10 Questions with ... Scott Veigel

NAME:Scott Veigel POSITION:Program Director STATION:KXWA/89.7 WAY-FM MARKET:Denver COMPANY:WAY-FM Media Group, Inc.

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

With the exception of Grand Forks, ND, I've focused on Christian radio in Chicago, Portland, San Francisco, and Denver, while programming three Christian music channels with AOL radio for the last five years.

1. What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

While the grunt at a jazz/classical/news AM/FM combo in North Dakota, I was 'branded' a production assistant. Yup, radio has scarred me for life... I have the 'reminder' on my inner thigh from using a razor blade to 'creatively' remove the tape from a 15-inch reel. Fortunately, technology evolved and prevented radio from actually killing me. Early influences included everyone on the classical station who could really pronounce 'Mozart.' But it made me aware that each word matters.

2. What do you think is the most important topic facing the Music Business and Radio right now? Why?

Regarding radio, if it were a book, I think it would be roughly titled 'in search of relevance.' Not unlike the issue facing the railroad in the early days, we need to think of ourselves of being in the 'audio content delivery business' rather than just being in terrestrial radio. Jim Collins, in "Good to Great" refers to implementing new technologies accordingly, which I would take to mean, in this case, that we're not to fear satellite or iPod. But, leverage them where we can and should, and then look to something like wi-max to put us in front of what now may be considered a potential threat.

3. What does Christian Radio need to do in order to break through to a mass audience on a more consistent basis?

Memorable introductions... it is said that interviewers take 8 seconds to make a decision about the interviewee... if you had 8 seconds to keep a listener, could you? But before those 8 seconds can be meaningful, they first need to be relevant. I believe the one word most used by someone outside the church in regard to what they think of the church is: irrelevant. Be relevant, be remarkable-be memorable.

4. Who has had the biggest impact on these facets of your life: Personal, Professional and Spiritual? Why?

Recently, it was a single phone call with the Chaplain of the Rockies and Broncos. We had never met prior to my calling him to talk about having a player attend one of our events. What I didn't expect was a lengthy phone call about the battle we are in as Christian men and how committed he was to protecting those men God has called him to minister to. I chose to walk home from work that night to contemplate the thoughts and emotions so deeply and unexpectedly stirred up by the conversation. For those familiar with the book 'Wild at Heart' by John Eldridge would be able to relate to the real-life glimpse I had that night of living as God intended a man to live.

5. What is your favorite radio station outside of your own market?

My favorites involve stations imaged creatively and effectively and/or are talent driven. I listen to KIIS-FM Los Angeles quite a bit. I'm not quite sure what this says about me, but I appreciate some things about Ryan Seacrest's presentation. Speaking of LA, Gary Spears (now at K-BIG) is real smooth.

6. If you could add any one full-time position to your budget, with no questions asked, what would it be?

I would like to have someone who would focus solely on the culture and our target demo. Part researcher, part technologist, part fashion expert, part pastor and entirely hip, they would help us communicate, in every form, with laser-like accuracy.

7. If you could have any job outside the music business, what would it be?

I would be working in the web. I had spent just over a year in the valley during the boom and it was a lot of fun. One company I worked for attracted engineers from around the world, which meant the ping-pong we played through out the day made for some intense international competition.

8. What book have you read that has touched you or taught you the most?

I was given 'Blue Like Jazz' by Don Miller. It's a little quirky, but real, and last night the chapter called 'Belief' penetrated further than some of the other chapters. During a conversation with his friend he calls 'Andrew the Protester', he was faced with the reality of truly believing. Andrew stated simply that, "what we do is what we believe." So we can talk all we want about how we believe the poor should be fed and given a place to live, but if we're not doing anything thing about it, then it begs the question, 'do we really believe that?'

9. What is the most precious memory of your life so far?

Our daughter being born...male. We were told by the doc to expect a little girl, but there was an elderly Asian woman from church who would tell us, 'No, no, it's a boy.' Of course we were like, 'well the doctor said it was going to be a girl.' We should have listened to the lady! But it made for an incredible surprise in the delivery room! I cherish being a father more than anything.

10. Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?

Harry Connick Jr. I had a chance to see him perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre... simply spectacular.

Cat or Dog person?

We have two cats... I'm an animal lover, but would love to have a dog...which could mean the end of being a cat person... hmmm...

Describe your favorite meal?

Having lived in Chicago, I know pizza... Chicago-style pizza and Ben and Jerry's ice cream... not necessarily in that order.

Favorite TV program of all-time?

I'm so thankful for sitcom DVD releases... Seinfeld-forever!