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10 Questions with ... Stacey Lynn
May 14, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
It was 1990 and I got a gig playing Nelson and Nirvana in my beautiful hometown of San Luis Obispo, CA. I was in love! That was KSLY (Top 40) and lasted until they flipped format in 92. Then Bob Lewis twisted my arm (see "Mentor" below) to join him at KWIN/Stockton. There was a drive by shooting the day I moved there, so mom was NOT pleased with my choice of residence, but it was the best career choice. I learned so much in those three short years before moving to Portland, OR to do middays for Ken Benson at KKRZ in 1995, and I've been in Portland, OR ever since. In 2002 I moved to "The Dungeon" of CBS radio (it was a dark little hole, but we loved it). I remained there through the 80's format of "MIX107.5," "Rock Hits of the 80's" and then Movin'. I did mornings at The Buzz for a minute and now and I'm working for a truly LOCAL company, ALPHA Broadcasting and I LOVE IT! I'm having fun again!
1) What Got You Interested In Radio?
I stumbled into the radio station at my community college because I heard Van Halen music playing. "Is this a class? And do you get credit for it?" (Yes and Yes). I was that class clown in high school, and THIS seemed a much better fit for me than the business class I skipped that day.
2) What is it about your station that you feel really makes it cut through?
We... Have... Fun! It sounds so simple and silly, but I can't tell you how refreshing it is to come into a station every day where the people all like each other. We laugh in the halls, we challenge each other with ideas, and we have a blast. And that comes through the speakers! We also try to find new ways of providing one-of-a-kind experiences and are beyond blessed to have use of the gorgeous Bing Lounge for our artists to perform in. Plus, I really think that my PD Keola's philosophy about being "outwardly focused" has set us apart in the market. It's not about the jocks, it's about the listener. There's no ego, and people really respond to that.
3) How are you using social media to market your radio station?
How did we program before without social media? I can't imagine doing a show without it now? More than ever, our connection to our listeners is immediate and reciprocal, and the key word is "CONNECTION." We went from zero to 26k Facebook fans in 10 months. There are stations in town that have been around forever and don't have half that. What's the next big thing? What are we doing to be involved with it? We just redesigned our website and added a Pinterest button to our homepage. I love that our industry is constantly changing and to be working for a LOCAL company who embraces that is so empowering!
4) Who do you consider your radio mentors?
I've been really blessed to learn from some amazing people who took the time to mentor me including Trish Bell, Ken Benson, Dave Numme and Bob Lewis.
Bob's probably made the biggest impact on my career. Just ask him, he'll tell ya! We met at KWIN in 1992. It was 146 degrees that day and I was half-way through a long sweaty road trip to another radio interview. So, as he loves to tell people, I was dressed highly inappropriately in jean shorts and a tank top. But we ended up talking for hours and I never made it to the other interview (which, BTW, I had suitable attire for) He's the kind of guy who sits you down and asks what you want from your career. He pulled out the Arbitron booklet (this is before we had the Internet kids) and he asked what cities I loved, where did I want to be in five and 10 years? And then he actually helped me to get my next gig. Who does that? That was 19 years ago and now, we kind of mentor each other.
5) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?
Radio is still the greatest gig in the world! We get to entertain people for a living. So many people (including myself) have lived in fear the past few years about the future of our industry. That fear has lead to vanilla radio. No one wants to take chances. Have the courage to try a new path, surround your self with bright, energetic people, embrace the many platforms now available to us, and find new ways of making that connection with the listeners. That will make everyone else step up their game. And that's good for all of us.
6) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I have every Judas Priest album on vinyl. I was quite the head-banging handful for my mom growing up.
7) What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Kelly Garrett, ass-kicking Angel. I still have my metal Charlie's Angel lunchbox and Kelly doll (Mint in box)
8) What do you do in your spare time?
HA! You make-a me laugh. Since my husband and three boys don't see me much during the week, I devote my weekends to playing Star Wars and building Legos and forts. We just taught our sons to ski this year so we have a new family hobby that we all are addicted to!
9) Tell us what music we would find on your MP3 player right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?
Graffiti 6, Black Keys, Jason Mraz, Robin Thicke, Soundgarden, Matt Nathanson, Foo Fighters, and of course my boyfriends JT, Adam Levine, Eddie Vedder.
10) What is the one truth that has held constant in your career?
Karma. She's a slow bitch sometimes, but she always finds her way. Be good to others, and be a team player. Embrace change, thrive on it, or find a new gig.
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