10 Questions with ... Steve Donovan

NAME:Steve Donovan POSITION:APD/MD STATION:KQCS-FM (Star 93-5) MARKET:AppQuad Cities COMPANY:Cumulus Broadcasting BORN:May 3, 1951 Mishawaka, Indiana RAISED:Mishawaka...South Bend...Elkhart Area

Please outline your radio career so far:

WHBF-AM & FM (1985-1987)
WXLP (1987-1993)
KBOB (1994-1995)
KCQQ (1995-2000)
KBOB (2000-2001)
WXLP (2001-2004)
KQCS (2004-2005)

1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

I was doing weekends at WHBF-AM (COUNTRY SUNSHINE). We were still spinning records and using reel-to-reel tapes. My early influences in radio include Uncle Larry and Little Tommy.

2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?

I moved to the Quad Cities in 1984 and couldn't find a job...I saw an add in the paper for a college called AIC...."Make an exciting career in radio broadcasting." I went to school for a year and have been doing radio ever since.

3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?

This market is unique because there are only two major owners in town. One owns eight stations (five FMs and three AMs) and ours, which owns five (four FMs-one AM).

4) 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?

As long as I have been in radio, I've never believed in the "Blue Humor"...Community Standards is what I broadcast on. I mean, it's not too bad to say "Hell" on the air, as long as you're not telling someone to go there..

5) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?

Radio is radio. That's why they put buttons on them. People have a choice. Satellite Radio does nothing for me. There's no local flavor.

6) Just about every market has a station flipping to "Jack," "Bob," "Max," etc. What are your thoughts on this new format? Will it go the distance? Or is it just a fad?

I've heard stations doing this, but I don't see how you can grab any distinctive audience

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?

Right now I've been listening to Styx "The Big Bang Theory." Its kind of cool to hear a Classic Rock band doing Classic Rock songs they grew up with and do such a good job doing it.

8) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?

Ian Case Punnet, or Larry Lujack.

9) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as six months ago, better, or about the same? Elaborate.

Being new to the Hot AC format I love the music we're playing. I hated all the Techno Pop crap. Bands and Artist should play their own instruments and not depend on computers

10) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?

People should try and remember that radio is a community service. It's not all about how hot the DJ's are.

What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?

I still love to go home to Indiana and listen to "The Loop" and when I get home to South Bend WAOR in Niles, Michigan.

What is the best advice you would give to young programmers people?

Learn to work with the people you have. If you are coming into a new station, don't be afraid to ask for help. You may think you know it all, and can do it all, but your air staff can be a big help if you just ask for it. And most of all, don't say "Well, at my old station we did it this way." You are not at your old station.