10 Questions with ... Kelly Daniel

NAME:Kelly Daniel TITLE:Assistant Country Editor COMPANY:All Access WEB:www.youbelong.net/thedaniels BORN:May 7, 1974 in Austell, GA RAISED:Grapevine, TX

Please outline your radio career so far:

1999-2000- KYNG (Young Country)/Dallas as Sales Asst., Programming Asst., Board Op, etc. 2000-2001- Giant Records/Nashville as Promotion Coordinator and finally here to All Access in April 2001 and I have been here ever since.

Editor's note: Since this interview was conducted with Kelly, she and husband Robert have traveled to Ukraine and adopted a beautiful baby son- Nathan Robert Daniel. Although still hunkered down at the Kiev Hampton Inn, we expect them back in the U.S. before Christmas. Congratulations to them on their new addition and for enduring through this grueling marathon of a process!

1) Try and remember back six years. Aside from the fact that Giant was closing and you needed a job, what kinds of things attracted you about the All Access job?

I loved the fact that it was pretty much a ground level thing as far as the Country format but it wasn't a complete start up because the company already had such great success in other formats. I was also excited about working with a web-based company that really looked in to the future and understood how important technology was to our industry.

I will say that I was a bit concerned when I interviewed because the office was new and there was no furniture yet so it was all card tables and folding chairs. It looked like a fly-by-night H&R Block. But I am happy to say that 6 1/2 years later we are still here and we have real furniture.

2) How have you seen ALL ACCESS evolve in Nashville since you have been here?

Wow, it has changed so much since I started. We had some name recognition but not enough to make us top of mind. The Country music industry is all about who you know, and we didn't know many. We really had to fight to get the business at first because the labels had been doing it the same way for years, and they were hesitant to change. I am really proud of the fact that once we proved that we were the #1 destination on the web, people were knocking on our doors. We worked really hard, and we still do, but now we have a very solid reputation. I think the name All Access speaks volumes!

3) You have spent time in radio and the record industry -- what side did you want to work in initially and why?

I initially wanted to work in the promotion side of radio but the only position open at the station was Sales Asst. I HATED working in sales. I quickly learned that there were very few paying gigs in promotions, so I started hanging out with my PD, Bob McNeill, and he let me do some things for the programming department. Eventually I started working with the labels and I became very interested in working for a label. So, once I learned that our station was flipping formats (thanks Bob, I still own you big for the heads up on that one) I decided to pack up my Dodge Neon and move to Nashvegas.

4) So, you and Robert are going to the Ukraine soon. Are you going to buy vodka and potatoes and pick up a baby while you're there?

Well, the initial purpose of the trip is definitely vodka -- and hey, if we get a baby while we are there then its gravy! Seriously, Robert and I have been working on an adoption for two years, and we are over the moon that it is finally happening. By the time you are reading this we will already be in Ukraine and bonding with our little cosmonaut (that's our nickname for the baby since we don't know if it is a boy or girl yet, sounds better than saying "it"). We will be bringing home the ultimate souvenir! The cosmonaut or cosmonauts will be between 14-24 months. Check out the blog after you read this and see how many we end up with!

5) How long has this process taken and what would you say to a couple just starting to think about adoption?

We started the first round of paperwork in December 2005 so it has been almost exactly two years. I won't lie; it's been a long and often painful process. We have had many delays, changes, false starts, etc. But I know there was a reason for all of it. The child God has picked for us wasn't ready when we were so we had to wait. Looking back on it, all the delays and the reasons for them were no doubt the work of God.

As far as anyone considering adoption, I say DO IT! It's already been such a rewarding experience and we haven't even held our child yet. There should be no doubt in this child's mind that they were wanted. We have cried, prayed, searched, screamed, cussed, prayed more, cussed more, spent, and prayed again to find this specific child that was meant to be ours. How awesome is that? If anyone is thinking about international adoption feel free to call. Well, give me a little time to get settled and then call me. I love to talk about it and pass on my story to anyone that is considering the idea.

6) Are you coming back to All Access? Will you bring the baby to work and let her/him play all day in the ALL ACCESS playground?

Yes, I was planning to use the All Access playground (A.K.A. the old Sony parking lot that faces our building). Jim, you did agree to be the nanny right? Actually, our little one(s) will be attending daycare at a Methodist church downtown. Right across from the Renaissance actually. Can you say baby's first CRS?

7) What was the best advice that you have ever gotten?

Wow, that's a hard one because I have received some great advice over the years. I have to say that the best words of wisdom came from my parents though. They taught me that nothing was out of my reach; I could do anything I wanted. But they also taught me the importance of family. Constantly striving for the next rung on the ladder is not all that it's cracked up to me. A career that I find satisfying, allows me to live a comfortable life and provide for my family and actually be with my family is better than all the bells and whistles of a job that keeps me away from home all the time.

8) What do you think Music Row will look like five years from now - okay, five minutes from now? Seriously, what are your thoughts about the future of music and media?

Hell if I know! If I knew what the industry would look like in the future I could make millions. I do think that we have to look at different ways of doing business in general. Technology is making the old business model obsolete, and if we as an industry don't buck up and come up with other ideas soon, then we will be obsolete as well.

9) What do you like best about living in Nashville?

I love the small town feel of Nashville but with good shopping! I was raised right in between Dallas and Fort Worth and there were about 15 million people in a 100-mile radius. It was too big for me. But I am a city girl and I have to have good shopping and restaurants very near, so I couldn't live anywhere too small.

Robert and I decided when we first starting talking about marriage that this was where we intended to stay. We have both had opportunities to move for jobs but this is the place we want to raise our family.

10) What personal item (not counting Robert or the new baby) would you never part with?

Wow, another hard question. Well, my girly side wants to say my knee high black leather boots but that might not be a functional thing to have at all times. I have to say either my Bible or photo album. How about if I put the photos in my Bible, does that count as one item?

1. What was the first concert you ever went to?

My parents took me to see Kenny Rogers when I was about five. I saw a number of concerts with them; they were huge music fans. My first concert with no parent was INXS in the 8th grade. My parents dropped me and a friend off at Reunion Arena. We thought we were so cool. For a couple of preppy 14-year-olds from the 'burbs, downtown Dallas may have well as been NYC.

2. Best concert ever?

Has to be Aerosmith in September 2001. It was two days after 9/11 and the atmosphere was so awesome. Everyone was so united and we all had this immense feeling of pride in our country. It was like an entire amphitheatre came together to get through the shock and grief together with some great music. Steven Tyler and the guys were awesome and really working their asses off to help everyone forget, even for just a couple of hours. Plus, we had ninth row tickets and that was cool!

3. Favorite junk food?

Just one? I love junk food! I am a baked goods fiend. I love cake, cookies and cupcakes. Anything with dark chocolate rocks. As I get older, I am experiencing life's little cruel joke called "slower metabolism." It really sucks.

4. Who will be playing in the Super Bowl this year?

Anyone who knows me knows that I will say the DALLAS COWBOYS baby! I bleed blue and silver. And let me tell you, it feels good to be a fan this year! Woo-hoo!

5. Favorite restaurant on someone else's expense account (say, Joel Denver for instance).

I have to say Taverna Tony's in Malibu. It is the most amazing Greek food. I have dreams about the meatballs and the lamb. I am so bummed that I will be missing it this year since I won't be going to the office holiday party. I really hope they have something comparable in Ukraine. But I am not betting the farm on it.