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10 Questions with ... Kim Kreiss
February 7, 2006
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NAME:Kim KreissTITLE:Promotions/Marketing Director/AfternoonsSTATION:KSWW - Sunny 102.1MARKET:Aberdeen, WACOMPANY:Jodesha BroadcastingBORN:Fairmont, MNRAISED:Fairmont, MN and every city ever since!
Please outline your radio career so far: (station/date, station/date, etc.)
KDHL-AM and KQCL-Faribault, MN, 1987-1989-ish
WLXR and Mix 96 (now The Rock) - La Crosse, WI 1989-1995
WIBA AM&FM, WJJO, WMGN-Madison WI 1995-2002
KKBN, Sonora, CA-2002-2004
KSWW-Aberdeen, WA 2004-present1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
Why I was hired straight out of college. You'd never know listening to my first aircheck tape I sent to KDHL. I started on as the mid-day host on KDHL-AM, I played Classic Country...Polkas...the "Radio Rosary" (which I remember calling home and saying I thought I was playing something for a cult! The "Radio Rosary" was a 15 minute program that we aired for Catholics to worship every day. If we missed timing it out by a minute we had angry calls) I also read farm reports, ran Minnesota North Star hockey games at night. I dreamed of working at WLOL!
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
I went to college to become a Paralegal...I didn't like the first year of Gen Ed courses about history, etc...and so much library time! I took a Mass Communications course and said, "This is fun! This is what I need to do!" That week I signed up for the college radio station and have been working in radio ever since. My mom says I used to pretend to be a DJ when I was a kid with a cassette recorder, but I don't remember it!
3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
Every market is unique and every market has its similarities. The times when I've moved, the first thing current employees say to me is "this is a unique market." But I truly believe radio is radio wherever you go! There may be small differences...demographics, income, etc...but how you do radio should be about the same!
4) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?
I've always worn more than one hat. I prefer it that way! Right now I'm Promotions/Marketing Director, Afternoons on-air and, for fun, the PSA Director. Hey...don't knock it! Someone has to do it! I'm a pretty organized person, so I try and have time for all of it each day. That way I'm not playing catch-up.
5) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
We're still local! We still have the local news and weather and people in town that people really like about radio!
6) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?
Update them! Stop using so many fonts! Streamline your designs! Don't make it so hard to navigate! Design them so the upload time to your site is faster! I've been working with station websites for awhile now...I see so many sites that need help in my opinion.
7) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
The competition of current advertising rates. How much lower can we go in spot rates? I see that in small market radio. It's a crime. Radio is valuable. Sell results. Price the product appropriately. Don't give it away! I think the lower you go in price, the less pride you have in your product. Keep your integrity. But I'm not in sales...so take that for what it's worth!
8) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as six months ago, better, or about the same? Elaborate.
A/C radio focuses on the library...not currents...so the ones that finally make it to the radio on A/C, are good ones. I like the new Mariah Carey. I'm surprised she's made a true comeback and I'm happy for her. I love the fact that American Idol is creating some new artists out of nowhere that the public is embracing. That's pretty darn cool.
9) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
I've been involved with a few over the years. I enjoy helping people during the holidays. I think the best one we did was in Sonora, CA. It was a two-part process for the same promotion. First, we solicited canned hams for food baskets. Then we put angels of needy children on giving trees in banks. Listeners bought gifts and took them to the banks. Everything was taken to a local beer distributor. We gathered them on the Saturday before Christmas...loaded up presents and food baskets in cop cars and delivered them all day with the police and sheriff's dept. And as a DJ, we went on a few runs to see the faces when we showed up at their door with presents and food. It was something I'll never forget. It was worth all the prep and work to get it done!
10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
I was voted "Most Versatile" at my college radio station my senior year. It's still true today! I've done almost every mainstream format, every shift, and almost every programming job.
Bonus Questions
What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at a remote?
My first remote was at a car dealer. The dealer wanted someone to be a screamer and I just wasn't. So the client told the sales guy to finish the remote. I was so devastated and humiliated.
What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?
Rascal Flatts, Bless the Broken Road, Kelly Clarkson (She's great!), and Rob Thomas' solo record!
How often do you do remotes and which work best for the station?
Summer is busiest. The best remotes are the ones at big events. You have to give your listeners a reason to stop what they're doing to visit you at a remote. If you do that they will.
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