and something moved in our favor, it makes me want to dive deeper into what we do and become even better.
Bonus Questions
1) What's in your CD player right now?
In my iPod mini I have the latest mainstream CHR and Christian CHR singles going for adds, but most often I use the FM radio adapter.
2) Cat or Dog person?
Meow
3) Any hobbies or extra curricular activities?
I go to school at night. I am studying for my bachelor's degree in business management.
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