-
10 Questions with ... Bob Edwards
October 8, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Bob's checkered past-
- KLUV/Haynesville, LA. '79-81
- KSPI/Stillwater, OK. '82-86
- KATT/Oklahoma City, OK. '87-89
- WRXR/Augusta, GA. '89-91 - (hey, I'm a PD now!)
- WQBK/Albany, NY. '91 - (11 months and out - long story)
- KKLZ/Las Vegas, NV. '92-94
- WZZU/Raleigh, NC. '94-95
- WRDU/Raleigh, NC. '96-2003
- KQRC/Kansas City, KS. 2003-present
1) What was your first job in radio and early influences?
First job in radio was KLUV/Haynesville LA. Moved there at the age of 15 when my father worked in the oil business. I went to the local am radio station and asked for a job. Was hired on the spot for the minimum wage of $3.35 an hour and was told "when you want a raise, call your goddamn congressman". I was off and running in radio....
Early influence was Wolfman Jack. Listened to him on Armed Forces Radio every day in grade school when my father was stationed in Germany. Wolfman gave me the fascination for radio.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
Since listening to Wolfman Jack as a kid, I always wanted to get into radio and never entertained other ideas. I'm not sure if choosing a career in second grade is something I would recommend to others.
3) How long have you been at KQRC and what makes this station so unique?
I feel very fortunate to say I've been at KQRC for 16 years. What makes the station unique is our relationship with the listeners. KQRC's founding Program Director, the late Doug Sorenson, started the station with a commitment to serve the listener, being connected at eye level, and never bullshitting them. The station has always had the philosophy of treating the listener as an equal, serving the community, and making sure they know that we are truly one of them. KQRC is more than a radio station, were the portal for all things rock or rock related in Kansas City. Before listeners make their weekend plans, they check with us!
4) Let's talk about the iconic Johnny Dare morning show which has been rocking the KC market since 1993. What can you tell us about this legendary morning personality and his cast of characters?
Johnny Dare is Kansas City. He grew up in the metro and knows the city inside and out. Johnny has a real love for Kansas City that is felt throughout his show daily. Not only does he entertain the city, he reflects the values of the city. Through years of charitable acts, honesty, and consistency, he has become a true spokesperson and conscience of Kansas City. Not only can Johnny creditably lift the city up, he can call the city out and challenge the city to simply do better. Listeners respond to his challenge because they believe him and believe in him. Johnny has well-earned trust with the city, not just the rock audience. Johnny brings a lot of talent to the table, with his interview skills being an extremely strong asset. He is simply the total package.
The four-person cast on Johnny's show fit perfectly with the tone he sets. All four are KC natives with extensive history, knowledge, and connection to the city. The show's Creative Services Director, Gregg Todt, can take credit for the highly-produced feel of the show. Gregg is an animal cranking out amazing production at a rapid rate. If a big story breaks, Gregg will have Johnny supplied with brilliant parody songs, bits, and other audio within the hour. New Director Nycki Pace is the perfect fit in the roomful of guys, holding her own while dishing out just as many jabs as she may receive. She's loved by the audience for wit and truly engaging personality. Content Producer Jake Jeffries always makes sure Johnny is loaded with top-notch guests on a daily basis. By any means necessary, he makes sure Johnny is loaded with the content that makes him shine. Producer T-Bone does an excellent job of managing all of the production elements on the air creating a very fast-paced highly produced show. His secret weapon is sharing the stories of what could only be called a "bazar lifestyle". A team of mental health experts could spend a career analyzing my good friend T-Bone.
5) After Johnny Dare in mornings, what's the KQRC lineup for the rest of the day?
Midday is hosted by Moose, a 20+ year veteran of KQRC. Moose is well loved and well known by the audience. As a 6' 5" 250 pound biker, if you had a problem with Moose, you probably wouldn't mention it to his face! He's totally reflective of his audience, which is why they love him.
Jason Nivens handles afternoon drive on KQRC. He's the new guy, having only been with us for 15 years! Great rock jock with loads of energy and passion for the music and the station. When you listen to him on air, it's clear he is having fun.
Nights are handled by Ryan Westward. Ryan has been with the station since the day it signed on 27 years ago. Another KC native, the audience grew up with Ryan and he is part of their family. So how does Ryan spend his weekdays before going on the air? He recently completely training and is now a licensed jet pilot! Ryan is the kind of overachiever that makes the rest of us look bad.
6) Now let's talk about the music on KQRC. The station was recently included back on the Active Rock panel and is playing a list of current rock again. When did you start the transition back to playing some current Rock in the music mix again?
After about a 9 month hiatus, we began to add current titles back into the rotation about two years ago.
7) What's your take on the current Rock available for Active Rock and the format overall?
The quantity and quality of compatible new rock is certainly on an upswing. There has always been very good new rock on the market, but we did go through a period of time where much of the music flow was a little too narrow for a mainstream audience. KQRC is looking for good new music that fits with a station built around established mainstream rock artists. We are getting that new music flow not only from established artists like Halestorm, Godsmack, and Volbeat. We are seeing the audience respond to new bands that have a mainstream rock feel, like Dirty Honey, Greta Van Fleet, and Bad Wolves. It's really nice to see more and more new bands that are producing tracks that capture the interest and imagination of a mainstream rock audience.
8) KQRC has been the host station for its legendary Rockfest. I understand that the festival was postponed in 2019 and has been pushed back to 2020. What's the latest on the next KQRC Rockfest?
I'm not at liberty to discuss any of those details yet, but Rockfest will fit into a larger Entercom national event strategy going forward.
9) If a Rock station today wants to put on their own festival, what is the best advice you can give them?
Tread carefully, start small, and bring in a partner that not only offer expertise, but can also share in the financial risk. Have a clear vision that acts as a filter for all of your decisions. Is this a listener appreciation show? Is this show about being the biggest event of the year? Is this show simply designed to drive revenue? Have a clear vision and let that vision drive your decision making. Make sure your organization understands the real risk since these events usually have a great deal of money at stake. Keep in mind, you can meet the challenge of doing everything just right, and get wiped out by elements out of your control, like a severe thunderstorm, the headliner cancels just before the show, etc. A festival is a real adventure, make sure everyone understands what to expect and is prepared for the ride.
10) Finally, what do you like to do for fun and relaxation when you're not in "radio mode?"
Most of my time outside of the radio station is spent with my family. I'm continually amazed by watching my two daughter's transition from childhood to adulthood. I love being such a big part of shaping their personalities and future. I'm not only proud of watching them make good decisions and being compassionate people, I'm also proud they knew the entire Rush catalog inside and out by age 15! Hey, a dad has responsibilities.
Beyond raising a family, I do enjoy traveling North America on a motorcycle. I love the quiet time on a bike while enjoying the beautiful scenery and meeting interesting people. Every part of this country has something wonderful to offer if you take the time to go and explore.
-
-