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10 Questions with ... Ryan McKiddy
October 30, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Chicago native Ryan McKiddy recently joined the iHeartMedia Country WSIX (The Big 98)/Nashville team, handling APD and nights. He began his career at iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC/Chicago as an intern while he attended Columbia College. After graduating, he worked part time at crosstown CBS Radio Country WUSN (US 99). Ryan then joined Cox Media Country KCYY (Y100)/San Antonio in 2015, where he handled MD duties and afternoons. In September, the 25-year old moved to Nashville, where you can hear him live at night. He sat down with All Access to talk about his career so far and where he sees himself in the future.
1. We know you grew up in the greater Chicago area, interned at iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC/Chicago, and soon after worked part time at crosstown CBS Radio Country WUSN. Where did the interest in radio begin?
It was sometime when I was in sixth grade when the radio bug hit me. I listened to the station that I ended up interning for, WKSC-FM, and it was really the station as a whole that made me fall in love with radio. Particularly, the night jock at the time, Java Joel. He would say the craziest things and push the envelope, including things that likely wouldn't fly on the radio today. When I was 11 or 12 years old, I used to record all of his breaks on cassette. I'm such a radio nerd that I still have hundreds of cassettes back at my mom's house in Illinois. The crazy part of all of it is that that station at that time was run by Rod Phillips, who now runs iHeartCountry and is one of the people instrumental in helping me get in the company and in Nashville. It all kind of goes full circle.
Was there ever a doubt about doing anything else or pursuing another career path? Or was it always radio?
Ever since I was 12, there was nothing else that I wanted to do. Between thirteen years ago and now, that was the only thing that I wanted to do. There were never any doubts. I was never like, "Man, I don't know..." No, that's really the only thing I wanted to do since I fell in love with radio back then. I don't see that changing, either.
2. You said Java Joel, in particular, made you fall in love with radio. Would you say that he influenced you or that you model your on-air persona after him? Or is there anyone else who influences you?
Not so much...I don't push the envelope as much as him. But there are a handful of different jocks that I listen to or talk to. Some are in the format; some are not. I stream a lot of shows, specifically a lot of morning shows. Some are back in Chicago, that I listened to when I lived there. Some I just stream because I love radio. There's Fred who does the morning show ["Fred + Angie"] on WKSC. There's "The Kane Show," and they do mornings for a bunch of iHeart stations. They're based out of [Top 40 WITH] Hot 99.5 in Washington, D.C. And then I've been listening to ["The Bobby Bones Show"] for years and years and years, and I really like what he's doing for the format. He's really making the Country format evolve. It'll be interesting to see what it will be like years from now.
3. Like Bobby Bones, you started out in the Top 40 format. How did you end up in Country? What about the format made you decide to stay?
I love Country, and this is the format I plan to work in for the rest of my life. That being said, I would be lying if I said that Top 40 didn't make me fall in love with radio. Basically, I went to Columbia College in Chicago, and I found out [CBS Radio Country WUSN/Chicago PD] Jeff Kapugi - who has an extensive CHR background - was going to be one of my teachers. He taught there for a few semesters, and I remember I was pumped, because he was someone whose name I remember seeing in the trades. I found out he was going to be my teacher for a semester; he taught a class called "Radio Programming." That was my junior year, and from that time until I graduated, I would send him air checks asking for critiques, and I kept in contact with him. Three months after I graduated, he called me out of the blue and said, "Hey man, how would you feel about part time at WUSN?" And I was shocked. It was definitely a little intimidating being a 22 year old kid straight out of college and cracking the mic in such a big market.
What about the format makes you want to stay?
There's such a sense of community! I love how close the Country community is as far as radio, records, and artist management. Also, the artists are so real. It's just so big, but it's so small. People are real; they're not phony.
When you were at WKSC did you have as much exposure to that community - or lack thereof - in the Top 40 world?
No, but I was also only an intern. I interned under the APD/MD, so I would see artists come in with label reps, and I would see the programming side of it. I interned there for a year and a half, but since I was just an intern I was kind of out of that community. I definitely saw a little bit, but I can't compare it to Country, because I never programmed in CHR. But yes, I just think everyone is so real in this format, and that's really what made me fall in love with it!
4. You're working under superstar programmer Gator Harrison and working at a legendary brand, WSIX/Nashville. You have a nationally syndicated morning show, "The Bobby Bones Show," in your office, and the market is more competitive than ever. I know you've already been here about two months, but what are you most looking forward to? What do you hope to learn or absorb from Gator?
In the past almost two months I've been here, I've learned so much from him. I feel like as hectic and crazy as it has been, it's actually perfect since we're both new in our roles and new in Nashville. We'll get to build a lot of things from the ground up, and I'm so excited for what I will learn from him in the next few years! It is also awesome to be in the same building as Bobby Bones and his team. I have been a fan of his for a while, and it is so cool to see his brand continue to build. It's been awesome.
5. You moved to your new role as APD/MD/Nights at WSIX from Cox Media Country KCYY/San Antonio, where you were MD/Afternoons. How has that transition been for you, and what has been your biggest challenge thus far? Has it been a harder transition than your move from Chicago to San Antonio?
The transition from San Antonio to Nashville was actually a lot easier than going from Chicago to San Antonio. Nashville reminds me a lot of Chicago. When I moved to San Antonio, it was very overwhelming, because it was my first full time job, and I didn't know anyone in the city. Not only that, but it was my first programming job. There were a lot of different moving parts and things, but I learned a lot in that city, and it was a fun time in my career. The main thing that really helped me in my transition to Nashville is that I already knew a lot of people who work in the record side of the business. I was a Music Director in San Antonio, so they would come to San Antonio for shows and work stuff. That definitely made it a little more fluid, to go from one programming job to another. And of course having a lot of connections already and familiar faces that I already knew made it a little smoother.
6. Like you just said, you've made a lot of connections and friendships throughout the country already during your career. Who have been some of your mentors early in your career, and who are your go-to guys and or gals for advice?
I'm one of those crazy people who are always working, and when I'm not at work I'm thinking about work. A lot of people who I consider close friends are people who I met through radio and records, which is awesome! When I interned at WKSC, I interned for three semesters. I interned for the night guy, Scotty Kay, so I was in the studio when he did his night show; I got to help him out with a lot of bits and really see that side. He taught me a lot. Jordan, who is at iHeart in Tampa right now, really taught me a lot on the programming side. After I interned on the night show, I wanted to also see the programming side, because I love the programming side of radio. He really showed me a lot of the programming side and a lot of the behind the scenes stuff. He let me do a lot of things as an intern - a lot of production, and I got to sit in on different meetings and what not. That was cool. As far as advice goes, one of my really good friends - his name is EJ - he's based out of iHeart in Dallas. He's on a handful of CHR stations. We've been friends for a while. He has kept me sane and is my go-to person to bounce ideas off. It's actually cool, because he just actually picked up tracking nights on our sister station, [Top 40 WRVW] 107.5 The River, so it's cool for him to be "down the hall," so to speak.
7. So you're handling nights on The Big 98 here in Nashville. How would you describe the personality of your show - that is, what will listeners hear when they tune in?
My show is super interactive. It helps that I'm live at night. I work the phones, so when someone calls, I'm able to answer and throw them on the air. It also helps, because there's always something going on in this city, so there's never a dull moment or a time where there isn't anything to talk about. In the near future, I'm getting ready to launch some features on my show, which I'm pumped about, but I can't really talk about yet. They'll make it even more interactive and even better!
8. We've heard radio vets talk about the struggle to find young, compelling talent in a world where millennials have other outlets of expressing creativity (podcasts, internet, etc.). Where do you think the next batch of young radio talent will come from? And how can we encourage millennials - and younger - to either enter the field or continue in the field?
I think that's a really good question. It's tough, because there are less and less jobs on top of all that. That being said, there is definitely young talent who are eager to land a job. This past weekend, I actually went back to Chicago to speak at my college to do this radio panel. They bring in alumni and people in the business, and there are students who are in high school or the college who really want to get in to radio. It's cool, because there are always a handful of people who really stand out, who are really thirsty to get in to this business. I think the toughest part is there are a lot of young people who see people go from market to market, and I think it's easier said than done. Some young people who want to get into the business have a vision in their head that they only want to work at a certain station or in a certain format or in a certain city, and they never want to move or anything. I always say, "You can't limit yourself." The second you do that, you're missing out on hundreds and hundreds of opportunities. It may not necessarily be the first choice, but it's a job that could kick off your career. I think there's definitely young talent out there, and I would just encourage them to not limit themselves to a certain city or station or format.
Similarly, as a millennial, you're part of a generation that has never really been disconnected. Internet, smart phones, social media, etc. are a huge part of daily life - what do you think radio can learn from other forms of media, and how can we as a format utilize those methods of connectivity to reach out to our generation and younger?
I'm the first to admit that I cannot be disconnected from my phone - it drives my friends crazy - and any girl who I've dated, it drives them nuts. But I think Facebook Live and Snapchat are huge tools that go hand in hand with radio in addition to Twitter, Instagram, and stuff like that. With Facebook Live, it's a great outlet to reach out to fans and get new listeners. The same thing with Snapchat, too, with Snapchat filters. How many times do you go to a show and see a station Snapchat filter? It's a great way to advertise your station and a great way to own a moment in a concert! I think it will be interesting to see what comes out in the next few years and how those platforms keep evolving and keep tying in with radio.
9. You're a young guy with a great running start in the industry, and you've got many great years of radio in front of you. What do you see as your end goal - or is it not in radio? - and what steps do you hope to take along the way to get there?
I definitely want to stay in radio. Just like we were talking about earlier, I've had this vision of being on the radio since I was 12, and it's really the only thing I have wanted to do since then. It's great to have a job where you don't feel like you're working. You get to have fun every day! My end goal is definitely in radio, in programming. I love being on the air, but I think programming is my calling. I would love to be at the top of the programming chain one day. In the meantime, I love the hats that I'm wearing right now. I'm so fortunate to not only be in this industry, but to be where I am now.
10. When I asked you to be a part of our "10 Questions" feature, you admitted that you always wanted to be featured. Are there any other items on your "Radio Bucket List?" Artists you'd like to interview? Awards you hope to receive? Career milestones you hope to achieve?
As cliché as it sounds, moving to Nashville and working for The Big 98 was something that was on my radio bucket list. I fell in love with the city years ago when I first came here on vacation. I've been streaming The Big 98 for years, so it's surreal to be able to come to work here every day. I thank people like Michael Bryan for believing in me and a handful of my friends throughout the industry who have done so much to have my back.
As far as dream artist interview, I would love to interview George Strait - just because I've always been a fan - but when I was in Texas, I became an even bigger fan. We would play a George Strait song every hour, so I would say George or Garth. I was fortunate enough to be able to interview Garth Brooks in Chicago. It was actually my first interview on the radio. It was a little intimidating. I was still on middays, and it was when he announced his tour - the same tour that he's on now - but he kicked it off in Chicago about two years ago. I was on middays, and our morning show was doing it, but they had already left, and Jeff Kapugi came in and said, "Hey man, Garth is going to call in three minutes!" So you know that was intimidating, haha!
Bonus Questions
Who do you see as the rising stars in our format? Which artists do you think you'll still be spinning tracks for when you're 40?
That's a tough one. There are so many awesome new artists, which makes the decision on what to play a little more difficult. But having more great music to choose from is terrific for radio. I think it's safe to say that Brett Eldredge, Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Sam Hunt, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Cole Swindell, and Old Dominion will be around for a very long time. I really can't wait to see what else comes to us in the near future. We are clearly at a very exciting time right now in our format!
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