10 Questions with ... Ellen K

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• KOST (103.5)/Los Angeles - Host of The Ellen K Morning Show
• KIIS (102.7 KISS FM)/Los Angeles: Rick Dees in the Morning/Sidekick
• KIIS (102.7 KISS FM)/Los Angeles: On Air with Ryan Seacrest/Co-Host
• Voiceovers: Grammys/Oscars/My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding/iHeart Radio Music Festival
• iHeart Radio Music Awards/Hatched
• Co-Host on the Emmy Award Winning Wayne Brady Show
• KTLA TV - Inside Hollywood
• KFMB (B100)/San Diego

ellenk.com/about
www.facebook.com/officialellenk
twitter.com/officialellenk
www.instagram.com/officialellenk
Snapchat: @ellenkonair

1. You've recently risen to the top of the ratings in Los Angeles becoming the #1 rated morning show 6+. What do you attribute to your recent ratings success?

A strong team, a positive attitude, love of our listeners, love of our city, and just being grateful to be able to do what we love to do-our morning show. I'm lucky that iHeart has allowed me to take my producer & co-host, Ryan Manno, from another station in our cluster. Ryan is such a positive, warm guy with loads of radio experience & we work so well together. He's clever & funny & fun.

Darlene Rodrigo is our associate producer and social media manager- she's a hard working Mommy of 2 with a big extended LA family... she's always laughing. Monica Heidt is a 3rd generation Angeleno, a UCLA grad, our blogger & phone op & our first line to the listeners-she's amazing. Sydney Chase is a breath of fresh air every morning, doing whatever is next.

I couldn't do it without the support of Greg Ashlock, Kevin LeGrett and Dennis Clark.

I love our team!

2. You're also the first woman to ever achieve this distinction in the L.A. market. How does it feel to break through that glass ceiling?

I don't really notice that I'm different from my male counterparts. I was a competitive swimmer from seven years old through college and my favorite coach would always say "You look, you lose".

3. After working at KIIS for so many years you've now moved to mornings at sister KOST (103.5). How has KOST supported you in this transition and have you noticed that many of your listeners have grown and transitioned with you?

I looked up the word transition...and it describes the move perfectly, "A passage, a transformation, a jump, and an evolution." It's been an amazing, crazy, sometimes tough, always rewarding path so far. I like to say I have KIIS in my blood and KOST in my heart.

4. Prior to having your own show, you were on air with Rick Dees and a co-host with Ryan Seacrest. Can you share some of the insight you learned from these legendary personalities that helped you develop your delivery?

Dees brought me here from the Bay Area. He's my big brother in radio ... he "raised" me and taught me so many things. Seacrest is my other brother. He and I landed in L.A. the same year so we had known each other for a while before we worked together. We had such an amazing 11 years. I'm a lucky girl!

5. You also make regular guest appearances on "The Talk" and you've been the Voice of the Grammys for six years, as well as The Academy Awards and VO for many of the iHeartRadio TV shows, People's Choice Awards, etc. ... do you have any upcoming TV appearances that we should watch for?

I'm always thrilled to appear on the "TALK" as I admire what the women on the show have accomplished.

I'll be voicing the Grammys in February again, and with TV game shows being hot right now, I'm in a pilot as the on camera-announcer in the return of an iconic game show with hopes that it gets picked up at NAPTE (which starts right after this column goes live).

6. Please tell us about the rest of your morning team and how you work with them to prep for your show?

We are live at 5a and there are millions of listeners at that time in L.A. and thru the iHeart radio app.

Our team shares show prep with each other throughout the day as we gear up to burn through a huge mound of material and audio that we collectively assemble and prioritize to air for the next day.

My 15 year old son Calvin is on the show regularly as are my Mom and Dad ... and I always love to chat with Seacrest when we can.

7) What social media platforms are you finding the most helpful to connect with your listeners?

Our team is operating all platforms at all times. It takes great effort and energy to execute consistently. (@officialellenk for Instagram/Twitter/Snapchat) and Facebook too!

8. Besides social media, what are some of the other ways that you stay in tune with your audience?

As the mom of a high school freshman boy, there are plenty of other moms, friends and girlfriends giving me an amazing fountain of insight daily. Plus, I can always count on my husband to point out where he thinks we lost our way that morning. ?

9. Please tell us about the thrill of being honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame?

I am regularly in front of the W Hotel hanging around to see who might notice that is my STAR right there across from the Pantages!

10) What advice would you give people new to the business?

Start as early as possible and be WAY more aggressive than you think is necessary. I got the start young part, but I am still working on the aggressive part!