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10 Questions with ... Paul Kriegler
July 1, 2014
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1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
At 17, I was working for the Omaha Public Schools NPR affiliate. Early influence? Larry Lujack...WLS in Chicago, 1290 KOIL, KQKQ and KEZO in Omaha.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?
I started in radio by breaking the law. If you remember the pirate radio movie "Pump Up The Volume," that was me years before they picked Christian Slater to star in my role. It was called KRCK. I was a junior in high school through freshman in college. It was a late '80s/early '90s Alternative. Cox Cable in Omaha later picked us up, and distributed our programming on their local system.
3) Prior to your new position, you spent quite a few years programming radio in Tulsa. Can you give us the key highlights of your time and stations you programmed there?
We had an amazing staff and GM (Chuck Browning) at Shamrock Communications (KMYZ/KTSO) in Tulsa before the properties were sold to Stephens Media Group. It was an amazing turnaround. After the sale, I made a bunch of new friends over at Journal Broadcast Group, as PD for KBEZ getting to work with market legend Andy Barber. Key highlights were getting inside the top 3 in-target with KTSO and, then again, with KBEZ. They say you can never go home again, and in a way, I did just that ... leaving Shamrock in '98 and coming back in '06.
4) Congratulations on your new post as OM for Lotus in Reno. Can you give us your quick thumbnail assessment of radio in Reno overall and in particular, the Rock competition in the market?
I'm grateful. I'm Reno's proudest new resident, for sure. A phenomenal area, phenomenal company, outstanding leadership, and a heck of a dedicated staff. Reno radio? Completely oversaturated. Competition? Well, The Bandit, our Classic Rock competitor, is moving frequencies, which I won't complain about. KRZQ has signed on Bubba The Love Sponge in the morning. We'll see how that shakes out, soon enough, I suppose.
5) Now let's talk about your Active Rocker KDOT. This station has had lots of success in the market in large part due to Rob, Arnie & Dawn in mornings and a solid Rock position overall. What's your take on KDOT?
When I worked with Keith Cunningham as a consultant at Jacobs Media, he would often suggest Rob Arnie and Dawn as an example of a morning show that really leads with excellent show treatment and chemistry ... a show to learn from, as it were. Their success speaks for itself. Kudos to Jave Patterson, and the KDOT staff. It was left in outstanding shape. I'm honored to inherit a great brand in the market.
6) You also have the Classic Rock station in Reno with KOZZ. What's your take on this long time heritage rocker?
KOZZ has been the long-running top-rated Classic Rock station in the market and we are currently hiring! If there are any talented Clear Channel or Cumulus refugees, send me your stuff! paulk@lotusradio.com
7) You are in the unique position of overseeing a Rock and Classic Rock station. How do you balance the music on both stations so they don't overlap and how is each station uniquely positioned in the market?
There's much less cume-share between the two stations than you'd think. I'm really not concerned with "music overlap." Might be an odd analogy, but my gut says that if the Blue Angels can fly wingtip to wingtip at 5,000 feet, going 300 mph, we can do it at ground level with our two Rock brands.
8) Let's focus on the Active Rock format now. What's your take on current Rock music? Is it as good as six months or a year ago, better, or about the same?
Having come from an Alternative/Alternative Rock background, I would say that product for an Active Rock station has improved slightly in the past year. It appeared to hit rock bottom about two years ago. There's still quite an appetite in the area for the cuisine KDOT serves the most of.
9) Let's talk about social media like Facebook and Twitter. How much do you utilize social media on your stations for connecting with listeners? Is there a major difference on how you use social media for KDOT and KOZZ?
It's all a work in progress. Check back later.
10) Finally, Reno is an interesting mix of great outdoor activities (skiing and Lake Tahoe) and indoor activities (casinos and music clubs). Which of these two areas do you lean more towards?
My ski lessons will have no witnesses, and hopefully, no victims. I'm more of an outdoor person. This place is heaven. I'll just make sure the hot springs I visit, in the future, are all clothing encouraged.
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