10 Questions with ... Carlota

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

K-100/Porterville, CA playing elevator versions of "Under My Thumb" and Barry Manilow favorites. My early influences were Dusty Street and Doug the Slug both from KROQ.

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

I was a little eight-year-old sitting in the back of my dad's car when the DJ on the radio said, after playing Andy Gibbs "Everything," "There's Andy Gibb with I just want to be your underwear." I knew, at that moment, I wanted to be your underwear (and the voice that came out of that box in the car).

3) How long have you been at KOMP overall; have you been the MD for that entire time? Give us a timetable/history of your roles and job descriptions at the station.

I joined KOMP in March of 2002 part-time, then went full-time and middays in August of 2002. I became MD in 2004.

4) How long ago did you start the website Kilpop.com and what is it all about?

The idea began around mid-2015, and we shot our very first video at The Radio Contraband Convention in February of 2016. The website itself kicked off around late April 2016. Kilpop is all about putting rock n roll back in people's face. We got tired of being told that our music is dead and our artists and lifestyle doesn't matter, so we created Kilpop to give rock its face and to give the fan base a look at their favorite artists from a different perspective. We go beyond asking the typical question ..."How's the tour and new LP coming? "

In the past we've taken Corey Taylor comic book shopping and ghost hunting, played air hockey with Vinnie Paul, went NASCAR racing with Megadeth and hung out at Jason Hook's house, petting his kitties.

5) How did you get involved working with Steve Walker and Beatrix Danko at The Contraband Company to put together this year's Kilpop Radio Convention in Las Vegas?

Last year after the first Kilpop Awards, the three of us discussed joining forces in 2018. When Steve told me Radio Contraband Convention wasn't happening, I said that I wanted to do a Kilpop Convention and asked if they would be open to consulting me and my team. They said yes, and BOOM! Here we are.

6) Now let's talk about the Kilpop Convention this week in Las Vegas. What are some of the highlights of the daily panels?

Oh man, so many highlights, Disturbed is joining us for opening party, 10 Years will be doing an acoustic set, Gavin Rossdale is the keynote speaker, Red Sun Rising will be doing a storytellers session, Jonathan Davis will be presenting his new solo album, a special cocktail hour with Nickelback, breakfast with Zakk Wylde and we have a metal panel, a "What is Kilpop" panel where we will share who we are, and the upcoming things we will be doing, like Kilpop Radio, RTO, "Project X" and more.

7) You also have some pretty cool music showcases set for the Hard Rock. Who are some of the Rock artists that are performing this week?

Rachel Lorrin, Fever 333, Jacob Cade, Ashes to New ... just to name a few.

8) Let's talk about the "community" of Rock radio stations and labels. I asked this question to Steve Walker and Beatrix in the past. What makes this format seem like such a big family?

It goes beyond just the format. Rock music, artist, radio fans ... we are inherently family. Rock breeds community unlike any other kind of music. I also think because we are the red-headed stepchild of music genres, it creates an even stronger bond. I could probably go on, but I'll stop there ... LOL.

9) Speaking of the Rock radio community, give us the scoop on this week's Kilpop Rock Radio awards ... and what's different about this year's event than the past ones?

Well to start, the host is different, or should I say hosts? DJ Ashba and James Michael from Pyromantic will being doing the honors. But the biggest thing that is different is the Rock Radio Awards is now a non-profit organization that has a board of directors, making this a community-based thing. So in essence, the Rick Radio Awards belongs to the community it serves, Rock radio.

10) Finally ... are there any other surprises you can reveal about this year's Kilpop Radio Convention?

We have a few more things were working on as we get to "deadline", so there may be. ??

Another new edition to the convention is the Kilpop Awards, which is our defiant answer to the Grammys. My team at Kilpop, not unlike the rock community itself, is incredibly frustrated with the lack of rock representation at award shows. We are also sick of the pedestrian and incredibly "hack" way these shows are done. So we at Kilpop have put together an awards show that not only celebrates and honors our genre, but we have fun doing it. Oh, and the winners are chosen by the fans. The Kilpop Awards will be funny, but trust me, it's no joke.

However, what I will say the biggest and most important thing that is different with this year's event from previous events is that this team works incredibly well together. We are larger, super-creative and incredibly demented, so the Kilpop Radio Convention should be crazy fun. Bring your hangover cures, friends!