10 Questions with ... Beth Blinn

NAME:Beth Blinn POSITION:Mgr. of Internet Marketing/Radio & Retail Promotions COMPANY:Spring Hill Music Grp. FORMATS:AC/CHR/Rock/Inspo/Southern Gospel LOCATION:Brentwood, TN BORN:Ellwood City, PA RAISED:Ellwood City, PA

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I have a BA in journalism from Penn State; I spent 5 years at a newspaper in State College, PA; 3 years in management with a travel company; 4 years doing public relations with Pamplin Music; and 4 years with Spring Hill Music, where I started with PR, added some radio promotions along the way and just this past year traded PR for the internet marketing thing. (Can you say wide variety of experience?)

1) What made you want to get into the music business? Early mentors? First job?

I've loved music since I was young. Early in college, I discovered Christian music and started exploring that genre. I always thought it would be cool to work with artists (I love watching their minds work, even when they can be a pain to deal with) but I never did anything to pursue it. In the mid-90's, I began to write for and edit one of the first on-line publications that covered Christian music-The Lighthouse Electronic Magazine.

I eventually moved to Nashville, seeking a job as a writer. Jay Swartzendruber asked if I'd like him to recommend me for a PR job at Pamplin. There were two things that I swore I'd never do-public relations (journalists tend to have a dim view of PR folks) and work for a record label (after all, they just rip off the artists, don't they?)

But I thought it was so nice of Jay to think of me that I agreed, out of courtesy to him, fully intending to just go through the motions at the interview. But about 30 minutes into it, I knew that this job was what God had for me next. And I ended up loving it.

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

This is the kind of question that can really get me into trouble.

For the music business: being willing to change and do things differently. Everything is changing-how people listen to music, why they listen to music and when. We've got to be able to figure out how to give them what they want before they know it themselves. (I wish it was as easy as stating that.)

For radio: For Christian radio-I'm not going to presume to tell them their business. I haven't worked with radio long enough to do that with any authority. But I will say this-with AC radio, the biggest Christian format in the biggest markets-narrowing the "currents" playlists over the last few years has created a situation for record labels that is really, really difficult. I think one of the most frustrating things about my job is hearing "I think it's a great song, but we just don't have room for it." I know that was said prior to playlists getting smaller, but the reality is AC radio is playing a lot fewer current songs now and that has had a direct effect on sales. This, in turn, has a direct effect on how much money labels have to develop new acts. I think that it is creating a homogenization in the sound of Christian music, since labels are forced to play it "safe."

Christian music has fewer outlets for letting people know about the music it is releasing than our mainstream counterparts, where television is a viable alternative if radio airplay is hard to come by. The internet is growing as a marketing medium, but it's still a long way from the power of radio and television.

I'm not saying radio needs to change. I'm just stating my opinion on what I think is happening. I think it will have ramifications in the future and radio will not be happy about it.

3) Biggest changes in the industry you would like to see happen?

Because of the corporate nature that a lot of radio and record labels have taken on, I think there is too much focus on "what are we doing in the next quarter or six months" and not enough focus on "where are we headed for the next couple of years?" I'd like radio and labels to talk about the future together---we are interdependent on each other and neither will survive without the other.

Well, I guess if all of Christian radio became oldies stations, they would survive just fine-at least, until all of their listeners died off.

4) Are you finding that today's "baby" bands are getting a fair shot at radio and more importantly are they being given the airplay they need to break through to the masses and be recognized?

Given that many of the largest stations are not interested in breaking new artists because they program from a very safe perspective, no, I don't think a lot of new artists are getting a fair shot at radio-at least, not enough to succeed, especially given how much money is invested in them. But again, I don't think those stations consider part of their job to be developing the next generation, so I can't expect them to be interested.

5) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as say, six months ago? Better than it was? Same? Elaborate please!

I think that six months is too small of a time frame to accurately gauge whether or not it's better. I look over the last few years and I think in some ways it's better-in many ways it's worse. I think a lot of the better music is not at the forefront of the scene.

6) What do you like best about your job? Least?

Working with creative people-both artists, and the staff at Spring Hill Music. Over the years I've learned that, for me, whom I'm working with is almost more important than what kind of job I'm doing.

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

Personal & spiritual-my parents. God blessed me with parents and siblings who love Him and who, for the most part, are pretty drama-free. I had a friend go on a family vacation with me recently and she commented that she doesn't remember when she's met a family who seemed to have such healthy relationships with each other. I think that's because my parents worked hard to model Christ for us. They certainly aren't perfect but they are always striving to know Him more, even after all of these years.

Professional-when I first went to work at Pamplin, Jenny Lockwald taught me a lot about the music business. And Michael Johnson has taught me a lot about radio.

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

"Experiencing God" has probably had the biggest impact on my life, long-term. "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning and "What's So Amazing About Grace" by Philip Yancey have probably touched me the most.

9) Which character in the Bible do you most relate to? Why?

Abraham. He had a lot of faith, but still occasionally let his propensity to be a people-pleaser cloud his judgment. That's happened to me on occasion.

10) What is your favorite passage of Scripture?

Philippians 2:1-4

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

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

I'm a magazine junkie. Cooking magazines, news magazines, newspapers. I think it's a holdover from my journalism training, but I HATE television news-I'd rather read a newspaper. I also love to read books, but do most of my "light" reading when I'm traveling...which is less these days.

2) What's in your CD player right now?

More like what's on my Ipod-more than 3,000 songs at this point. Everything from Gavin DeGraw, U2 and Switchfoot to Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and the 77's.

3) Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?

Hmmm...probably 70's pop/rock-the stuff I associate with my childhood. Our sister company, which creates music for the gift market, recently put out a compilation CD called Summer Breeze that has the Doobie Brothers, Bob Welch, Orleans, Firefall, Bread...I played that thing into the ground when I first got a copy.

4) Favorite TV program of all-time?

Tie between "Frasier" and "SportsNight." I'm a sucker for great, witty writing, even if it sometimes comes from a viewpoint I don't always agree with.