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10 Questions with ... Buddy Van Arsdale
September 20, 2005
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NAME:Buddy Van ArsdalePOSITION:Operations Manager/KHAY PDSTATION:KHAY-FM, KBBY-FM, KVYB-FM, KVENMARKET:Oxnard-VenturaCOMPANY:Cumulus MediaBORN:Louis, MORAISED:Louis, MO
Brief Career Synopsis:
1998-2003 OM, Journal Broadcast Group, Tucson
1995-1998-OM, SFX Broadcasting, Jackson, MS
1993-1995-PD KKOH/KROW Reno, NV
1992-1993-Affiliate Relations, Olympia Networks. St. Louis.
1985-1991-Asst. PD/Talent WKKX-FM, St. Louis
That's enough. The rest is ancient history.1. What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
My first job was running errands for the jocks at KWK in St. Louis. I still keep in touch with some of those guys today. Bill Bailey is in Grand Rapids and Don Sainte John is working in Sacramento. They were big influences on me as a talent. Programmers and managers who I learned from include Rusty Walker, John King, Dave Dillon, Steve Wexler and Wally Clark. I could name some that I learned "what not to do" from, but I won't.
First paying job was an air talent at KZYM in Cape Girardeau. I worked for the Zimmers when they owned just one station. The founder, Jerome Zimmer was a good man.
2. Can you be a boss and also a friend to your employees?
If you have their respect. They owe you their cooperation as a paid employee. But, respect you have to earn. My job is not to order people around. That's a foreman. I'm a coach. My job is to help people understand what they need to do and why they need to do it to be successful. That success contributes to the success of our team.
3. Of all the skills that you've gained as a programmer, which area are you NOT as strong as you would like to be?
I'm not good at putting up with bull! I can't even fake it.
4. What do you think of National Contesting? Is it effective?
Our company makes it work by having a winner from each market. In Ventura County, we compete with signals from LA. National Contesting helps us secure prizes that keep us competitive with those LA stations in our own market. It's only fair, since we also deal with LA traffic.
5. Will the advent of Satellite Radio affect our biz? Explain?
No, not if we don't let it. Radio connects with the audience by being local. Find the nuances of your individual market and reflect them in your programming. Satellite is not going to be able to do that well. Besides, it's not free. Compare the number of subscribers to the number people who listen to radio on a daily basis. Satellite doesn't even come close.
6. What can we be doing with our station's web sites to better our stations as a whole?
Let the listeners access information about the radio station, music and artists that they want, instead of what we think they want. Being able to find the title and artist of a song heard on the station is more important than what the mid-day jock's dog looks like. Don't laugh. I have seen it.
7. What do you plan to differently in the next year regarding work and family?
Work smarter so I can take more time for family. That's not as easy as it sounds.
8. What is your favorite radio station outside of your own market?
Gosh, I spent a year looking for a job listening to a lot of them. The one I liked the best was WMOJ, the Jammin' Oldies station in Cincinnati. I still listen on line.
9. What's your take on current music? Is it as good as say, six months ago? Better than it was? Same? Elaborate please?
In country, there are a lot of great new songs. George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire. It's not tough to find great songs to add. I would say it's better than six months ago. Six months ago, it was tough to find great songs to add.
10. In your opinion, what is the greatest song ever that never made it as a hit?
It was an R&B hit in 1970. But it should have been a pop hit. "Ain't that Loving You For More Reasons than One," by Luther Ingram.. another great one from Stax Records in Memphis.
Bonus Questions
Do you read.....everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What's your favorite reading material?
I read the LA Times and Ventura County Star daily on line. I read TV Guide every week. I read books at night. My favorite book was the Truman biography by David Mc Cullough. Harry Truman is my hero.
Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?
Barry Manilow.
You are on a desert island...what 5 CDs are in you portable disc player?
Frank Sinatra, the Stylistics, Patsy Cline, Marvin Gaye, Aerosmith. All Greatest Hits.
Describe your favorite meal?
Schnitzel with potato pancakes and cabbage. Must be something to do with that Van Arsdale name.
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