10 Questions with ... Melissa Chase

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I've been in radio and television my entire life, except a brief moment when I realized I was a terrible bartender. (I'd rather shoot tequila than serve it.) I started as the morning show intern at iHeart/Clear Channel's WRVQ/Richmond, VA, followed by an internship and job at MTV Networks in NYC. Came back to radio for my first full time position at WRVQ, working for the amazing Lisa McKay. She gave me the opportunity to grow my career, and within a couple of years, I was hosting mornings as well as voice tracking half a dozen stations across the country and as the midday talent for iHeart's XM channel, KISS XM21.

Ten years later, I crossed the street to our competitor (Cox Media, later Summit), and went from mornings and worked my way up to Operations Manager. Two years ago, my dream job in Houston came calling at Audacy Houston, and [in February,] I went from PD of [Hot AC] KHMX [Mix 96.5] and [Adult Hits] KKHH [95.7 The Spot] to VP/Programming, with the inclusion of programming for the incredible [Country] KILT-FM [100.3 The Bull].

[Editor's note: Her job with Audacy encompasses strategy and promotions for the entire Houston cluster, which also includes Sports KILT-AM (Sports Radio 610), Sports Gambling KIKK-AM (The Bet Houston), and Spanish Hits KLOL (Mega 101).]

1. What does a day in the life look like for you? How do you prioritize your time?

Is one day in radio ever the same for any of us? Having amazing teammates on each of our stations and the entire team of Audacy Houston enthusiastically working together is what makes it all possible. I am beyond blessed to have incredible talent, Music Directors and APDs to work with. Together, we prioritize our needs for that moment – is it brainstorming the next crazy promotion? Working out details for our community projects? Imaging updates? Air checking and talent coaching? Each day's goals are different, so prioritizing and, really, re-prioritizing what is going to move the ratings or revenue the most changes constantly.

2. With different formats, and different dynamic personalities how do you find the balance to manage each one effectively?

I'm a psychologist's kid, so I try to learn about each person and how they communicate best. The KILT Morning Bullpen teased me because I made them take the "5 Languages of Love" quiz to find out how each one feels appreciation. I also try really hard to make sure I'm keeping a pulse on how everyone is doing with mental health – like if someone is burnt out or dealing with some extra stress at home – and then seeing what I can try to do to help.

My office is covered in tie-dye tapestries, hanging plants, comfy couches, and colorful pillows, so when we meet or aircheck, or you just want a place to escape, it's a safe space. Managing people is not a "one size fits all" situation, and taking better care of your team means a stronger team overall.

3. Your brands cover major events: The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Rodeo Cookoff, this year the NCAA tournament. Talk about managing, producing, and executing events of this size. How do you cover it all without exhausting your resources and talent, who obviously play a big role in them?

Whew! Just reading that makes me tired in recalling all that was done by 100.3 The Bull! My APD, Mo [Lunsford], is so incredibly organized and calming. She plays a huge role in helping us manage our busy calendar with communicating to each department. Nick Russo, our Music Director, is a rock star about helping to book artists for these events, so we know we are going to have the best stars of Country music for our listeners at these events.

We have an amazing new Promotions Director, Jasmine Bass, who will never let a detail fall through. Leroy, who is our front of house, helps us be reassured all winners are getting tickets and have an amazing first experience coming in contact with the station to get their tickets to our events. And honestly, our market manager, Sarah Frazier, is the most incredible at forging community relationships and partnerships for these opportunities.

We handle it all by having a great team and laughing as often as possible. We're "all-inners" – like at Rodeo Cookoff this year moving porta potties around at 6 a.m., and then dressing up in cowboy boots and fringe to introduce Brothers Osborne to a party tent full of P1s 12 hours later. You have to have a great team to make it happen. It's easy to get burnt out and angry if you feel like you're the only one doing all the work, but we get silly, work hard and play hard together.

4. As we see more artists/labels/promoters start to focus on the Texas music scene, how much of the culture is a part of the station?

100.3 the Bull is Texas proud! It is in everything we do and stand for, and especially in our music. We champion Texas artists like Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Josh Abbott Band, Randall King, George Strait and Pat Green. And when choosing music, we gravitate to sounds that are sometimes a bit less Pop and more authentic Texas sonically. Our Music Director, Nick Russo, is Texas born and bred, and keeps our sound true to the pulse of Texas country culture.

5. As we see the need to expand younger demographics to keep traditional radio vibrant moving forward, how do you create engagement, loyalty, and retention among Gen Z?

Engagement is so important. Dropping a post on your station social media and just leaving it isn't enough. It's important to utilize our socials for conversation with our listeners, taking the time to comment. And we have to go to where our listeners are – not expecting them to come to us. We continue to evolve in the digital space and have strong TLH on the Audacy app for live content, on demand segments, our Bull personality podcasts and in-home device listening. Our goal is to continue to push awareness of all the ways you can get listen so our music and personalities are accessible anytime, anywhere.

6. How do you feel about RadioGPT/AI for radio? How do you think it will impact the future of the business?

I think smart usage of AI for radio can benefit radio, but not at the expense of human creativity. Finding ways to free time for talent to be their best – for example utilizing AI to take on service elements like traffic reports/weather and allow time for talent to create better content – that's awesome. There are some wonderful AI show prep services that help cultivate the very best content, localized – which is great for talent to do a quick scan of what's happening instead of hours poring through websites and socials to stay on the pulse. But working with the incredibly talented Steve Reynolds, who has helped coach our (ACM Award winning, sorry had to say that) morning show, we know that nothing beats personal, authentic content to make a show outstanding.

7. What would you like the Music Row community to know about you?

Having a strong background in Pop and Rock doesn't make you a "non-Country person." I have always loved Country music – especially live. And while most people assume my first show was Grateful Dead (I'm often wearing vintage band shirts from their concerts), it was actually Brooks & Dunn with Reba! Getting to be at so many showcases and Country events lately has made me fall completely in love with the newer artists, our amazing labels, and the culture of current Country music.

8. What main qualities do you look for when you are hiring for open positions? What does the perfect candidate look like for you?

Audacy is a company that's all about innovation, and I love candidates who aren't afraid to "get weird with it" – thinking creatively, differently and looking to evolve our brands to the next level by trying things that haven't been done before. Hard work ethic is super important, but so is someone who has outside hobbies and interests to provide a good work/life balance. Burned out people are not helpful for themselves or us. And being coachable and curious. We should never stop learning – Country music and radio change every single day.

9. What advice would you give to young women looking to rise in the business, especially as programmers?

Do not let your imposter syndrome hold you back. And when you get the opportunity to rise up, take other women with you. Follow your favorite female radio personalities and programmers on social media, and ask them to follow you back. So many of us have created awesome friendships there.

Create your own network to have women to reach out to, or join an already existing one like Women in Radio, Black Women in Radio, or Corey Dylan's Radio Sisterhood. And apply for the dream job you think you aren't good enough for – yes you are. Go for it.

10. Tell us three things about Melissa Chase that would blow our minds?

1- All the women in our family can find four leaf clovers easily. My daughters and I take the hundreds we have found and make resin keychains out of them to surprise people with (a hobby born from lots of quarantine outside time).

2- I got bit by a shark a few years ago and they reenacted my story on "When Sharks Attack." There was way more fake blood in the show than there was in the water in real life, but super cool to have a stunt double.

3- If you have an allergy, you might be carrying me around with you. I'm the voice for the epinephrine injector, Auvi-Q.

Crawfish … yes, or no?

I used to have a blue mini lobster as a pet (named Jude Claw), and he looked just like a crawfish, so no … can't eat them