10 Questions with ... Taryn Daly

1. What was your first job in radio and who were your early influences and mentors?

My first radio job was actually off the air! I worked in sales and advertising at KRKO 1380-AM in Everett right out of college, but always volunteered my voice for client commercials or a quick concert review with the afternoon show. One of my earliest influences was my best friend Kaitlyn’s dad, Tony Miner. Tony, a fellow Washington State University alum (GO COUGS!), is a now-retired longtime Seattle radio personality who always inspired and encouraged me to follow my radio dreams. He even wrote me a killer letter of recommendation back in the day! Thanks, Big T!! I also spent years idolizing my predecessor Jolene, and her predecessor Cathy Faulkner, both of whom have become great friends of mine. With those two, I feel like I’m part of this special club that I have no business being in – they are LADY LEGENDS!! Both Ryan Castle and Dave Richards have been instrumental in my career development. I am beyond appreciative of their coaching and guidance, and the fact that they believed in me enough eight years ago to bring me on board, considering how cringy that first demo must have been! I can only hope said demo has been destroyed…

2. Can you give us a quick rundown of your radio career before joining KISW?

I was working for the Cascade Radio Group in Bellingham for a few years before I came to KISW, spending the bulk of my time on the sales and advertising side of the building, eventually convincing (or was it bugging?) KISM PD Scott Less to let me host weekends and fill in during the week on 92.9 whenever I could. I knew I wanted to be on the programming side full time, and I am forever grateful to Scott for giving me that shot.

3. Now let’s talk about KISW. Congrats on your promotion to Assistant Brand Manager, working with new Brand Manager Ryan Castle. What are your responsibilities in this role?

I have been working closely with Ryan for nearly six years, and proud to say that I am learning from the best! I am taking on the APD and MD responsibilities for KISW, and still serving as Social Media Director for Entercom Seattle. Like everyone else, I am chomping at the bit for the return of live music and the opportunity to work on our biggest music events of the year, like Pain in the Grass. I have watched Ryan pour his heart and soul into these large -scale events over the years, and I cannot express how thrilled I am to be involved with these major station happenings at the next level.

4. You also do Nights on the station. Do you do any special features on your show between 6p and 10p?

Every weeknight around 7:50, you can catch Taryn’s 12 Pack on KISW, which is 12 songs in a row in the “no blah-blah zone”! You must also know that Ryan Castle has a Morning 12 Pack weekdays at 10am, however, it is well known that mine is the superior 12 Pack. Imagine that Taryn’s 12 Pack is like riding The Zipper at the county fair, and Ryan’s is more like a rusted merry-go-round.

5. You are also the Social Media Director for the company’s entire Seattle cluster. Tell us what you are up to in this role as well?

I’ve always believed that there are two critical pillars to radio – on-air and online. They are both SO important to your station’s brand and to your individual brand as a personality. I work with our local talent and producers in Seattle to ensure the online components are as strong as our on-air components. From blogs and podcasts to a strategic and organic social media presence, we’re always creating fresh content, which is critical to building a brand and forging lasting relationships with listeners.

6. I’ve asked this question to Ryan in the past. Seattle certainly has a great reputation as an influential city in terms of ground breaking Rock bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden to name a few. How much influence does this music have on how you guys program the station?

It would be impossible to program this radio station without the bands that make up its backbone. If you turned on 99.9 and didn’t hear Alice in Chains or Nirvana or Jimi Hendrix, it just wouldn’t sound like KISW. It wouldn’t be KISW. Once a year, we take it a step further for Seattle Rock Day, with the 11th Annual coming up on Thursday, April 8th, supporting Seattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare. We dig even deeper into Seattle’s rich musical history and play Mudhoney, Screaming Trees, Metal Church and even a few curve balls like Sir Mix-a-Lot and Kenny Loggins (he’s from Everett!!). A big reason I’ve spent my entire life in the Seattle area is the music. It’s part of my backbone, too.

7. Now let’s talk about the Rock format as a whole. What’s your take on current Active Rock music?

Rock music has evolved SO much over the years, and I hope it never stops evolving. It’s like a family tree that keeps growing new branches. I love hearing bands that aren’t afraid of trying new things or transcending styles. I also love revival bands that turn back the clock or strip it down completely. There’s a place for everyone in this format, and I think it’s important we continue to embrace the change and the variety of styles. At a time where Rock is unacceptably underappreciated, under -represented and under-recognized by award shows and halftime shows, we need each other now more than ever. I love to see Rock build up Rock.

8. Can you give me three of your favorite new Rock artists or songs so far this year?

Well I’m going to have to give my dude Ayron Jones from Seattle some big love. It’s so exciting to watch his rise and see the rest of the world appreciating what a talent he is. PROPS!! I am crazy about the new Royal Blood and the fact that they always sound different than anything else that’s out there. They just make me want to DANCE, so I do! And finally Dirty Honey. This band just brings the straight-up Rock and Roll every time. I am excited to turn more people on to them, because they’re the perfect blend of throwback and modern.

9. KISW is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. How has the response from the listeners been to all the special 50th anniversary features?

The response has been SENSATIONAL! At times a bit emotional (yup, I’m a crier). It’s really special to work at a station with so much history. And I will be the first to admit that there are probably some listeners who are better archivists of our station’s history than those of us who work at KISW! At 50, KISW is a lifelong passion for so many people. They had a KISW bumper sticker on their first car. They listened to Steve Slaton while they did their homework. They crowd-surfed for the first time at Pain in the Grass. And we have been bringing those memories to life with our 50th Anniversary content at KISW.com. Between gathering photos from station photographers over the years to interviewing alumni for their unbelievable stories from yesteryear, we have truly made this celebration unforgettable. Furthermore, on Saturdays and Sundays at noon, we’ve been doing 25 from 50, featuring a 25-song countdown that makes up part of our history. It’s been an absolute blast to have our listeners involved in all of this!

10. Finally, what do you like to do for fun when you’re not in radio “work” mode?

My husband Brad is also in radio (AND is a KISW alumni!) who co-hosts mornings at KISM-FM in Bellingham, so between the two of us, we’re rarely not in radio “work” mode! We live smack in the middle of our respective stations in Stanwood with our son Barrett who turns two this summer. We call our little hobby farm “Camp Cash”, sitting on 5 acres with 2 dogs, 2 goats, 2 barn cats, 6 chickens and 1 rooster, so there is never a dull moment and always a farm chore to be done! I am a bit of a brewery rat and love to check out the newest IPA in the area, and whenever we can get away from the farm, we like to take weekend trips to Leavenworth or Lopez Island in the San Juans to unplug and enjoy the PNW.