Brandon BellAPD/MD/Imaging DirectorStation:
Market:
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10 Questions with ... Brandon Bell
December 7, 2009
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- KDNE/Crete, NE - Doane College Radio - 1996-2000
- KFRX/KRKR/Lincoln, NE - 2000-2004
- Clear Channel /Lincoln, NE - (KIBZ, KZKX, KLMY, KTGL - 2004-2005 -
- KMXB (MIX 94.1)/Las Vegas (CBS Radio) - 2005-Present
1) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
Oddly enough it was while I was working the drive through at a local McDonald's that a friend of mine drove through and said I had a good voice. He said that magic line we've all heard, "You should be in radio." And the rest is history. He helped me get my first job in radio playing legal IDs for Rockies radio broadcasts.
2) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
An Accountant...seriously. I started college working on an accounting degree. After a year of that I was bored out of mind and realized I needed to switch my major. Although I did finish college with a business degree, I spent all of my free time at the College station.
3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
A) This truly is a 24/7 town. With casino shift changes between 3-6pm, the biggest shift is nights. So our PM drive time is our most critical daypart.
B) Events. No other station I've worked for comes close to doing the amount of NTR events we do. We have a hard working and talented staff that successfully does these events from booking the artists and selling vendor booths, to securing the land and even getting port-a-potties!!! From the ground up we have a great team that thinks nothing of putting together a one-day event for 30,000 people!
4) Is Arbitron's Personal People Meter (PPM) currently available in your market, or in a neighboring market? What are your thoughts on this new ratings technology?
The meter is here! We've been seeing numbers for a few months now and we are looking for it to go public around the first of the year. It's been an amazing process. Personally, I'm really excited about the new form of measurement. We actually get to see real listening, not just perceived listening. But at the end of the day, regardless of the form of measurement, good radio (with a talented, motivated, and passionate team) will always win and survive.
5) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
The biggest issue facing radio is evolving programming to fit the demands of the meter. We've long since struggled with having radio fade into a passive medium. With this new form of measurement we can do what some of us programmers have long wished we could do and develop "appointment" listening (much like TV) and "on-demand" listening through the web. I feel that this creates a much tighter relationship between a listener and their station.
6) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
I like KBPI in Denver. I grew up listening to them and always dug their imaging. I also like checking out KROQ, KQKQ, and WTMX. These are all really well programmed stations. I'm a clone, so also any station that carries Jim Rome, I use a sick day every year for the Shmack Off!
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?
- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
- Joe Bonamassa
- Raphael Saadiq
- And "The King" ... Elvis (The fat one!)
8) What's been your biggest disappointment in Radio today?
Hawaiin shirts, and people who still haven't figured out how to speak to listeners without using their "radio voice."
9) As you look back over your career ... any regrets? Missed opportunities?
I don't have a single regret. I count my blessings and honestly love the fact that I "get" to go to work and don't "have" to go.
10) What do you do in your spare time?
Besides my "amazing" side career as a member of the National Dart Association! Yes, I play matches at least once a week and then for the last 3 years I've competed in the world tournament every spring (nerd alert!)...
I'm also spending as much free time as I can on developing voice-over. I have some amazing mentors like Rob Radencic, Ty Sante, and John McClain. I've been lucky enough to join the voice roster with Dog and Pony Show Studios for commercial work as well as the Benztown Voice Over Group for radio imaging.