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10 Questions with ... Rick Lovett
January 31, 2006
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NAME:Rick LovettTITLE:Group Program DirectorSTATION:KFWR / KRVA / KRVFMARKET:Fort Worth, TexasCOMPANY:LKCMBORN:May 19RAISED:Baton Rouge, LA.
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
1985 - 1986 Nights ---WBIU, Baton Rouge, LA (Oldies / CHR at Night)
1986 - 1989 Nights ---WYZB, Fort Walton Beach/Destin, FL
1989 - 1990 Afternoons ---KKQV, Wichita Falls, TX
1990 - 1991 APD/MD / Afternoons --- WQID, Biloxi, MS
1991 - 1993 APD/MD / Afternoons --- WOVV, West Palm Beach, FL
1993 - 1995 MD / Afternoons --- WFMF, Baton Rouge, LA
1995 - 1997 Prod/Imaging/Jock ---KHKS, Dallas, TX
1997 - 2001 Creative Director ---KPLX, Dallas, TX
2001 - 2002 Mornings ---KIKK-FM, Houston, TX
2002 - 2005 Midday's ---KKBQ, Houston
2005 - PD / The Ranch Radio Group, Fort Worth, TX.1) What was your first job in radio?
Nights at 1210 WBIU Baton Rouge.
Influences? Locally it was Scotty Mac at WFMF, and Shadow Steel at B97 New Orleans. Once I started really listening to airchecks, it was Scott Shannon, John Lander, Kidd Kraddick, Bob & Tom, Gary Spears and Robert W. Walker.
2) Can you be a boss and also a friend to your employees?
Most Definitely. I feel that friendship with employees is vital to the growth of the radio station, but I can also separate the issues when necessary.
3) What's your take on current music? Elaborate please!
For us, "Current" is a little different. Some call our format "Progressive Country" others call it "Texas Country"
For us, the state of "current" music is good. Mainstream stations will not play the majority of our "Hits". We seek out new artist and new music. Some of our core artists are Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Jack Ingram, Charlie Robison, Reckless Kelly and Robert Earl Keen. These are Just "Texas Spice" to most of the stations claiming to be Texas Country. So with these as our core artist, it allows us to dig deeper, look further and give our audience the TRUE Sound Of Texas. I believe the music is getting better all the time. More and more of our artist are being picked up by bigger labels and agents, giving them more resources to produce better music in better studios.
4) If you are wearing more hats today, than say last year, what area is suffering, and what are you doing about it?
I voice track the show and am not able to put as much into it as I would like. However, I am looking into ways to incorporate more content.
5) What do you think of National Contesting? Is it effective?
I don't like it for this station. For my competition, sure! It gives me the perfect opportunity to position myself as the "Local Contest", "Hometown" station where you REALLY can win
6) Will the advent of Satellite Radio affect our biz? Explain!
I believe it's more fun and compelling to listen to a station that's involved in their community. We may loose a few people that just want a jukebox or that don't care about what's happening locally. But ultimately, I think the majority of radio users want to be informed about what's happening right here at home.
7) What do you like best about your job?
In all honesty, there are too many really exciting reasons why I love my job. But for one it's a locally owned radio group with a mission to build a Network of stations focusing on Texas Music. I enjoy building a team of dedicated, creative and passionate people, and I really like the freedom we have compared to most corporate radio situations. I have a GM, Gerry Schlegel that understands Programming and allows me to do what I do.
Least?
Not enough hours in the day!
8) What can we be doing with our station's web sites to better our stations as a whole?
Incorporate more listener/user interaction with contesting and surveys. Give more specific artist/music info. Such as current and previous songs played features.
9) What do you plan to do differently in the next year regarding work and family?
Plan, promote and execute our events much further in advance. Spend as much time with my family as possible. Another great thing about The Ranch is that we do a lot of events that involve our families as well.
10) Who are your programming mentors?
Brian Philips, Johnny Chaing, Rusty Walker.
Bonus Questions
1) Do you read...everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What's your favorite reading material?
Magazines: Texas Music, Texas Monthly, Best In Texas, R&R.
Internet: AllAccess, allaboutcountry, radioink.2) Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?
Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Beatles.
3) You are on a desert island...what 5 CDs are in you portable disc player?
Beatles - Sgt. Pepper
Eagles - Greatest Hits
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Greatest Hits
Led Zeppelin - Collection
Waylon Jennings Greatest Hits Live4) Describe your favorite meal?
Just about any seafood dish with a rich sauce. With Creme' Brulee' for desert!
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