-
10 Questions with ... Daniel White
August 28, 2006
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Daniel WhiteTITLE:Senior Regional ManagerCOMPANY:EMF Broadcasting (K-LOVE / Air1 Radio Networks)FORMATS:AC / CHRLOCATION:Austin, TXBORN:Lawton, OKRAISED:Oklahoma City, OK
Brief Career Synopsis:
I initially started my career in the country music industry in the early 90's through various aspects as publishing, tour management, management, video production and record label responsibilities. Since then, I have had the opportunity to shift into many fields in the Christian music. My recent avenues have been: marketing for Provident Music Group, booking/marketing for Premier Speakers Bureau, tour management for various country and Christian artists, sponsorship director for the Gospel Music Association and currently senior regional manager for EMF.
1) What made you want to get into the music business?
I basically grew up around the music industry. My parents both played music in some of the top bands in Oklahoma and Texas during my childhood and I began playing instruments at an early age. My brother had the opportunity to get involved with the music industry before I did, which only sparked my passion for music and the industry even more (I guess you could say we were somewhat competitive towards each other). My earliest mentor that I can remember affecting me personally and professionally was my late grandfather, Wilford White (aka: Paw Paw). Paw Paw was one of the nation's top auctioneers and the hardest working man that I have ever known. He taught me how to sell pretty much anything that you needed to get rid of by using integrity first. My first job was with my grandfather at his auction house and antique store. Not only did I help showing the items during the auction, but I also had my own baseball card store in his shop, as well as snack stand. My baseball card shop helped me purchase my first car at 15.5, with a little help from Paw Paw, of course.
2) What do you think is the most important topic facing the music business and radio right now?
Digital music and downloading. The unfortunate part of downloading is that the consumer doesn't get to learn as much about the artist as one can by reading liner notes and seeing pictures on the artwork of the disc. However, I do think that more people are buying music now more than ever, especially when it comes to individual songs. Right now, the idea is to get the consumer to buy the actual product beyond the music. This is something that I believe is on every label's agenda on a weekly basis in meetings around the world. We'll see what happens and how our industry can best serve the consumer as well as the industry together. I do think that there is an answer for this and it's probably much easier than we're making it out to be.
3) What are the biggest changes you would like to see happen in our industry?
I would like to see more authenticity in some of our artists. We have so many amazing people in our artist category. However, they sometimes feel that they need to be something that they are not, just to win the approval of an audience. Yes, this may sell a few more records and gain favor with their audiences, but this does nothing for their self worth and creative ability, or lack thereof. I believe that is artistry and about expressing your passions through the arts, then the artist should be true to their art. You can always smell a fake. But a fake doesn't always mean that they do not have the ability in that field. It only means that they're working outside of their gifting and/or genre of what they feel initially in their music ability. This will allow artists to express themselves more effectively in their art and to what God has called them to. Then, I believe, that we will then see more original music.
4) What are the greatest challenges you face in your position?
Leading people. I have a team of nine very talented individuals. It always seemed much easier when you only have yourself to take care of in your day-to-day responsibilities. Things change when you're now responsible for a team that is looking to you for your leadership and guidance. Someone once taught me that your team doesn't need you to be a friend first - that will come with your relationship-building down the road. They need a leader first and foremost. That's a hard thing for me, as I just love being around people and making friends. But I'm definitely up for the challenge and loving it at the same time.
5) What makes your company unique?
What makes our organization at EMF Broadcasting unique is that we ask questions and listen to the answers of our listeners. This allows us to best serve them with the resources that we have. We also understand what we're great at and we do it with all of our heart, not getting distracted with other opportunities as we move forward on our journey that God has us on.
6) What is your favorite radio station?
Now, that's a tricky question. Asking a guy that is currently in radio what his favorite station is. I guess I would have to answer this way: I think that Air1 is an AWESOME station! You can also listen on online at www.air1.com. (shameless plug!)
7) What's your take on current music?
I believe that music and production continue to get better and better in their own way. I am disappointed that most albums we hear today are created electronically. That's not to say that it's not creative; I just miss the musicianship of a good old-fashioned instrument. The music is better than it was in our industry; however, the lyrics seem to be less thought through. Where did the stories in a song go? As an artist goes, I've noticed that the ones that really have longevity in their careers also write their own songs. This is a product of "telling the story." Some artists have a wonderful gift to tell someone else's story very well but there's nothing like a person telling a story that they lived themselves.
8) If you could have any job outside the music business, what would it be?
I would love to be a landscape architect or a chef.
9) Best advice for younger, less experienced future music industry execs?
Know that you will possibly have to do something in your work that you may not like. But know that you're always learning. It's not the tough situations in your life that define who you are; it's how you respond to those situations. This can be in your professional and personal life. "Always be learning, even when you may not like what you're doing at the time." You never know where one step may lead you.
10) What is it that motivates you to be "all you can be"?
God's word that's charges us to be excellent in "everything" that we do. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."
Bonus Questions
1) What book have you read that has touched you or taught you the most?
Wild At Heart by John Eldridge
2 ) What is your favorite quote?
"He is no fool to give what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliott
3) What's in your CD player right now?
Warren Barfield's new album Reach
4) Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?
"Beautiful Soul" by Jesse McCartney
5) Favorite TV program of all-time?
24
-
-