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10 Questions with ... Rick Regan
March 5, 2007
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NAME:Rockin' Rick ReganTITLE:Music Director/PM DriveSTATION:KZSN 102.1MARKET:Wichita, KansasCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:St. Petersburg, FloridaRAISED:Detroit, mostly
1) What was your first job in radio?
Pulling weeds for Michael Spears and Bill Bungeroth at AM talk WPLP in St. Petersburg, Florida. I was promoted to Talk Show Screener/Producer and eventually did everything at that station.
Early influences? I grew up in Detroit, Michigan and I was able to listen to my dad on the air "Scott Reagan" on CKLW and WKNR. I learned a lot from "Drew Hayes" former PD of WPLP and many of the other talented people now in big markets that worked in that little building.
2) If you are wearing more hats today, than say last year, what area is suffering, and what are you doing about it?
This year I took on the KZSN Music Director position and it has been great. In the past I have been the assistant to everyone and this is fun. With this added activity I have had to say no to a few charity and community deals that I have supported in the past. To combat this I took on a new challenge this year with an event on March 8th and 9th. I am holding a Radiothon for the Children's Miracle Network and hosting the 2 day, 24 hour event myself. Our great Morning Team of market vet Don Hall along with Brad Streeter and Cathy Carrier do have quite a few special events that they "handle" during the year and I saw an opportunity to get a personal cool thing going so I jumped at the chance.
3) What do you think of National Contesting?
Bigger prizes more often, sure I can go for that. Is it effective? Here in little old Wichita, KS we have winners in these big contests. Sure it's effective, it's contesting and it is only one aspect of a radio station. Ask a consultant about how many people actually play any of these games and then try to remember that it is still fun to hear someone else win something on the radio. If it is a big cash prize or a destination vacation well I think that sounds even better. A One Hundred Thousand Dollar winner promo sounds pretty good on "Thousand Dollar Thursday".
4) Has the advent of Satellite Radio affect our biz? Explain!
When I am driving around in my car it seems like everyone is on the phone. If we in "our biz" want to help regulate something how about the "Quit Talking on the darn phone in your Car Law" make them listen to music or talk and you bet I think it should be local and interesting.
5) What do you like best about your job?
The best thing about local radio person "The Job" is that I have a way to help and assist people that I do not know. That is what separates us humans, the ability to show and give compassion to others.
Least? The reality that is group radio is not as much fun as one building, one owner and one staff. But it is what it is and it certainly has its advantages. We all need to try harder to foster a group dynamic in our buildings. It can be difficult to get a real team vibe going when so many have different priorities in the same building. Remember when your station could field a softball team and the competition also had a station team? It would be hard to find a team of players in an entire group now. What a team, three guys, three gals and three VT'ers.
6) What can we be doing with our station's web sites to better our stations as a whole?
You must treat the website as its own day part. People visit the website just as they tune in to our stations. Promote it and tie everything in to it. Most importantly it has to be updated everyday. Many people surf their favorite sites each day and to make them your "P-1" website visitors you must have fresh content daily at the very least.
7) Who are your programming mentors?
Everyone I have ever worked for has contributed to my knowledge. Some with rights and some with wrongs, but you have to pick up information from everyone you come in contact with everyday. Do you learn something about programming talking to listeners or just PD's and Consultants? Listeners tell me about my station all the time, you just have to listen and ask.
8) Who's your favorite air/personality not on your air staff?
Cornbread, who does mornings at WIL/St. Louis. We won CMA Station of the Year a few years ago at KFDI/Wichita and he was a huge part of our stations success. He understands that taking care of the listeners hearts wins.
9) Favorite artist that you have met?
I could never name just one. I have been fortunate to meet so many of these talented people over the years, each with a special memory. Garth was pretty damn cool, so was Eddie Vedder and The Lo-Cash Cowboys know what is up. Does anyone know Major Bob? I call him every week and leave him message. He never calls back...he is my "Gordon Gecko"
(I want that pretty damn cool Mr. Brooks to help me with a charity thing)
10) If you could add any one full-time position to your budget, with no questions asked, what would it be?
Personal Trainer
Bonus Questions
1) Do you read, everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What's your favorite reading material?
Maxim, Sunday Crossword puzzle and Men's Health. All Access.
2) Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?
Guilt, no guilt.
3) You are on a desert island...what 5 CDs are in you portable disc player?
Peter Tosh any, Yellow Brick Road, Beatles mega disc, Sinatra Capitol box, something from Slayer or Metallica.
4) Describe your favorite meal?
A meal that I am enjoying with family and friends is the best.
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