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10 Questions with ... Jamie Philips
September 19, 2006
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NAME:Jamie PhilipsTITLE:PD/Morning GuySTATIONS:KCVM (MIX 96.1)MARKET:Waterloo/Cedar Falls, IowaCOMPANY:Fife CommunicationsBORN:Newton, Iowa 6/3/58RAISED:Newton, Iowa
Please outline your radio career so far:
Jeez...I've been in radio for 30 years now so let me just whip through the stations quickly: KNIA in Knoxville, Iowa (Sprint Car Capitol Of The World), KPLL in Pella, Iowa and Brown Institute, (It's now it's called Brown College in Minneapolis). Then I went to KWBE in Beatrice, Nebraska (the same station the legendary Dr. Don Rose started out at). Then I went to Des Moines in the 80's working at various stations in different shifts at WHO, Q-102, KLYF, KJJY, KMGK, KIOA, KCOB. Then to my first PD gig at KCIM in Carroll, Iowa. In the early 90's, I left Carroll and became PD at the legendary WROK in Rockford, Ill, then PD at WKHQ in Traverse City, Charlevoix, Petosky, Gaylord, Michigan. Then I left for KASI, Ames, Iowa. In 1994 I came to Waterloo and have been here ever since, first at KOKZ and now at MIX 96.1-KCVM.
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I started in High School at KNIA in Knoxville, Iowa (Sprint Car Capitol Of The World). . Early influences were stations like KIOA, KSO, WHO, KRNT all in Des Moines. At night I would listen to WLS, KAAY Little Rock, KOMA in Oklahoma City, WHB in Kansas City.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
In the early 60's KIOA in Des Moines had a "fish bowl" street-side window where you could watch the DJ. As I watched him I remember feeling like I was in a hypnotic trance. Even at the age of five, I perceived that many adults don't like their jobs. But this guy in the window was playing records, talking on the phone, reading commercials, talking into a microphone and HAVING FUN!!! Right then and there I decided that this was what I wanted to do when I grew up.
3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
We are like a female appealing "Jack" station. I guess you could call us "Jill." We play [just] about everything, and have the biggest play list in the area...about 800 songs. This market is different because it is Waterloo/Cedar Falls. Waterloo is very blue collar with John Deere plants, and Cedar Falls has very up-scale businesses and The University Of Northern Iowa. I am also one of the few morning air personalities who's GM is also one of his sidekicks. Jim Coloff, my boss, has been doing the morning news on the station since we went on the air together 9 years ago.
4) How do you position the station musically and why did you choose this direction?
We got tired of all the complaints about how repetitive our music was, so finally decided to listen to our listeners who were craving true music variety and expanded our playlist.
5) How is the relationship between programmer and record label changing? For better or worse?
I think it's for the better. Honesty is finally becoming the best policy.
6) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?
I am wearing about the same number of hats that I was last year. I do the morning show with Jim Coloff and Melody Judge. Then I put on my Program Directors cap. I also run a charity called "Jamie and Jim's Kids" that takes chronically and terminally Ill children to Walt Disney World.
7) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
While satellite radio is not going away, it lost $3 billion last year and I think at some point you are going to see a merger between Sirus and XM. Internet has helped us since we stream our audio at: www.mix96.net. My sister can now hear me in Portland and my girlfriend can hear me in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
8) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?
Stations lowering their spot loads for a quality product.
9) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?
I think you will see HD radio all over the place if the cost of those receivers goes down. I hope 5 years from now I have reached my goal of station ownership.
10) Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?
Two of the best were when we did called "Up On The Rooftop" at a local mall. I lived on the roof of a local mall in a tent with a port-a-potty three years in a row during the week of Thanksgiving. We filled a truck full of canned goods and non-perishable items for The Northeast Iowa Food Bank. I also lived on a bus and did the same type thing for the Food Bank when I came to MIX 96.1 and we called it "Stuff The Bus."
Bonus Questions
Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?
Talk
What "reality show" could you see yourself appearing on and why?
"The Biggest Loser." I have actually lost 60 pounds in the past year thanks to a promotion we did with the local NBC affiliate. It was a thrill meeting Matt Hoover the winner of the last "Biggest Loser." He is a real inspiration.
How do you stay in touch with the latest music trends?
We rely on Media Base quite a bit, and or course "All Access."
What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
I really like WLTW in New York. Jim Ryan has done a great job of making it "The number one station in the nation." It's a nice variety and a smooth flow of music and personalities.
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