-
10 Questions with ... Brandon Bettar
June 21, 2005
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Brandon BettarPOSITION:PD/MDSTATION:KMHX (MIX 104.1)MARKET:Santa Rosa (embedded metro of SF)COMPANY:Results RadioBORN:3-6-79, Los Angeles, CARAISED:Los Angeles
Please outline your radio career so far:
2000, Board-Op KTHU (CHICO, CA)
2001, Morning Show Host KRQR (CHICO, CA)
2002, PD/MD/air talent, KHRD (REDDING, CA)
2004, PD/MD/air talent KMHX (SANTA ROSA, CA)1) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
I went to high school with Rick Dees' son, Kevin, and found myself thinking, I could get a lot of girls if I was driving the KIIS-FM Hummer
2) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
As an embedded metro of San Francisco, Santa Rosa competes head to head with Market #4 (we are market #117). KLLC, KIOI, KOIT, KZBR, KITS, etc, etc, are all competition. It's compelling to come to work each day and try to sound as good as they are, and my staff (Athena) does a great job!
3) What is the biggest myth that you think exists in the business?
I'm convinced that the notion of "burn" is a myth. That is not how listeners use the radio. They punch the buttons in their car until they hear a song that connects, and then they stop. Insert record reps expletive here (_____). With that said, new music features can keep you hip.
4) Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?
Sick Days...the best! At KHRD in Redding, CA, we would ask listeners to provide us the best excuse they could to call in sick to work. For each contest, the winner was picked up from work, and I took them to do something fun. Once, I picked up two painters from a job site, took them in a limo to the airport, and we flew to Las Vegas. We spent 24 hours there, and flew back. Call me, this promotion can be tweaked for every format..
5) How do you keep tabs on the competition?
It's not easy. There are three Hot AC's, two AC's, two AAA's, a Mainstream Top 40, a Bob, a Max, two Countrys and three CHR/Rythmics. Yes, guys, there are a lot of females in this part of the country. I check out each stations website every Monday Morning, and monitor one, or two stations a day, for the week.
6) What will convince you to add a song that you feel isn't right for the station?
Three words. Chief. Programming. Officer.
7) Describe your weekly music meeting ... a) what is the process when you listen to new music? b) approximately how important by percentage is gut, research, sales, video play, and chart position when determining the status of a record?
I monitor the competition (including the Top-40 and BOB-FM), then other HOT AC's around the country that I respect. Then I look at local sales and downloads. The charts are like ratings, it's all 12+ until you take a closer look. Right now my gut has a big ego, so I trust that too!!
8) How is the relationship between programmer and record label changing? For better or worse?
With all the consolidation, and wearing not only multiple hats, but in some cases the entire rack, radio and records are both stressing. You look at some folks job descriptions, and compare it to hours in a day, and there just aren't enough...hours, that is. How you maintain your relationships in this time...that is the key!
9) Are Bob? Jack? Max? and Dave? For real?? Will it last, or is it just a fad? If "for real", we mean, do they exist?
Yes, they do! I have a Bob in my market, and a Max that bleeds into my market from San Francisco. But will the format last? If the marketing can keep its edge, and the music doesn't become predictable, then maybe. The Bob and the Jack philosophies are different, so one might make it, the other might be gone in a few years.
10) As an air-talent how has industry consolidation helped or hurt you? What effect has industry consolidation had on the way you program your station?
You have to make yourself indispensable. So management can't imagine their station without you. Sure, you may end up doing more work, but we're not digging ditches here people.
Bonus Questions
What's the best liner you've ever heard?
Something to the extent of..."Z-ROCK...We'll go down in history, and we'll go down on your sister, too!" KRQR CHICO, CA!" The best sounding radio station I ever worked for.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
Thermo-Burst! Go to GNC and check it out! It works a lot better than caffeine!
What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?
Pictures. Athena, my afternoon personality, took pictures of her butt, and put them on our website (www.mix1041.com). Now she is in the process of rubbing anti-cellulite cream on herself. Pretty soon we'll have the before and after. Who is not going to check that out?
-
-