10 Questions with ... Kevin Christopher

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Kevin Christopher has been in radio since 1986. He got his start in his hometown of Ada, OK at the age of 17. He joined KKNG in the spring of 1998 and then KJKE in the spring of 2010. He has been married to his wife Shari for 20 years and has two kids, Konner who is 15 and Kloe who is ten.

1) Congratulations on your new role as PD at KJKE which recently made a format switch from Jack-FM to Country. What can we expect from "Oklahoma's New Country"?

Nobody has played this much new country in OKC, plus we tell you the title and artist of every song we play. The imaging of JAKE is unique to country and fun to listen to, plus the talent that will be added to JAKE will take it to the next level.

2) How did you get the word out to listeners about the switch?

We simulcasted for a week moving our KING listeners from 93.3 to 97.3 before launching the new station on King's old frequency of 93.3.

3) What were the motivating factors behind switching KJKE from Jack-FM to Country? We see you made it easy on the listeners from going from Jack to Jake.

King Country actually occupies the 97.3 frequency that JACK was on, so we are playing the music that made KKNG great again on 97.3 and JAKE is playing NEW COUNTRY on 93.3, which is the old KKNG frequency.

4) You got your start in radio when you were just seventeen in your hometown of Ada, Oklahoma. How did you land your first radio gig?

I bugged the program director every day. I think he hired me so I would quit calling.

5) You have worked in Oklahoma markets for your entire career and with the Oklahoma City market since 1998. If you pick any other market to work in, what would it be?

Wow, that's a tough question. I've visited Austin a couple of times to play golf and think it's a beautiful area. Plus, it seems to be a good radio market.

6) Oklahoma boasts many, many great artists who are from there, such as Garth, Reba, Vince Gill, just to name a few. Is there a place in your programming where you highlight your fellow Oklahomans?

We've done that in the past with KKNG. JAKE's philosophy is to play big hits whether they are from Oklahoma or Nashville. Just give us a great song and we'll embrace it.

7) I read that you've never been let go from a radio job. That's impressive. What do you think the keys to longevity with a company are?

Now you're going to jinx me! I've worked for a great company (Tyler Media) since 1995 and they've been good to me and my family, so I've been really blessed.

Hard work and surrounding yourself with great people is a good philosophy to embrace. Also, never quit learning and asking questions.

8) What's more fun for you, being on the air or programming?

I still love being on air. It's what got me into radio.

9) Who are 2-3 people inside or outside of the business that have been mentors in your life? Why have they have been so important to you?

Ralph Tyler has taught me so much. He really thinks about things differently and allows me to do the same. Lynn Waggoner has taught me how to interact with the public and there's nobody better. My Dad taught me how to laugh and to play golf and for that I'll always be grateful.

10) You have two children, Konner and Kloe. Do they think it's cool that their dad is on the radio? Are they Country music fans?

Both love country and love interacting with the artists. Yes, they love the connection.

1) What was the first concert you ever attended?

Alabama at the Lloyd Noble Center in the mid '80s.

2) What kinds of music, other than Country, do you like?

I'm a talk/sports talk fan when I'm not listening to Country.

3) If you weren't in the radio industry, what career path do you think you would be following?

I would be teaching and coaching basketball.