10 Questions with ... Josh Lauritch

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Intern/Promotions/Nights/Middays/APD at FISH/Milwaukee, National Promotion at EMI CMG, Brand Marketing at Word

1. Describe what you do big picture.

This is like artist management with a company. I'm like a cheerleader. I shape vision, image, message and music, and oversee consistency of the artist brand in all departments.

2. Which translates into what for the day-to-day?

Every week is different. This job is about creating a plan for what an album is going to be about and making sure those ideas are communicated.

3. What is your favorite part of your job?

The challenge of drawing more out of people in the office and more out of artists by looking at what has been done, what is being done and what could be done. I love seeing people catch the vision of the "what if."

4. And your least favorite part?

Meetings

5. What artists/projects are you working on right now?

The upcoming BarlowGirl project: This project is about looking at the first 10 years of the band in a way that closes the first chapter of the band so they can start the next chapter, in which they could change their sound, message and image to reflect who they are now, compared to who they were 10 years ago when the band started. The project includes 15 songs that are most important to the Barlow girls (they might not just be the radio hits) and they'll be included chronologically on the album. We're creating a package that includes pictures from the very beginning

Group1Crew: The new album is called "Outta Space Love" and we decided to launch this album from outer space. A cohesive outer space world has been created through the band's website, imaging, merch and packaging. What we're doing now is just hearing from the band that's in this fictional outer space world recording and creating this new project, and we're just starting to receive transmission of the music they've been working on. The band is going to do a live web chat from this outer space world to fans here. With the release date, they'll travel back to Earth.

New artist Patrick Ryan Clark: A worship leader from Watermark Church in Texas, he's in the studio working on an album that'll come out in 2011.

6. What is one thing you'd like to see more radio folks doing to engage their listeners?

Listen. Really listen. You can learn more from listening to people than broadcasting to people. Radio people need to be present where they are; go out and be active in their communities. They need to use social media outlets like Gowalla and Foursquare to find out where listeners are. They need to live it and be able to talk about community events. I think a lot of radio people don't have a social life and they need to be out experiencing their cities. They need to make time to be active.

I also think stations are rather shortsighted and they're not hiring web developers and social media developers and those are the ones who should be getting the highest salaries. Those people should be paid more than program directors. Listeners don't care about jingles or artist separation on the playlist. It's about caring and building relationships.

7. Do you miss the radio calls?

I miss the consistent connection with people that I developed relationships with. Though my job was get radio to play a song, working with radio people wasn't just about getting an advantage and pushing a song. There was caring, respect and trust built.

8. If you could have any other job outside radio or the music industry, what would it be?

I would own a restaurant. I would own it so I could dabble in the kitchen if I wanted to but I could leave the real pressure to the chef. And the restaurant would be on the beach.

9. Do you have a life quote?

"Care." Everything comes from that. If you care, it will affect who you are and how you interact with others.

10. What music currently has your ear? Any new artists that you can't get enough of?

Jay Z song with Rihanna, "Run This Town," new Audrey Assad record, the "Once" soundtrack (I know, I'm a little late on this one), one of our new artist Joel & Luke, the new OneRepublic album.