10 Questions with ... Ryan Kramer

1. How would you describe your first radio gig?

Sacrifice and learn. After doing promotions in Denver, I got my first on-air gig in Tulsa at KHTT doing a couple of overnight shifts in the middle of the week. I had to hold down a full-time job at the same time to make ends meet, but I wanted radio and was willing to sacrifice what I needed to in order to make it a career.

2. What led you to a career in radio?

Truthfully it was sports. I wanted to stay in sports somehow, and I saw radio as my outlet to do that. I initially wanted to do play-by-play baseball, but I started to realize how tough it was to break in to the sports world. I shifted my focus towards music since I had an equal love with it.

3. Congrats on your recent promotion. How do you appropriate the time to oversee all four of the stations?

Thanks! So, by nature I'm a planner. I'm very regimented and have a routine that I stick to each and every day in order to make sure no balls are dropped. I get in the office by 7a, hop in the studio and start doing my segue work. Once the logs are to my satisfaction, I knock out my voicetracking for KXSS and KPRF. I try to be out of the studio by 9a. Hop in the office, respond to some emails then write my articles for the apps and websites. If I've done it all correctly, I'm free and clear for other things no later than noon. That gives me the whole second half of the day to interact with sales, complete other tasks and just move freely.

4. You crack the mic every day, hosting middays on Kiss and then afternoons on sister Classic Hits 98.7 The Bomb. What is it about being on the air that still rocks your world?

Just knowing I'm a part of people's day. I still enjoy thinking that I'm able to make them smile or laugh while going through the monotony of their day or drive home. I also still enjoy the community aspect of it, being able to get the word out about something happening in the community or bringing them pertinent info about something going on. Just being intertwined with the city and people gives me joy.

5. If you could pick one guest to plug in across from you for an interview/guest DJ stint who would it be and why?

This is such a tough question. It's so hard to pick just one guest, and my answer seems to continuously change. I think it would be a lot of fun to have Clive Davis though. That man has seen everything, worked with everyone and the stories he could tell I think would make for incredible radio. Just to have him tell a story about an artist or song as we go into it would add so much to the record.

6. This Bruce Springsteen fan has to ask about the infamous Cadillac Ranch. Is it as cool as it looks and what actually goes on over there?

Ha! Well I will say pictures make it look a LITTLE cooler than it is, but it's still a pretty fun thing to go do. Everyone is just spray painting away on these cars and expressing themselves however they wish. Knowing there is years and years of history underneath the layers of paint is a lot of fun.

7. What do you think is The Song Of Summer 2021?

It's really hard to deny Olivia Rodrigo "Good 4 U" quite honestly. That song just shot out of the gates like a horse at the Kentucky Derby and never let up. It's everywhere.

8. "Local local local" has always been radio's mantra. How have you keep your stations visible and involved in the community? Has the staff been getting back out there yet?

We try to get involved in as many events as we can within the community. Things that aren't usually something you see a lot of radio stations or television stations be a part of is where we like to stick ourselves. Sure, we're at all the big community events, parades, etc., but, for example, there is a suicide awareness event that we were recently a part of, and that's not something you usually see a media presence at. We really like to be anywhere we can that benefits the community in general. And yes, the jocks have been getting out there for quite some time now, before I even walked in the door.

9. What were your favorite stations growing up as a kid? Jock(s)?

I was a rhythmic kid, so the two stations I really gravitated to were KQKS in Denver when I lived there and KMEL in San Francisco in my few years there. Those are two stations that have always been on my list since I got into the industry to target wanting to work for. It would be like coming full circle.

As far as jocks, you know? I don't know that I ever really had a favorite jock growing up. I found them all intriguing and just these big ol' rock stars, so I guess I liked them all!

10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

Chris Kelly, my former PD/OM back in Fort Collins, CO, really took me under his wing and taught me so much. He saw something in me even when my aircheck wasn't anywhere close to what he was looking for. He brought me in anyway and gave me opportunity after opportunity. I just soaked everything in, asked questions and he never hesitated to take the time to teach me.

Jay Shannon brought me to Austin and gave me a shot at the "big time." He really helped me understand how to program in a PPM market and how it was so different from a diary market.