10 Questions with ... Skippy

NAME:Skippy TITLE:APD/MD/middays at KRZR, middays at KMRQ STATION:KRZR & Rock 96.7 MARKET:Fresno/Modesto COMPANY:Clear Channel BORN:Fresno, CA RAISED:Fresno

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KRZR -- 2001-present
KMRQ -- 2008-present

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

My first job in radio was working for KRZR. I was a fan who wanted to intern for Bower, who did afternoons at the time. However, back in those days, with all the naked ladies that tended to be in the studio, you had to be 18, so I was screwed. When I was 18, I got an internship in the promotions dept. and quietly and persistently made my way to the on-air side. In time ... and with some luck ... I ended up here.

2) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?

KRZR is the heritage Rock station in Fresno, celebrating 20 years as of 6/17/09. Our listeners like it hard and loud and we deliver that.

3) How have the recent FCC regulations impacted the way you program your music and the station's dialogue on the air? What are your feelings about these recent changes?

Why is that you can have a song called "Crazy Bitch," but when we were playing older Aerosmith, one song had "ass" bleeped out? Even after required yearly training on decency, I still don't get it ... does anyone?

4) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?

We broadcast at krzr.com and we get a lot of e-mails/calls from people listening outside of our terrestrial market, so in that regard it's helped us. While I think local radio is changing, there's something personal about it that will keep it around ... as long as we can live with the changes that today's marketplace requires. Oh, and it's free ... that helps.

5) What can we be doing with our station websites to better our stations as a whole?

Our websites are part of our job description. We've all become web designers to some degree by default. While creative, unique content is important and good for the audience ... it's the thongs of the day, babes of the days, etc. that really drive the traffic.

What really bugs me is when I see outdated info (tour, station events, etc) posted on sites. If you don't care enough to update things, listeners are not going to care enough to look at your page.

6) What's the best concert you've been to so far this year and why?

AC/DC in December in L.A. I'd never seen them and took my brother-in-law, who's been playing them for me since I was 2 and he hadn't seen them, either. It was easily in my top 2 EVER. Hit after hit after hit, and even though I was 3 rows from the top of the Forum, the sound and view was awesome. It's worth the $100 ticket. I'm going to the show in San Jose in Sept.

7) Tell us what music we would find on your car or home CD player (or turntable) right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?

The Cage the Elephant CD is fantastic. I also really dig the Dropkick Murphys, Tossers, Flogging Molly and stuff of that nature. I do listen to our station and its music about 90% of the time, but when I'm not, I tend to lean towards that Irish-punk-rock sound. It's hard to get sick of when you don't get to listen to it often.

8) Over the years, we've had the "British Invasion," "Disco," "New Wave," "Rap & Hip-Hop," "Boy Bands," and many other genres and sub-genres of music take off. What do you think is the next emerging music trend?

I really think rock is having a comeback with talented young bands like Five Finger Death Punch, All That Remains, Since October, etc. set to join the ranks of powerhouse bands like Slipknot, Disturbed, Godsmack, Mudvayne, etc. The cool thing is that it's not in place of great bands like Metallica and AC/DC putting out new music ... it's in addition to it. That rocks.

9) If you are voicetracking shifts or syndicating for stations outside of your market, how do you get familiar with that marketplace/community?

I'm lucky that Modesto is similar to Fresno in many ways. I keep in touch with the air staff there to know what's going on, and the Internet is a good source of info. I also make sure to return e-mails from listeners since I don't have the ability to have verbal communication with them.

10) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?

Be ready to work for nothing, or close to nothing. The only way to get in to this business seems to be through an internship, part-time work, etc. This job isn't for people who are looking for huge checks, but it's fun and you get to meet cool people. When those perks start to be outweighed by the other factors, that's when it's probably time to do something else. Also, in light of the consolidation that seems to be constant, always have a backup plan. For me, that's getting my Masters.

What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?

There's a station called The Drive that broadcasts on three frequencies somewhere between Vegas and Barstow and all of those other lovely towns along the way ... that station saved my sanity on a recent drive to/from Vegas.

How have music file-sharing services, affected the way you program to your audience?

It's not rare to hear a record rep quoting MySpace plays as proof that their song/band works. We take it all into consideration.

What was the first song or full-length release you purchased?

I remember the first three CDs I bought immediately after getting my first CD equipped boom box-an Aerosmith CD, the Grease Soundtrack and a Sublime CD.

What gets you upset at work and how do you channel your anger?

Sometimes the lack of communication (usually because everyone has SO much to handle) and the subsequent oversights really get to me. My husband is really good at listening. A new stress reliever is my daughter. She's just over a year and when I go home, it's about her, not about work. She puts the stupid stuff into perspective.

What has been the best performing record on the station so far this year?

Anything by Slipknot is a given for our audience, but the surprise so far this year has been the All That Remains, "Two Weeks." We probably could have played that thing in power the entire year and no one would have bitched.