10 Questions with ... Karen Goodner

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I worked with Prime Source Entertainment Group for several years when I moved to Nashville, doing corporate and private bookings for all kinds of different artists. I was the Office Manager at Equity Music Group. Most recently, I did a project for Stroudavarious Records, coordinating all their CMA Fest activities.

1) Welcome to All Access, Karen! How did you come to apply for the job etc., and what interested you?

I heard about the job through Jill Gleason at Stroudavarious, who has been friends with Kelly Daniel (of All Access) for a long time. I've gotten All Access news updates for years so I was really familiar with the company. I've always enjoyed writing and I love to keep up with what is going on in music, so I felt right away like it might be a good fit.

2) You attended and graduated from Missouri State University, are they known for their Entertainment Management program? And did you already know you wanted to work in the industry while you were in college?

I did already know I wanted to work in the industry while I was in college. I had come to Nashville and looked at MTSU and Belmont. I also looked into the Entertainment Management program at Missouri State, and when they offered me a full scholarship my decision was easily made. The Entertainment Management program was a very unique program, a business degree with an entertainment emphasis, and I tailored the program to music everywhere that I could. It also allowed me to do great internships with Clear Channel Radio and Broken Bow Records.

3) Why did you want to work in the business?

The thing that I did most often in the summer growing up was go to concerts and I just loved it. My mom and my aunt were huge country music fans and I could talk them into taking me along most of the time. Music has always been one of my biggest passions, so I was talking about wanting to be involved in music for a long time.

4) Did you move to Music City right after college without a job? Was that scary?

It was scary for my bank account! I had leases in two cities and no job. But I figured it was take the plunge now or possibly never do it. I moved about a month after I graduated and started working at Ryman and Opry customer service part time to pay the bills and networking as much as I could.

5) You interned once at Clear Channel. What did you do, and had you done any on-air work in radio previously?

No on-air work for me, but I helped in pretty much all aspects of their promotions, helping with listener concerts and promotions, going out to early morning remotes, writing press releases and occasionally wearing a cow costume.

6) You worked a good amount of time at the Equity Music Group. What made that job interesting and what were some of our favorite aspects of the job?

I got some great experience at Equity and I got to work with some really fun people. We pretty much never had a boring day. My favorite thing had to be assisting with the planning and marketing of our releases. I loved the online marketing stuff.

7) There are several public service groups that you have worked with- Hands On Nashville, Muscular Dystrophy etc. Why is community service important to you?

I've worked with some great causes, and I think I've gotten out of it even more than I've put into it. I've been very blessed in my life and it's been great to be able to give my time to help a cause like the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I was a camp counselor with the MDA camp in Kansas City for many years and I still have some great friendships from my experience there.

8) How do you like living in Nashville- you love it? What are some of your favorite places to take friends and relatives?

I've been in Nashville for five years now and I definitely love it. I give a pretty good tour of the Nashville experience; the Bluebird, Opryland Hotel, the Ryman, etc. If anyone wants the nature experience I have scoped out most of the waterfalls and day hikes within a three-hour drive from Nashville. And I'm always using visitors as an excuse to hit up my favorite restaurants. I've gotten more than one person addicted to Family Wash and Baja Burrito.

9) What's your personal taste in music like? Not just Country either, what do you like to listen to?

My iPod is a little ridiculous on shuffle. I definitely love country music and I listen to a lot of older country. I also love stuff like Ben Harper, Damien Rice, John Mayer, Ray Lamontagne and The Weepies. I listen to a lot of R&B and hip hop music- but its probably too soon for making any positive comments about Kanye West!

10) In this short amount of time since you have started, how does the All Access job seem different from other positions that you have held, and what are some of the things you are looking forward to doing here?

It's a small close office here and so far that's been great. At a label, you spend most of your time on a small group of artists, and I love that at All Access I get to root for country music as a whole. I'm looking forward to getting to know a bunch of the radio folks and getting to work with contacts at the labels in a different way. I'm also excited to check out the Malibu office and get to go to my first full-fledged CRS.

1) What's one thing that you should have shared in the interview process but decided not to?

Hmmm--I think you pretty much got everything out of me! I was a little more terrified of the 8am start time then I may have let on, but so far my alarm hasn't let me down.

2) Favorite junk food?

This isn't that junky, but my favorite snack is Thin Crisp Triscuits, with cottage cheese and turkey pepperoni. I could eat this pretty much every day. I also have an unfortunate love for Taco Bell bean burritos.

3) Is it true your parents own a bait and tackle shop?

Yes, my mother and step-dad own a bait and tackle store by Smithville Lake in Missouri. I worked one summer in the family business in high school and then decided to pursue an after-school job that didn't involve leaving smelling like minnows and touching worms.

4) What was the first album you ever bought and do you still have it?

The first cassette I can remember getting, as my own, is Steve Wariner's "I Got Dreams." I still have some of my old cassettes and it's probably in there, but I think I wore it out.