10 Questions with ... Jill Roen

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started in talk radio at KSTP-A 1500 as a board op, then producer and afternoon show side-kick. After a few years, I moved over to music radio at KS95 doing overnights and eventually added MD, APD and marketing duties.

1. You've been at KSTP-F for 26 years (!!) now. What have a couple of the highlights been?

Just being a part of what I feel is the best team in radio has been the biggest highlight! We have quite a few long-term employees, which is unusual in itself. On top of that, I've seen many of them promoted and move up to new positions and better shifts. It's very fulfilling to be part of a staff that year after year continues to develop, grow and innovate. I'm proud to be part of it.

2. KS95 is not only a consistent ratings winner, but also a multiple industry awards winner. Does that kind of recognition and attention make the team just dig in deeper?

We have a staff that strives to win. When you have some degree of success and industry recognition, you definitely want more! You can't control how everything turns out in this business. You can only focus on what you're going to do today to keep it going. That's where I think our team shines. They always want to do better. If I could change one thing, it would probably be that all of us here would take a little more time to reflect and enjoy any success or recognition we're lucky enough to be part of.

3. What led you to a career in radio?

I loved radio, but had never thought about it as a career possibility. I was going to the University of Minnesota and trying to figure out what in the world I was going to do with my life. I heard from a friend that KSTP-A was hiring part-time board operators. That sounded really cool and a lot more interesting than my job at the library! I got up the nerve to apply and somehow got the job. I immediately fell in love with everything about radio and never looked back. I was able to dig in, get my hands into everything and learn so much. I wish there were more opportunities like that for the next generation of people coming into radio. I was pretty lucky to discover something that turned into a fantastic, fun and fulfilling career.

4. PD Leighton Peck has been there for many years as well. Is there such a thing as a "typical" music meeting? and what's one of those like anyhow?

Nope, there definitely isn't a "typical" music meeting. We are constantly listening to music from all formats. Sometimes it's as informal as one of us yelling, "Hey listen to this!" Sometimes it's more structured. We'll go through a list of songs and secretly score them on a piece of paper, then reveal our scores with an explanation to back up our score. I've often said our music meetings should be a podcast! There's a lot of laughing and banter. We may mix up our approach to taking in and filtering through new music, but the bottom line is that both Leighton and I are passionate about picking the right music for KS95 and we spend a lot of time listening...and listening...and listening some more.

5. Please name a couple of "dark horse" singles that you heard 'early' that ended up becoming big hits.

It's funny. There are times when a record rep will remind me of a song that we heard or picked early that I forgot about. That's the kind of thing that doesn't stick with me. I can't say I care if I hear it early or late or never, but still know it's one we should play. I'm concerned with playing the right songs at the right time for KS95. A couple I can think of would be X Ambassadors "Renegades," Nico & Vinz "Am I Wrong" and Lukas Graham "7 Years."

6. How does social media augment what is happening on the air in 2020?

It's a great way to market your station. Our listeners are on social media, so we need to be there too. Hopefully everything we do drives them back to listening to the radio. It's fun to have an avenue that is visual and allows our talent to shine and do entertaining things that might go beyond what we have time for on the radio. I also believe we need to keep social media in its place. It can be a small, but noisy and distracting group. Sometimes you have to tune out the noise and focus on what you want your message to be.

7. "Local local local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?

Being local is in the very DNA of Hubbard Radio and KS95! And these days being local truly sets us apart. We're fortunate to have a full staff of live, local jocks. They are GREAT ambassadors in the community. Our morning show, Crisco, Dez and Ryan are fantastic. It's always fun to witness how excited listeners are to meet them at events. The same goes for all of our jocks. We let listeners know we're living the same life that they are. KS95 has always been an extremely active station. We are on the streets with concerts and fun events as well as charity involvement.

8. What's the coolest promotion you've EVER been involved with?

There are so many fun and rewarding things I've been part of over the years, I'm very proud of our KS95 for Kids Radiothon which has raised nearly $16 million for Children's Cancer Research Fund and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. We also created KS95 Clouds Choir for a Cause. It's a real example of the power of radio and how a small idea can blossom into a worldwide event, yet still touch people deeply on a local level. Here's a link to this year's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW3ZXGjwqVA

This was the seventh year we invited listeners to join us in the Mall of America Rotunda to sing Zach Sobiech's song "Clouds." Zach was one of the kids featured on our radiothon. He was suffering from Osteosarcoma and knew he didn't have long to live. He wrote "Clouds" to say goodbye to his family and friends. KS95 helped him record the song, which went viral worldwide and shot to #1 on iTunes. This year 8,500 listeners joined us at Mall of America to sing. The Zach Sobiech Fund has raised close to $1.7 million for Osteosarcoma research. We have families who come back every year say they'd never miss KS95's Clouds Choir. It's an event that will give you goosebumps!

9. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid? Favorite jock?

I grew up in central Wisconsin and WIFC in Wausau was my favorite. Duff Damos did the morning show that I listened to. I should probably take this opportunity to apologize to Duff and all the guys at WIFC that I called over and over and over back in the day to request songs. Sorry about that!

10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

My PD, Leighton Peck has had the most impact. He is truly inclusive in his approach to managing. Leighton is incredibly good at seeing people's strengths and letting them learn and advance. I am a proud student of the University of Leighton Peck! I've also been lucky to cross paths and work with some great radio people. I'm sure I'll miss many, but Alan Burns, John Coleman, John Boyne, Guy Zapoleon and Steve Davis all come to mind. The great thing about this business is that you learn from most everyone you encounter.

What's the first concert that you saw, last concert that you saw and best concert that you saw?

First...Styx. Last...Ed Sheeran. Best--very hard to pick just one, but I'd say U2 with The Backstreet Boys and Tony Bennett being right up there too!