10 Questions with ... Chuck Sebastian

NAME:Chuck Sebastian TITLE:PD/Morning Show Host STATION:KKBJ FM, KKBJ AM, WBJI FM MARKET:Bemidji, MN COMPANY:R.P. Broadcasting Inc. BORN:1960 Mansfield Ohio RAISED:By my parents of course....oh you mean where? ....in Toledo Ohio / Fairfield Ohio

Please outline your radio career so far:

WYYS 1980-1981,WRED 1989,WSMI 1990-93,WDBR 1993-95, WJZE 1995-1998, New Northwest Broadcasters, Coos Bay 1998-2001; KKBJ FM, KKBJ-A, WBJI 2002- Present

1) How did you get your on-air name?

A former DJ I listened to in Cincinnati who got fired a lot.

2) What were your early radio influences?

Shadow Stevens, Wolfman Jack, and Casey Kasem

3) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry? I

I love doing PBP for Sports, so I may have gone that route.

4) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?

I have probably the coolest situation with three stations and a fourth to come in the "Talk of the Town" with LIVE LOCAL radio. It also helps that I have a HUGE TSL because we have the only HOT AC signal within a 75-mile radius. It makes this job more difficult though without a "true" competitor. So you have to come up with NEW and exciting things daily. With other stations I have worked for, it's always been a battle to be different from the cross-town rival with the same or format that is similar.

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

That owners and companies realize that on air talent is not able to live on a "get by paycheck" and that we are paid for our abilities and talent and knowledge.

6) How do you position the station musically and why did you choose this direction?

With our Hot AC KKBJ, we flipped it three months after I got here. There was already an AC in the market. I had been working HOT AC for about 5 years and I knew this would be a good choice for a market needing something new. We also to filled the void of the 12+ and 25-44 demo. The Real Country station WBJI was already holding it's own. I just added some fresh talent to mornings.

7) How is the relationship between programmer and record label changing? For better or worse?

Actually, because we are non rated and small we don't get much from record labels, unless it's independent. It's sad they should realize that even the smallest markets have potential buyers too.

8) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?

We raised over 2000 TOYS, plus cash for the kids in the area at Christmas time.

9) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?

Well the Morning Show could use a producer. That'd and a co-host would be a start. But due to budget you need to wear more hats, and you just have to realize radio is not an 8-5 job.

10) In today's world of multi-tasking and wearing many hats, how do you find time to show prep and what sources do you use?

I use a lot of material from my family, kids, and grandkids I try to relate to the audience as they are probably experiencing the same things. I use some show prep services, also just day-to-day stuff that I see or hear on the streets.

What has been the station's biggest accomplishment?

Number one in Mornings for 2006

How did you get your present job?

Saw the ad on All Access

You just won the lotto and you have your boss on the line. What's the first thing that you would say?

What is the weather like where you are?

What do you do in your spare time?

I'm a youth league Baseball coach and in the winter it's snowmobiling.