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10 Questions with ... Sean Knight
April 26, 2016
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1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I started at Oldies 101.1 KEYF in Spokane, WA in April of 1999.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it?"
When I was 16 I had to write a career paper for English class. Since music was always a passion of mine, I tried to think of a career field revolving around that and radio came to mind. Since my parents would always listen to the Oldies station I took a liking to it and started out as an unpaid (yes they did that back in the day) intern. Six months later, after learning the ways, I was official hired on as a part-timer.
3) You've worked for some great Rock stations including KHTQ/Spokane and KXXR/Minneapolis. What are some of the best highlights from your previous gigs?
I have been honored to work with what I feel have been some of the best PDs and have learned a lot from them. Barry Bennett (RIP) and GA at Rock 94 1/2 were both instrumental in my development early on as were a couple of the jocks (Beavis and Geoff Scott). Then when I was at 93X, Wade Linder and Pablo both really took me under their wing and really helped to define me as a jock.
4) Congrats on your new positions at KQRA (Q 102.1). In your brief time there, what makes this station so unique?
I'll probably get yelled at by someone for saying this, but in a way all Active Rock stations are the same in the overall picture of things. It's the little things that really can define each station individually, whether it's slight variances on the music, or the contests, and even the people, but the one big thing that I think really sets Q102 apart is how involved in the local community we are.
5) You have three roles as MD/afternoon host and Imaging. How are you balancing your time so all roles are effective?
I'm supposed to balance my time? Just kidding! It can be a struggle some days when there's a lot to do, but coffee definitely helps get me through it! Sometimes multi-tasking is necessary as well.
6) Describe your weekly music meeting with PD Shadow... 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?
Sometimes we each check out stuff on our own and bring it to the table in the meeting; other times we both check out a track together for the initial listen. Usually I know whether or not I dig a song by the time the vocals kick in, but I always like to at least get through the first chorus to be sure.
Since I'm also a musician (this is where Shadow and I can tend to disagree from time to time), I go a lot on gut and how the song sounds and if it moves me or not. However, research/sales/streaming/chart positions all play a big role. It really should all balance out evenly percentage-wise, because those are based off what the listeners what to hear as a whole.
7) What's your take on current Active Rock music and the Format as a whole?
I LOVE IT! It's my style of music for sure! I wish the Alt side would stop trying to creep in, though ... ha ha ha ha!
8) What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year and why?
I wish you would've asked this at the end of the year since there is so much more music coming out! LOL. Based on what's out so far, though, I'd have to say (in no particular order) the new Volbeat is cool, I like the new Sick Puppies, and you can't go wrong with Shinedown.
9) How much does KQRA and you in particular use social media (Facebook and Twitter) to interact with your listeners?
We/I definitely try to interact everyday with the listeners via social media. Sometimes it's posting something of musical content or just something to make the listener laugh and comment on.
10) What do you like to do for fun and relaxation when you're NOT in "radio" mode?
I love playing/writing music, sports, coffee, Jager, my cats, travelling, video games ... I'm just a regular dude!
Bonus Questions
You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have five CDs with you. What are they?
Why must these questions be so difficult?!
- Godsmack "Self Titled"
- Breaking Benjamin "Diary of Jane"
- Stone Sour "Audio Secrecy"
- Papa Roach "Getting Away With Murder"
- Three Days Grace "One X"
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