10 Questions with ... Jason Nivens

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

KMKF/Manhattan, KS (1998-2/2001) Part-time weekends, nights, Production/Imaging Dir., mornings with a KAB Honorable Mention Award Medium Market

KQRC/Kansas City (7/2004-4/2009) Saturday morning board op., weekend evenings, evenings, afternoon drive

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

First job would have been overnights on the weekends at KMKF in "The Little Apple," Manhattan, KS. Early radio influences would have been guys like Casey Kasem, Rick Dees, Randy MIller, the now-defunct 105.9 The Lazer out of Lawrence, KS and of course, 98.9 The Rock!

2) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

Perhaps theater in New York City. Maybe trying my hand in the film world in L.A. Or hiking through Europe and being a writer. Who knows, really. I suppose if I get whacked a third time, maybe I'll pursue something else and let you know what it is.

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

Kansas City is a great market because there's really an outpouring of bands from here and typically once a band's found its way into the fans' hearts, they'll come out in droves for you. A great example of this is we announced a Shinedown all-acoustic show and our Rockaholics sold it out in 45 minutes. That's twice, now, they've sold out a show for them in under an hour. We're a landlocked island who love to rock and if you bring it, we'll pack it in.

4) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?

I see the industry still going forward; hopefully I'm along for the ride.

5) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

Cultivating talent.

6) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?

Shotgun Jaxon from 106.5 the Wolf, which is one of the stations in our cluster, because I can always count on him for a ride home.

7) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as six months ago, better, or about the same?

There's always gonna be the talk about music that it's too much this or too much that or this time was better than that time. Really, it's totally subjective. If I dig on it and you dig on it and we don't know each other, well now we'll become friends because of a common interest. Same can be said about someone who doesn't like a song that someone does like. Now we'll have a debate on our hands. Whether now, six months ago, or six months from now, music's music. It'll inspire, motivate, anger, excite, depress, just about any sort of emotion you can imagine ... music will provide.

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

I'm gonna have to go with Slash at the VooDoo. With Myles Kennedy on vox!

Why? Let's see ... Tunes off Slash's new solo album, some Snake Pit stuff, Velvet Revolver, Led Zeppelin, Guns-n-Roses, a blues solo and the theme from "Godfather."

9) What's the closest you ever came to getting arrested for an on-air stunt? Or did you actually get arrested?

Actually, exactly the opposite. We took my arrest and made it into a great bit. Seemed I had a warrant for my arrest for failure to pay an expired tags fine I received while driving my girlfriend's car in January. At the start of my third week back at KQRC in October I was pulled over for expired tags on my truck, which led me to being stuffed and cuffed, fingerprinted and photographed. Needless to say, I missed my afternoon-drive shift. Johnny Dare, our morning man, leaked my mug shot by 7a the next day. We left it on the website for two weeks and gave away a prize for whoever came up with the best caption during our "Incarceration Caption Contest." ...My mom was so proud.

10) What are your three favorite artists or songs of this year?

• Slash
• Mushroomhead
• Red Line Chemistry (little nepotism never hurt anyone)

Who would be your dream guest on the show?

Dave Grohl as I have a non-sexual man-crush on him.

What is your favorite TV show?

Rescue Me

What is your favorite TV Commercial? Radio Commercial?

The talking stain from Tide a few years back in the Super Bowl.

I still use those drops every now and again.

What do you do in your spare time?

Listen to music, watch movies, hang with my girl, drink... probably a little more than I should, write, make movies (not that kind).

How do you stay in tune with your audience?

Besides Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Email and the text line, the old phone.

How did you get your present job?

I take a bus out of downtown everyday and walk a half a mile to the studio.

Is that what you meant???