10 Questions with ... Shawn Parr

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

A radio veteran of more than three decades, Shawn Parr teamed with Key Networks to launch his syndicated show, “Shawn Parr’s Across The Country,” in June of 2020. The four-hour weekday show can be customized to air anywhere in a station’s lineup between 6 a.m. and midnight. One feature of the show is that its host occasionally sets out to visit affiliates across the U.S. in a recreational vehicle he has dubbed the “Parr-V.”

Parr previously hosted Cumulus Media/Westwood One’s syndicated evening show, “NASH Nights Live,” from 2014 until December of 2019. That show aired on more than 150 stations. His Country radio background also includes mornings at Mt. Wilson Country KKGO/Los Angeles, which he joined at its inception in 2007, and middays and afternoons during two stints with Emmis Country KZLA/Los Angeles between 1993-2006.

Parr has been the voice for the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Golden Globes, American Music Awards, Miss America pageant and Game Show Network’s “The Chase.” The Southern California native currently resides in Nashville. Here’s his Q&A with All Access Associate Editor Shawn (“No Relation”) Reed.

1. In February, you added 13 new stations to your show’s roster, taking it to 47 affiliates in 40 markets. Is that still the current count a little under two years in from your show’s debut, and what do you think stations are finding appealing about your show?

We are so blessed to have 51 stations, and we are adding more, it seems, every week. We try and super serve our radio family with a direct line to me should they need anything. Our show is a fun, upbeat, positive show every day that is listener-friendly. We are constantly getting feedback from our amazing programmers across the country. We also make it so easy for our PDs to get on the air. We really are a national show that feels local because, in most cases, we have been there.

2. With the name “Shawn Parr’s Across The Country,” you’re not lying. You literally go across the country to visit markets and take part in station events, teaming up with a camping/RV company. How did the “Parr-V” idea come to be? Also, do you sleep in it?

When I was doing mornings in Los Angeles, we did a remote for an RV dealership and gave away concert tickets. There happened to be this funny little kid who accidently called the vehicle we were looking at the “Parr-V” and the name was born! I love to not only travel with it, but, yes, absolutely sleep in it. We have it set up just like our mattress at home. It’s really comfy!

3. Your show is designed for stations to plug in your four hours anywhere between 6 a.m. and midnight? With different sensibilities needed for different dayparts, how do you make that large of a block of time work more universally?

I left mornings at KKGO to do a morning show at night for Cumulus. Once I went on my own, I had stations calling me to do different dayparts. They needed middays, nights, mornings, and I thought, “Why not do a show that can cover them all.” Meeting with Key Networks and [Country Radio] Hall of Famer Tim Closson, we came up with an idea to make it work. There are a few keys to getting it done correctly and, yes, it’s more work but we love what we do.

4. Looking back on your career, having worked for some of the big corporate radio companies and now doing your own thing, what is the biggest pro of being at the helm of your own gig? The biggest con?

I think [both] the pro and con can be making all the decisions. It’s all on you from music to content, or any technical issues, etc. But I have put together an amazing team of professionals who are so good and creative at what they do and, together, we are succeeding.

5. Your style is very personable. You seem very approachable, and highly interactive with both the artists and Country music fans. Did you model your style after someone in the industry, or did it just organically come about that way?

I have always loved meeting new people and, early on, I watched some veteran DJs not want to get out in front of concerts or remotes and talk to their listeners. I couldn’t believe it. So I make it a point to not wait for people to come to me, I go to them. You would be amazed at how many listeners I have met that I am still friends with 30 years later. What a blessing!

6. You have served as the voice for various awards shows, on-air for radio both local and syndicated, and TV work. As a true jack-of-all-trades media personality, do you have a favorite role within the industry?

It’s really hard to compare the two because they both are like your kids; it’s hard to pick a favorite. There is nothing like a live, three-hour award show to keep you on your toes knowing you can’t mess up. It’s so intense. But doing radio is where it’s at. Having to come up with new, innovative things to engage your listeners with every day is a challenge our team gladly accepts.

7. Take us back to the beginnings of your career. Everyone has a start in a role like as a promotions intern, or someone needed a weather forecast read at 2:30 in the morning on a Sunday and they were the only person in the building. How did you get started?

I was a club DJ working at The Bandstand in Orange County, CA. We were a huge club that played Top 40 two nights a week and Country three. I could play both, and all the radio stations would do promotions there. I had a Country program director ask me if I could do my club show on the radio and, suddenly, I was doing overnights.

After three months the owner heard me and offered me middays. Five months later, I was doing mornings at KIK-FM when KZLA stole me to do afternoon drive. I was always at the studio with my free time learning, growing, meeting with sales to see how I could help, and learning from our production guy how to do the things he was doing. There is so much more to this Cinderella story, but 35 years later I am still living it.

8. Current day consumption of music and content has become entirely a la carte and on demand. What advice would you give an up-and-coming broadcaster/personality wanting to emulate your style, attempting to branch out into all facets of the industry via TV, radio, and emceeing in a setting where it may be impossible to be everything to everyone?

Getting in the door somewhere is the key. You must start somewhere. Once you are in, put in the extra time to learn everything. Ask questions. Reach out to the veterans. I was so lucky to have people mentor me after I got into places. Dick Clark took a chance on this kid from Orange County, but it was only after I found a way to get in front of him. Don’t be afraid.

9. If I remember correctly, at the 2007 ACM Awards in Las Vegas, you served as voice of the show then emceed the post show concert. You were scheduled to be live for the morning show on KKGO/Los Angeles the next morning. I always thought, “Did he fly or drive through the night to get back in time? Was it live from his hotel room?” Can we please get the confirmation of how that was conducted the next morning?

The greatest thing I loved doing was bringing our listeners the next morning after the ACM Awards all the details of the “After Parrty” and the show. I would go from the stage straight to the pool area where we had all our gear set up for a live broadcast. I wanted our listeners to experience everything hot off the press. The excitement from the show and energy from the party carried over until 10 a.m. Listeners loved it!

10. In five years, the highlight of “Shawn Parr’s Across The Country” will be … ?

“Shawn Parr’s Across The Country” will be heard on over 250 radio stations, and I will be in the Parr-V traveling coast-to-coast hosting Country music festivals and playing golf in just about every city. I will also be sharing the Dolly Parton message that I am living proof of, “If you can see it you can be it!”

What Country artist do you pick to play a round of golf with and why?

George Strait, because he is about the only artist I haven’t played with and I have so many questions! I also think he would be great to just chill with.

Which professional golfer do you introduce on stage to sing or play a song?

John Daly gives so much back to charity, and he loves his Country music. After a day on the links, you know it could get crazy fun with John on stage.

As an avid golfer, 10 years from now do we see Shawn Parr on the golf channel as a member of the PGA tour, or can we still expect to hear him on our favorite local Country station?

Golf has given me everything I have. Through golf, I made all the connections to get to KZLA, Dick Clark Productions, TV shows and movies. Everybody in just about every industry plays golf, and if you love the game, you can make so many connections on the course. While the PGA Tour was a dream, radio is my life.