10 Questions with ... Mike Carrier

NAME:Mike Carrier POSITION:Music Director / Production / Imaging STATION:KAFC 93.7 MARKET:Anchorage, AK #171 COMPANY:Christian Broadcasting, Inc. BORN:Hartford, CT RAISED:Windsor Locks, CT

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

WTCC - FM Springfield, MA 1988 - 1993, WLVX 1550AM Bloomfield, CT 1989 - 1992, KHRT 106.9 Minot, ND 1993, WNCB (now known as Refuge Radio) Duluth, MN 1994 - 1997, 1999 - 2002, KAFC 93.7 Anchorage, AK 2003 - present

1. Congrats on the recent repositioning of KAFC. Tell us a little about the changes you will be making in music programming as well as imaging.

KAFC has always been pretty unique in our industry in that we play music that most Christian CHR stations do not. We are about 40% rhythmic, including urban, rap, and dance styles, mixed in with the 20% adult pop and 45% rock/pop-rock music. We are going to take a slightly different direction, though, in that we are going to pare down the hip-hop a little bit and keep only the best of that genre in, based on our music testing. That leaves behind about 5 - 7 top testing songs of that genre. We are still focused on being a unifying factor in the body of Christ in South Central Alaska. So we are still going to play the top 40 style music that reaches ALL in the body of Christ, and hold events that bring together the body as well. We also will continue promoting concerts in the area. In the past year we have seen GRITS, Newsboys, Out Of Eden, Zoegirl, Jeremy Camp, and Toby Mac come to our area. We hope to continue to bring up artists that will reach the very diverse city of Anchorage and surrounding areas in South Central Alaska. We also have added a new voice guy in Ty Curtis from TC Productions who will definitely add a breath of fresh air and production skills unparalleled by anybody. We will also debut a new morning show with myself and current co-host Cori Cassady. We'll be known as Mike & Cori in the Morning (Original, eh?). We also have added the new "Sharing Life Together" program with Martha Hadley for nights. It's a touchy-feely type of show, perfect for our adults who are winding down the day. We have total control of the music on this so we can still be who we are musically, except that we'll have to add some more ballads to the mix to match the emotion of the segment(s). And we have added the second hour of the Vibe Hip Hop show with Chris Chicago and moved it up from 11pm to 7 - 9p. Overall KAFC will be known as: "The All-New 93.7 KAFC, Alaska's BEST Christian Music!" The whole staff is very excited about this!

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

a. Working at a college station in Springfield, MA at WTCC radio. I programmed each Christian show (CHR, AC, and ROCK) and was the personality for each one, teaming up with Kirk Randall and Don Robinson for some of the shows.

b. INFLUENCES: When I was an intern at WCCC (Secular Rock station in Hartford) I got some incredible training from their production guy Bill Schultz, and on air inspiration for a personality called "The Litch." Great guys who still have influenced who I am today. Also Dave St John has had some MAJOR influence on my programming mindset. He has convinced me of the validity of Music Research and in how to communicate with our audience effectively. Our former PD Joe King also taught me a lot about the ins and outs of commercial radio and how to create promotions that will give commercial advertisers opportunities to grow and succeed. Other influences and people I admire in this industry include C-Dub Chris Chicago, Ken Farley, Rick Welke, and Mike Couchman!

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

BE VISIBLE!!!! To often we have a great product or have potential to have a great product but have limited funds to get out there in the public eye. It takes 4 times a month at least with various promotions and public service campaigns. Being where people are and getting involved in what people are interested in. Give away things that would bless people and make each event LARGER THAN LIFE!! There is the concern in some radio stations that there just isn't a budget for those things. But here's the scoop. If you want to win, you've got to invest. Ask any successful business, you've go to invest to see a return. In radio, we invest in good promotions (which really doesn't take that much), and we invest in getting good staff on board who are experienced in their department, and we WILL see a good return on our investment, both financially and for the Kingdom.

4. Who is your favorite air/personality not on your air staff?

Dub Chris Chicago. He is all that! Perhaps one of the BEST talents in our industry, but one of the least recognized. Somebody please give this man a job!! He's young and got mad skills for CHR radio! Also, Mike Couchman at WAYK is a great communicator (and Programmer), AND Kid Raider at WORQ is a veteran talent who has been consistent for many years and sounds better and better every time I hear him!

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

WAYK. Mike & the staff there have really taken some major steps to create a mainstream sounding Christian CHR, and they are seeing incredible results! I listen to his station on the net a lot for inspiration. Also Rick Welke's Acaza hits Web station is the BOMB!!! I'm praying for a station to sign on or change formats to become like what Rick is doing with this Internet station. You can hear it on www.acaza.com

6. What are the most important tools/resources you use to stay on top of the Christian format's growth and changes?

Using Ken Farley's Hit Music Research has really helped a LOT. It keeps me intone with our audiences music tastes, and through asking the right questions to them, helps us stay in touch with their lives, too!

I also have developed a network of like-minded CHR's who exchange play lists, ideas, encouragement, advice, and music. It's great to do this with a team of other CHR's.

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

Youth Pastor or Soundtech.

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

"Wild At Heart" by John Eldredge and "The Keith Green Story." Guys need to read both of these books to understand both what it really means to be a man and so see how Godly passion works. Incredible stuff! Guys have been demeaned for far to long, and God is calling out to men to be.... MEN! Leaders in society and not the "bozos" that society has pegged them as. As we learn out identity as men of God, and as men in general, we will take our place in society and women in society will feel more secure and safe around us. These books have helped me down the road to become the man God has called me to be.

9. What is your favorite passage of Scripture?

Galatians 6:9-10 "Don't become weary in doing good, for when the time is right you will be rewarded if you don't get discouraged and give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." This scripture has got me through some very trying times.

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

God bringing to me the perfect wife in Cheryl and having a son! Caleb is a great kid, and we just put him in Kindergarten the other day at a Christian School. I am so proud! Everyday he tells me what he is learning in class and in the Bible. He is such a sponge and retains a lot of what he learns. Being a only child, he also is very intelligent! I've heard him using big adult words in conversation and in proper context as if it was a common thing. I'm soooo proud! (Okay, gushing session over... )

Do you read everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What is your favorite reading material?

Charizma Magazine, CCM Magazine and John Eldredge and Max Lucado books.

What's in your CD player right now?

Toby Mac - Diverse City, Falling Up - Crashings (LOVE these guys!), 4th Avenue Jones'

Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?

Disco! I love disco!!!

Cat or Dog person?

Dogs! I have two, a black lab mix and a wirehaired fox terrier. That terrier is one stubborn pain in the asparagus!

Describe your favorite meal?

Anything ITALIAN! I am half Italian after all!

Favorite TV program of all-time?

I LOVE LUCY!!!! Clean and funny comedy, plus any comedy from Victor Borge has me rolling on the floor! It proves that comedy doesn't have to be crass to be funny!