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10 Questions with ... JJ Ryan
July 31, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
APD/Nights at KEEZ/Mankato, MN (a couple of months in 2005); Afternoons/play-by-play at KLSS/Mason City, IA (a couple of months in 2005); APD/MD/Corporate Imaging Dir./afternoons at KFRX/Lincoln, NE (Jan. 06-Aug. 2010); Music Director/nights at KQCH/Omaha (Aug 2010-Present).
1) Congrats on the monster #1 Spring book. What were some of the highlights?
Our morning show always performs well, and is a great lead-in to the rest of our dayparts. The real highlight is ... no matter how well we do, we continue to bust our ass. The work is never done. By the time we get good news, we are already in the middle of a new book! This is a competitive market, and if you let up you are in major trouble.
2) What were some of the best performing songs for you during the Spring book?
The emergence of a few new artists has been great! Carly Rae Jepsen, FUN., One Direction, The Wanted, Gotye ... all had success. There were the usual suspects, like Katy Perry & Rihanna ... J. Bieber hitting puberty worked out for us too!
3) What promotions were a major part of the Spring book effort?
We gave away thousands of dollars in gas as a qualifying prize ... the grand-prize winner scored a grand. Gas & Cash ... two things we all want/need!
4) You guys have made being #1 a habit there. What are the main factors that have kept the station at the top?
Mark Todd, our PD, is an outstanding leader with tremendous vision and winning philosophies. He has built Channel 94-1 into something super-special since his arrival a few years ago. Things are incredibly organized; the message is consistent, and we have a terrific promotions team led by Stephanie Chandler.
5) Run down your air staff for us.
The Big Party Morning Show is an awesome group of three people ... Big Party, Jeff and Molly. They have true chemistry. Mandy Scott just joined the team, and has been rocking middays. She sounds great! Montez just slid from middays to afternoons, and has picked up right where our previous afternoon dude left off. And then I try my best not to suck at night.
6) Who are you sharing the most audience with these days?
I have to be careful! I don't want to provide anyone with bulletin board material. Hot Boy has done a great job with KOPW, and KQKQ has had success.
7) Let's say you're prepping for your show right now. What resources are you looking at?
I love talking to other jocks and sharing ideas. I love talking to the women in my life and discussing their dirt on my show. Late-night brainstorming sessions while drinking alone have proven to produce big phones, too.
8) What's your best source for finding out about new music trends?
If Mrs. Me asks me about a song, that is usually a really good early sign. We are such opposites; she HATES when I ask her to listen to a new song with me. She literally bugged me about some song she found online for two or thre weeks before we added it ... the hook was "Call Me Maybe" ... or something like that.
9) How much time a day to you spend with social media?
A lot. I really try to bring my network to the station and station website naturally, unlike some jocks. There are some who are link here, link there left and right. The only thing they leave out is a link to their savings account. It's important to be human online.
10) So many songs, so few slots! What are the key factors in getting a song on Channel 94.1?
I can't let the record folks know what the key to my heart is! There are a few women around the office I am constantly bugging for opinions, which results in a constant dance party in my cubicle ... or staff nap time when the song is a stiff.
Bonus Questions
What was your last non-industry job?
Serving tables at Famous Dave's in Minneapolis in 2004. I honestly miss it. I loved it!
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