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10 Questions with ... J. Pat Miller
March 21, 2006
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NAME:J. Pat MillerTITLE:OM/PDSTATIONS:KBBKSTATIONS:KFGESTATIONS:KLINSTATIONS:KWBESTATIONS:KLNCMARKET:Lincoln, NebraskaCOMPANY:Triad BroadcastingBORN:Aurora, ILRAISED:Peoria, IL
Please outline your radio career so far:
1997-1999 WBNQ/Bloomington, IL - PD
1999-2000 KSTZ/Des Moines, IA - PD
2000-Present KBBK/Lincoln - PD/OM1) What was your first job in radio?
After College at Illinois State, I did nights at WBNQ/Bloomington. One of my favorite radio guys, Scott Robbins, took a chance on me.
2) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?
The industry will have to provide compelling entertainment in one form or another. I think it's wishful thinking for us to believe the public will rely exclusively on us for music. It's already painfully easy for music fans to get exactly what they want when they want. Hopefully we can develop more great shows and talents. Personality and companionship has a long future in the business, I'm not sure if music has the same outlook.
3) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?
Delegation is key! I'm very fortunate to have a great staff that brings a lot to the table. PD's NEVER make a station perfect, it seems as though there's always something that could be tweaked or rewritten.
4) How do you interact with your sales staff?
I hold true to the famous question: "What is a PD's #1 job? To Make Money!" Great ratings are only part of the mission, you need to support the sales team to bring the dollars home. I attend the weekly sales meeting and I support them with creative copywriting. You can pick the correct songs and you can get good ratings, but if the dollars don't follow you're sunk.
5) 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?
I love the First Amendment and I love free speech. But, I'm getting a paycheck and radio companies are making BILLIONS from a free public resource. We can stomp and whine about the indecency restrictions, but the mass public does not want to hear garbage on their airwaves. I think it is simple; entertain the public without going blue. If you want to cross that line then you can hop online or on the bird. It's a great time to be a broadcaster because we have many distribution options.
6) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
We participate in an annual "Make a Wish" benefit and raise almost $100,000 a year. It really hit home for me on a recent trip to Walt Disney World. My family was waiting in line to get a picture with Mickey. Suddenly, the line stopped and a family rolled their daughter's wheelchair towards the front of the line. All three of the family members were wearing the Make-A-Wish star. The daughter got out of her wheelchair and was embraced by the characters. The family's look of joy was enough to keep me going this year and for years to come. Make-A-Wish is a great organization.
7) Tell us what music we would find on your car or home CD player (or turntable) right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?
I can't believe that I now think CD's are too big and bulky. Amazing! My I-Pod is crammed with a little of everything: Beastie Boys, Beck, AC/DC, Queen, R.E.M., Doobie Brothers, Classical, Books on tape, podcasts, everything!
8) If you could add any one full-time position to your budget with no questions asked, what would it be?
I'd want an I.T. person. It's amazing how much we rely on computers to do our job. Now that we use them so heavily you don't just lose a system when you crash you could lose a whole studio! Even worse, an entire station is off the air if the wrong hard drive fails.
9) Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?
I want to learn html and web design. I also want to refresh my Spanish and get it to a conversational level. The industry has focused more on serving the Spanish speaking public, its time to get fluent.
10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
This is a small business. How many times have you met someone and they've been really cool or really rude. Don't you remember that stuff? I want to be professional and kind to every person I meet because it will come back to me. Here's to all the major market guys/gals who share their time with smaller market folks. You Rock!
Bonus Questions
What is your favorite TV show?
It's a tie: Family Guy & World Poker Tour
Favorite artist you have met?
Steven Page of Barnaked Ladies. He performed at the Conclave this year and I schmoozed my way into partying with him. Actually he and his manager were too polite to kick me out. Anyway, after the Conclave Bowling Party we ended up at a Polka bar in Minneapolis. Classic.
Most of us have known or even worked for a "colorful" owner/GM/air talent. Care to share a story? (The names can be changed to protect the innocent).
I do like to note that the first owner I worked for was named Richard Johnson. Nice guy, great name!
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