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10 Questions with ... Phil Conner
June 14, 2005
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NAME:Phil ConnerPOSITION:National Promotions ManagerSTATION:Gotee RecordsFORMAT:You Name ItLOCATION:Franklin, TNBORN:In THE GREAT STATE OF TEXASRAISED:Houston
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
My final college credit was an internship. I had some friends who had moved to Nashville and I came to visit, fell in love with it and interned at WAY FM Nashville. I went back to Texas and graduated, moved back here with no job and ended up stuffing press kits at Essential Records. They offered me a job and that's how I started. I worked at Essential Records and Provident for 4 years before coming to Gotee a year and a half ago. And here I am.
1. What made you want to get into the music business? Early mentors? First job?
I had never actually thought of music business until I was nearly done with college, but I grew up loving music and I've always been passionate about music. When I realized that you could get paid to work with music... what else was I gonna do with my life?
My first job was at Essential Records where I found a lot of great mentors. I was just a kid from college trying to learn how this thing worked. I was very fortunate (and clueless in retrospect) to have people willing to invest in me. I'll never forget Chris Hauser calling me and wanting to take me to lunch and expressing that he wanted to be readily available for me as I learned the ropes. I had no idea how big of a legend Hauser was at that time. (I think he invented the radio) Michael Johnson was a patient boss and teacher for me in our time together at Provident. Mac Powell also comes to mind- he was always there to encourage me and make me feel good.
2. What do you think is the most important topic facing the Music Business and Radio right now? Why?
The willingness to change and be flexible..."The Way Things Were" doesn't matter anymore. Things are changing. Radio is changing, labels are DEFINITELY changing and meeting the needs of the consumer and holding their attention is harder than ever. Those of us holding on to our "Old School" ways will get run over and run out of business.
3. What does Christian Radio need to do in order to break through to a mass audience on a more consistent basis?
Be honest, be relevant and do things well. I think people from all backgrounds see through fluffy positioning that seems as though us Christians are happy and everything is perfect. People are searching. Whether they are believers with a firm grasp on things or "seekers," we are all hurting and need sincerity, and something to hold on to. That's where the real thing comes in.
Relevance is definitely needed to expand the audience out there. I know everyone has a targeted audience, but whatever that audience is...they deserve the best sounding music, imaging, and jocks that they can get with their resources. Radio stations need to use what they have and make sure that every detail is the best it can be. I think striving to sound good and be culturally relevant is key for audience expansion. The people who are in church every time the doors are open are likely to already listen to Christian Radio, and it's easy to sound like that's the only audience that your station is trying to reach. I hope to see more stations having a sound that doesn't make the other listeners not feel part of the club.
4. Biggest changes in the industry you would like to see happen?
I'd love to see people be more open minded. I have no doubt that the music we make at Gotee is just as good as any label out there. It is often a harder sell in this marketplace though- especially anything urban. Urban music is the biggest genre of music right now - hands down. However, the church as a whole has failed to embrace it. I'd love to see that change.
I'd also love to see less music. A lot of labels are like factories that sign new bands all the time. These bands are not given the attention they need because the manpower at the label can't sustain the amount of acts on the roster. Bands are thrown out there and fail because they didn't have a chance from the start. Then they're discarded and the next band is signed. I think that's sad. It also becomes too overwhelming for radio- they get too much music. There seems to be a lot of attention on quantity, not quality. Music is beautiful and it's art...we just can't keep going like this.
5. Who has had the biggest impact on these facets of your life: Personal, Professional and Spiritual? Why?
Personal would be my family. We are all really close and love to spend time with each other. I have great parents and sisters. I'm very close to my grandparents still as well. My father and grandfathers have been great examples of what a Godly man is.
Professional would be Joey Elwood (President of Gotee). He's taught me a lot about business with integrity, humility and doing what is right at all times. He always has time for people and is a very caring person. Which in the long haul is very important in business.
Spiritual - My wife Jordyn. I don't know if she knows how much she has stretched me and made me want to be like Jesus. She's opened my eyes and helped me understand how important relationships are. We come from pretty different backgrounds and she's made me more tolerant of others. She's also loved me and extended far more grace to me than I deserve. That's a real example of how to live and her example has made me want to be a better person.
6. Best advice for younger, less experienced music promoters?
Be deliberate. It all runs together when you have a ton of songs out there and you are just wanting to see what will stick. There's a lot of satisfaction in knowing your goals, realistic expectations and seeing a plan come to be reality. Not every song is a hit, but airplay is airplay- look at each song on a case by case basis, find you supporters and embrace that.
Oh yeah, and don't be a used car salesman. Hype gets old real fast.
7. What are the most important tools/resources you use to stay on top of the your formats growth and daily changes?
I have a few. I watch a lot of MTV. Whatever they say is cool, becomes cool. I'm intrigued by how much pull they have. I also talk a lot with my co-workers about what they are listening to...we've got a good bunch that stays on that stuff. Toby is also really good about knowing what will work in this market- he's always good to talk with.
8. What is your favorite passage of Scripture?
It changes. Right now- Isaiah 26: 3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." I find a lot of peace and the ability to be still in that- it's hard for me to be still.
9. What is the most precious memory of your life so far?
Seeing my wife come down the aisle on our wedding day. You'd have to see it to believe it. I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life.
10. If you could ask God about anything, what would it be?
How am I doing, will I ever get it right? What can I change in my life to honor you more?
Bonus Questions
What's in your CD player right now?
The New Oasis album and the new Coldplay.
Cat or Dog person?
DOG DOG DOG.
Describe your favorite meal?
Texas beef brisket, sausage links and ribs. Side items would be potato salad, Texas toast, all kinds of BBQ sauce. Topped off with blackberry cobbler with Bluebell homemade vanilla flavored ice cream.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you want with you and why?
My wife, my bible and my dog, Uno the One- Eyed black lab.
Favorite TV program of all-time?
America's Funniest Home Videos. The only show that will make you laugh out loud in a room by yourself.
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