10 Questions with ... Sarah Shinn

1. Could you please map out for us your career path that's taken you to Fair Trade?

My path to Fair Trade really started when an injury took me out of the game of basketball. I had originally planned to play in college and hoped to continue that on to the professional level. So, in my junior year of high school, when that all changed I had no idea what to do with my life. One day my dad handed me a college brochure for Missouri State University's Entertainment Management program and encouraged me to look into their sports management degree, but what really intrigued me was their Music Business degree. I knew I didn't want to work behind the scenes in basketball, but I still wanted to do something I was passionate about. Music seemed to be the perfect thing; music had always been a huge factor in my life, but until that moment I had never imagined I could have a career working in the music industry. So, I applied for the program and never looked back.

Fast forward to my senior year and I had moved to Nashville to intern for the radio team at Provident Label Group. Prior to my internship, I had no idea what radio promotions was and I was still very new to Christian music, but I quickly learned that I loved it. About halfway through that internship a position as a promoter opened up on the team. My grandpa once told me to go for things you want, even if you feel unqualified, so I applied thinking I wouldn't get hired but maybe I could learn something from the process. About a week later, I was offered the job! I worked for Provident for just under three years before making the move to Fair Trade where I've been for the past two and a half years.

2. Was a gig in Christian music always the goal for you?

No, when I first moved away to college I had no idea Christian music even existed! After discovering Christian music, I was still hesitant to work in it because it was so new to me. But God had other plans and, thankfully, His plans are always better than my own!

3. What (and who) did you grow up listening to? When did Christian music become a part of your life?

Oh gosh, this is a tough question for me because I grew up listening to all sorts of music thanks to my parents vastly different tastes. With my mom, it was always Country music; I remember many a road trip listening to the likes of Patsy Cline, Don Seals, Emmylou Harris, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks, etc. And if memory serves me well, my first crush was Alan Jackson!

With my dad, it was all things rock; from classic to alternative to punk. Some of my favorite memories are singing along to George Thorogood, Whitesnake, and Bad Company on the lake as a young child and later cruising in his Jeep listening to Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins as a pre-teen. In fact, I didn't really know what was current until I was in high school and started getting my own taste in music, where I really got into emo and alternative music-much to my parents' chagrin.

It wasn't until college that I knew Christian music was a thing. I was new to my relationship with Jesus and stumbled across a Tenth Avenue North record around the same time I discovered the local Christian station, 88.3 The Wind, in Springfield, MO.

4. Who are the people who get the most credit for helping acclimate and advise you into and through this industry?

Throughout my time I've been surrounded by some pretty great people, but I'd say that Laurie and Greg "Shimmy" Chimento have been my biggest champions, especially in the early days. I can confidently say that without them, I don't think I would be doing what I am doing today.

5. What do you think you'd be doing for a living if it wasn't radio promo?

If I wasn't doing radio promo I would probably have been a writer or an activist and started a non-profit that helps people who deal with inequality through fundraising events.

6. In a typical day, what parts of it make you feel most alive? What are the most draining?

My favorite part of my job is taking to my radio friends on a weekly basis. Building those relationships and finding ways to serve each individual station drives me.

I love working with radio to plan meaningful promotions with artists to connect with the local communities they serve and hearing how the music is impacting their audience.

It can be easy for me to get bogged down by the day-to-day tasks of the job and take for granted the audience on the other side. When I'm feeling drained, I consider Christ manifesting Himself in the hearts and lives of Christian radio listeners and it always brings things into perspective for me.

7. You've been on plenty of radio promo trips at this point. Any that stand out as the most memorable? Why?

My first promo trip ever was with Building 429 and when I picked up my rental car, the agent didn't want to let me rent an SUV because I was only 23 at the time. I had to show them my business card and convince them that I was indeed traveling with a band before they would let me off the lot in anything bigger than a Camry! That one was pretty memorable.

8. What are some of the most personally-meaningful radio promo campaigns you've been a part of in your career so far?

"I Have This Hope" by Tenth Avenue North was a particularly personal song for me to work. My aunt, Beth, had been diagnosed with cancer around the same time I heard that song for the first time in its demo stage and I immediately knew it was her story. It was actually a very difficult single for me to work because by the time it was a single, Beth's health was declining and during that time the song became my lifeline for sure. On the other side of it, it brings me such joy to see the impact that song had on me, my family, and tons of other Christian radio listeners.

9. Any projects coming out in the New Year that you're most stoked about?

Work-related: I'm really excited for a new project from Micah Tyler coming in March!

Non-work-related: I'm pretty stoked to hear the new Coldplay "experimental" record.

10. What and who matters the most to you these days?

The last couple of years for me personally have been very high, highs and very low, lows and the biggest thing it has taught me is the importance of being present, being authentic, and loving well. I would say those three things are the most important to me currently.

And my highest high was getting married earlier this year; so, of course my husband is the most important person to me!