10 Questions with ... Chris Eagan

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I've been with Cox Media Group since 2008. I started with them as the APD / afternoon jock at Star 99.9 in Bridgeport, CT. I was promoted to PD in 2009, OM for all of Cox's Connecticut stations in 2010 and then was offered the chance to come to Atlanta to run B98.5 in the summer of 2012 when Cox sold its Connecticut properties.

After two years in Atlanta, I was handed 97.1 The River to run in addition to B98.5 along with our digital content department and promotions department for all four Cox Atlanta radio stations. In March of 2016, I was also given the role of AC / Hot AC format leader for CMG.

Prior to joining Cox, I worked in various programming positions in Boston, MA or Providence, RI for Clear Channel, Greater Media, CBS and Citadel. I even did a BRIEF but eye-opening time in radio sales at WKLB in Boston. (Something every PD should have to do).

1. What Got You Interested In Radio?

My aunt (Kristin Lessard) is only nine years older than me and started working in radio when I was in junior high and high school. I would tag along and sit in the studio with her while she was on the air, she'd let me run the board, show me how to do production and let me generally annoy her. I also got to know some of the other people at the station and I really saw what went on day-to-day from the inside. If I hadn't been exposed to the business at such an early age, I can't imagine I would've known how to get started in media. She still works in the industry - she currently does mornings at iHeartMedia's B101 in Providence.

2. Please tell us about your responsibilities as the AC/Hot AC Format Leader for Cox Media Group?

In my format leader role, I get to collaborate with great programmers at seven other Cox radio stations across six markets. I know I'm supposed to be teaching many of them, but more times than not they are teaching me. At Cox, the format leader is part programming expert, part ratings analyzer, part friend, part psychologist, part evil genius.

My primary function is to make sure all of my markets have the resources and help that they need. I don't fly in to your city and hit you over the head if you didn't add a song I thought you should add. Cox doesn't do it like that. The local market has full control over what they do, I'm there to guide and suggest if they have questions.

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

Radio needs to focus on finding and developing new talent. The days of going to broadcasting school and then getting on the air as a "DJ" are behind us. We need personalities who can connect and relate to the audience on air, on social media and in- person at events.

I find it harder and harder to locate really great talent. Also, as the industry has reduced the size of its workforce, we've eliminated a lot of the places where talent could come in and start to grow (weekends, overnights, etc.) This industry can still be viable for decades to come, but we need to deliver great content to the audience so we stand out from Pandora, Spotify, Sirius/XM and we need great personalities who can do that.

4. How do you stay in tune with your audience?

I am very fortunate to work for a terrific company that believes in local research for individual markets. We know that a song that tests in Atlanta, doesn't necessarily test in Miami or Long Island. Cox Media Group invests a massive amount of money yearly in perceptual studies, music tests, callout, focus groups etc. We don't make a move "just because". We've done our homework and asked the market what they'd like before we do something. I wake up every day thankful that I have it available to me and all of the stations I help oversee.

5. How are you using new technologies in your personal life to listen to music, and what observations have you made about how today's listeners use technology?

I have spent the last three weeks yelling at my new Amazon Echo trying to get Alexa to play various radio stations on iHeart, Tune-In and other platforms. Sometimes she cooperates, other times she responds by telling me something crazy like how many ounces are in a cubic foot, or how long I should microwave bacon. I think it's critical that broadcasters understand technology like the Echo and can direct the audience to listen there if that's a viable option.

I like the Echo because it brings radio back in to the home, I'm concerned about how complicated it can be to get it to play a certain station, or the station I'm asking her to play in my market.

6. Who do you consider your radio mentors?

I've been fortunate. I've had the chance to work for or with some great leaders at Cox. Kim Guthrie. CMG's president, hired me in Connecticut and hasn't stopped believing in me since. Steve Smith, our VP of Programming guides me almost daily on programming ideas and ways to improve all of the stations I oversee. Donna Hall, my current GM in Atlanta, is one of the brightest leaders I've ever encountered at any organization. She has a way of strategically guiding you through any problem so that you can reach the best conclusion on your own and feel good about the results. She's a great mentor, advocate and sounding board for me. I'm blessed to work for her.

7. What is the most rewarding promotion you've ever been a part of?

Last summer 97.1 The River turned ten years old (I know, not THAT old as rock stations go). We decided to get together with our partners at Live Nation in Atlanta and throw "The River's Rockin' Birthday Bash" with the band Boston and Dennis DeYoung of Styx.

We created great VIP experiences for listeners and gave away hundreds of tickets over a period of months on air, on social, on site at events etc. The day of the show was a typical Atlanta August Saturday (90 degrees in the shade). But to see droves of River fans lined up waiting to get in to the venue was unbelievable. They were so passionate, loved the radio station, loved our personalities and were thrilled to be part of the celebration. Standing backstage and looking out at a venue full of River listeners who were there for a great time truly made me proud.

8. What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?

I'd like to see radio stand up for themselves more often. I read endless articles in trades about our impending doom and it's just not true. There is so much noise in the industry with pure-plays, satellite and podcasting that if you're on the outside looking in you'd be lead to believe we should just shut the transmitters off and walk away. I think radio needs to ferociously advocate for itself with listeners and advertisers so they don't get distracted by all of the shiny objects out there for consuming music and entertainment. We're constantly getting punched, so it's time we punch back.

9. What advice would you give people new to the business?

Learn everything! You never know what you'll like, or what you're good at until you try. You might walk in to a radio station thinking you want to be on air, but find out that you're great on social and can be a digital content manager. Make sure you get to observe all of the departments from content to sales and understand how the operation really works. It's a serious business that exists to generate revenue for your company by creating great content that gets ratings! If you can get your mind around how the whole thing comes together early on, your path will be a lot smoother.

10. What is the one truth that has held constant in your career?

Nothing can replace good old fashioned hard work and determination. I still believe that if you want something, you can't sit and wait for anyone to hand it to you. You have to go get it. If you want to be an APD, go learn how to use Selector or Music Master. Don't wait for your PD to show you. If you want to be on air, get in a production studio and start cutting demos and ask for constant feedback. Far too often I see people try for something once, not get it and then give up. It takes more grit than that to survive in this industry.

What do you do in your spare time?

My wife and I just had a beautiful baby boy in August of 2016, so I'm not sure what this "spare time" is that you speak of. If I have an idle moment at home I spend my time worrying about how I'm going to pay for his college in 18 years!

Tell us what music we would find on your playlist right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?

Although I've never programmed or been on air in the format, I'm a country P1! I started listening to it about 15 years ago because it was a way for me to escape pop music and listen to the radio as a "listener". Now my phone has more Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton on it than anything else. I get a fair amount of flak for it from my pop and classic rock people at Cox, especially Keith Hastings, our rock format leader!

What's the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you? The worst?

I had a professor in college tell me "If they ask you to do something at the radio station ... do it, because they're only going to ask you once". It's important that you know to capitalize when a break comes your way. If you're a weekend jock dying to be full-time and the PD asks you to fill in Monday from 10a-3p, you probably shouldn't say no because you want to go to the beach that day. That's your chance to shine and show them what you've got. If you don't do it, they'll find someone else who will. When opportunity knocks, make sure you open the door.