10 Questions with ... Chris Chicago

1. Would you walk us through your career path that's brought you to where you are at NGEN?

I've been in radio most of my life, honestly. I grew up wanting to be one of three things: a pro-WWE wrestler, a rapper, or a radio DJ. I started on the air in Albuquerque, New Mexico, spent 12 years in the music business in Nashville, managing & promoting artists as part of my own company, and then got the call to move to Houston to work for NGEN doing the morning show. I was content in Nashville. My family loved it there. I'd been doing a syndicated hip-hop radio show, interviewing Christian hip-hop artists and playing Christian hip-hop for the last...20 years. I have been really immersed in the world of Christian hip-hop for a long time and the opportunity to be in a major market full-time intrigued me. From being on the NGEN morning show, I was eventually promoted to Program Director.

2. With your experience on both the record and radio side of the industry, what's a unique perspective a radio programmer might have that the record side might struggle to understand? And vice versa-what is something a radio might not completely understand about the artist/label world?

We have to listen to and serve our audience first. It's not that we don't like the song or don't want to play it. Usually, we love the song, but maybe we're leaning more hip-hop at the moment or maybe looking for more of a pop sound. Sometimes, the label doesn't understand why we haven't added a song when lots of other Hot AC stations have added it. Programming NGEN involves testing a new format where some things work and other things don't, and none of the rules are already written or comparable to other stations. Also, our sound is uniquely Houston. We have to look at each song on a case-by-case basis as we try to understand our audience.

From a radio programmer's standpoint, they might not understand the stress that labels go through trying to push an artist and how much that artist's career may hinge on the success of a given single. Every singles' success is potentially career-defining for an artist.

3. How would you describe a typical day at NGEN? What's something about it that most people might not know?

My job is twofold: I get up every day around 4:30a to get to work for the morning show at 5:30a. I'm on the air until 10a, and then I spend the rest of my day in and out of meetings. I meet with marketing teams, donor teams, production teams, upper management. Most people might not realize how much work goes into the on-air product at NGEN from every single department. There is involvement from so many people in what you hear on the radio. Well over 20 people contribute to make NGEN sound the way it does. I get to serve on the best team in the industry.

4. What was the biggest hurdle getting back into radio after so many years on the label/promotions side of the industry?

The first hurdle was not being recognized as someone who knew radio and understood programming. I was often treated like a rookie from my peers. Another thing would be, looking at music through an objective eye. You can't be subjective or biased as a programmer. Even though I personally have interacted with the majority of the artists we play on NGEN (mostly through Jam The Hype/Rapzilla interviews over the years) I can't add their songs because I like them as a person. I have to be very black and white when it comes to programming.

5. Who has been most influential and helpful to you, throughout your career? How has their investment in you encouraged you in your own leadership methods?

Dave Wagner, Kevin Kookagey, John Butler, Joe Paulo, Elaine Welcome, Susan Brown, Brian Meza, Tracy Johnson, Paul Goldsmith, Ty McFarland, Troy West, Jon Hull, Scott Herrold, Mike Couchman, Carolyn Rush and from my time at iHeartMedia, Rich Davis. Each of these men and women has played a role in shaping me, somehow; either by their way of programming, coaching or leading. Each serves with equal parts humility and confidence, and that delicate balance is something I'm striving towards myself.

6. Career highlights-on both the record side and the radio side. What are a few of them?

Seeing NGEN grow from where it was even 2 ½ years ago when we first launched our major FM signal - this station has truly grown beyond our wildest dreams and it's so confirming that this format truly does work. Also, playing a role in Ty Brasel's career has been amazing. I was managing him when no one knew his name. Now he's on WinterJam playing arenas. It's humbling to be able to play a small role in encouraging talent.

7. What's one of your most consistent professional struggles? Conversely, what would you say is one of the gifts that's made you the best at what you're doing at NGEN?

Knowing when to turn my phone off. As a programmer, my job never stops. I always want to listen to the station to make sure everything is sounding the way it's supposed to. Even on vacation, I'm tempted to check and answer emails. It's hard to know when to let go. As for what's prepared me well for this job, I'd say my experiences up to this point. Getting to know the genre of Christian hip-hop the way I have has made it easy for me to passionately program a station like NGEN.

8. Who did you grow up listening to?

I fell in love with Christian radio in high school. Before then, I liked Old Dirty Bastard, Wu-Tang Clan, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Garth Brooks, Tracy Lawerence, Boys 2 Men, Jodeci, Biggie Smalls...then Jesus got control of my heart! Ha! I liked Gospel Gangstaz, Cross Movement, T-Bone and DC Talk, of course.

9. Who are the most important artists of this current era of Christian music?

I'm impressed by 1KPhew, Parris Chariz, Andy Mineo, Ty Brasel, & WHATUPRG. These are the guys I see defining the future of the CHH genre and I'm always excited to see what they come up with next. On the pop side, I have to mention Lauren Daigle, I love the heart & passion behind Darren Mulligan (We Are Messengers) and Danny Gokey is a force to be reckoned with!

10. What are you most looking forward to in the remaining nine or so months of 2019?

NGEN is in such a beautiful place. I'm excited to see what God does with NGEN this year. He's been so good to us already. As I am in the current process of hiring new team members, I'm ready to see God take NGEN to new heights! Also a quick shoutout to my new boss, our Chief Creative Officer, Matt Hahn, together we are going to do some real dope things at NGEN.