10 Questions with ... Jack Elliott "Jack Cheese"

NAME:Jack Elliott "Jack Cheese" TITLE:Morning Show Host "The Jack and Ron Show" STATIONS:KYIS (98.9 KISS FM) & www.jackandron.com MARKET:Oklahoma City COMPANY:Citadel BORN:Chicago, IL RAISED:Chicago, IL

Please outline your radio career so far:

WOLI/OTTAWA, IL (1974-1975), KRIZ/PHOENIX, AZ (1975-1978), WKY/OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (1978-1990), KOQL/OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (1990-1994), KYIS/OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - (1994- Present).

1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

WOLI in OTTAWA, IL. Early influences included LARRY LUJACK, RON BRITTON, BIG RON O'BRIEN, FRED WINSTON and my first real PD - PAT MARTIN.

2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?

My dad was CHICAGO'S first traffic helicopter reporter for WGN. I would go to the station with him, and knew from the time I was six years old what I wanted to do.

3) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?

I have always liked STEVE DAHL. And I like DON & MIKE.

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

I have always wanted to see salary levels on the programming side (especially at the entry level) be competitive with the sales department. This holds true mostly for stations in market sizes smaller than 100 but can also apply to larger areas.

5) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?

As HD wins listener interest, additional sub channels will provide local elements such as school closings in bad weather, or non-stop traffic/weather updates to combat satellite efforts to do so.

6) How do you stay in touch with the latest music trends?

Keep tracking I-tunes. Things on hot on I-Tunes tend to predict what we will all be playing in two months.

7) How have the recent FCC regulations impacted the way you program your music and the station's dialogue on the air? What are your feelings about these recent changes?

Our morning show always included plenty of out-going spontaneous phone calls. With the "new FCC" we are making sure to get permission off air before airing any calls.

8) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?

FM today is in a similar position to AM 30 years ago. FM must provide more than a jukebox atmosphere. I-Pods and satellite are taking that position. FM music radio must expand its services to include more localized info and more often. Simply promoting the upcoming five artists won't cut it. PD's must begin encouraging more Air Talent to provide local information/entertainment segments to compete at a new level. Thirty years ago, smart AM programmers realized FM would win the music position on all radios. Today's FM PD needs to consider similar circumstances regarding music downloads and satellite radio. FM PD's need to give the listener those elements they can't find with downloads and satellite. If you can out 'entertain' the next guy, you can win.

9) What's been your biggest disappointment in Radio today?

The lack of new creativity. Music radio has been living by the same principals and methods for the past 30 years. When will someone develop something new that makes a real mark in the industry?

10) Who is your best friend in the business?

My broadcast partner Ron Williams. We hooked-up to do mornings 16 years ago, and it continues to get better everyday.