10 Questions with ... Andrew Jeffries

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KBIG (MYfm 104.3) & KOST 103.5 /Los Angeles KIOI (Star 101.3)/San Francisco Kiss 100/London Kerrang! Radio United Kingdom National Galaxy Network / Yorkshire UK Nova 937 Perth Western Australia More FM New Zealand Classic Hits New Zealand

1) Throughout your career, you've done radio in London, New Zealand, San Francisco, and now you're at KBIG (MYfm 104.3) here in Los Angeles. What are some of the similarities that you've found between the foreign and the American audience? And how are they different?

People like music. It's just a different set of songs that varies wherever you go. Los Angeles is different from New York City, Frankfurt, Phoenix, Sydney, Christchurch and so on. You get the idea. But whatever city Clear Channel is in, our focus is to be wherever our listeners want us to be (no matter the device) with the programming, features, and the services they expect.

2) What are some of the challenges you face as a programmer in today's radio environment?

One key challenge is balancing the many tasks we need to perform at the high levels needed to achieve success. My time management skills also need work. It's lucky the teams I work with are super-efficient. This would not work without them.

3) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

Digital truly is the next frontier. But I don't see it as an issue, it's an opportunity. I can't wait to show everyone the next generation of iHeartRadio, our popular digital radio service, which delivers more than 750 of radio stations from 150 cities. It's going to change the game by offering everything you are looking for in one service.

4) What is it about MYfm that you feel really makes it cut through?

It's what we do, and how we do it that makes Myfm resonate with listeners, and we have fun doing it. We think this fun comes through your speakers.

5) How do you stay in tune with your audience?

We use all of the same technical tools any programmer has at their disposal. It helps that I live the life of a listener. I also follow the market and try to deliver what listeners want in bite-size chunks.

6) How are you using social media to market your radio station?

We use Twitter and Facebook relentlessly! Social media has opened up so many new avenues to bond with your listeners and viewers.

7) Apple, Spotify, MOG, and many others have recently introduced music in "The Cloud." What effect will these new music services have on the radio and music industries?

At this early stage, I suspect they just make your personal music library more flexible and accessible. Radio is still the key for finding new music. Ninety-three percent of the country listens to radio each week and radio's audience is growing.

Making your music library more accessible is great, but it still requires a lot of maintenance. I honestly see the world changing again when we roll out the new iHeartRadio.

8) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?

It's less about what we can be doing with our stations and it's more about how we need to continue to embrace mobile.

For example, iHeartRadio's mobile app enables listeners to take their local stations with them wherever they go, on whatever device they choose -iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Blackberry, Android, Windows Phone 7, Mac, PC, in-car stereo, and/or TV.

9) What are your thoughts on Arbitron's new Personal People Meter (PPM) ratings technology compared to the days of using the diary?

We've been dealing with change for years in this industry. PPM is just a new methodology for us to get our heads around. Remember when you used to mail lists of titles and artists for music research? (Or was that just a New Zealand thing?)

10) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers?

Listen a lot...to your teams, to radio, to great stations, to your fellow programmers.

1) What do you do in your spare time?

I spend time with Vicky, my wife, and our two boys Blair & Ryan at sports events. We just broke the credit card and bought Quad bikes. We love swimming, music, BBQ & beer, my sons' baseball. I'm slowly learning how to be a 1st base coach (none of the kids understand me anyway). I like to read anything that has to do with motorsport, and I enjoy listening to more music. I'm always trying to broaden my horizons. By the way, give Awolnation "Sail" a try!. It's so not a Hot AC song, but I love it.

2) Who do you consider your radio mentor(s)?

There are so many people I've worked with or against that do a great job in their respective roles:

• Pat Grace (New Zealand morning show broadcaster for nearly 30 years in the same market)
• Richard Park - Global Radio UK
• Casey Kasem - he inadvertently gave me my start in radio with American Top 40 on vinyl.

3) What is your favorite TV show?

Some of my favorite shows are "Swamp People" and "Formula 1 Motor Racing" on Speed TV. I'm also excited that The Rugby World Cup is coming up. I love Masterchef/Kitchen nightmares (weird, huh? It still surprises me) and with the kids "Phineas & Ferb" on Disney XD. The writing is super-clever.

4) What sound do you believe will be the "next big thing?"

If I knew this I would be Clive Davis, Jr.

5) Tell us what music we would find on your I-Pod right now?

It would only scare you and embarrass me. Saturday night I was listening in shuffle. It went something like Jethro Tull, Marilyn Manson, Crystal Gayle, Cake, Ian Dury, Skeelo. I had a glass of wine in my hand. I was happy!