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10 Questions with ... Chris Ryan
July 8, 2008
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NAME:Chris RyanPOSITION:PDSTATION:KKCT Hot 975MARKET:Bismarck, NDOWNER:Cumulus Media
Please outline your radio career so far:
WMXZ/Fort Walton Beach - APD/MD/nights
WNUQ/Albany, GA - mornings/imaging
(Currently) KKCT Bismarck, ND - PD/MD/afternoons1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
"On the beach" literally! It was a Hot AC Station ... every other song we played was Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan or Melissa Etheridge. It was just like I was at the "Lillith Fair" every day, but I loved it!
2) What led you to a career in radio?
As a kid, I always walked around with my tape recorder and mic pretending to be an announcer. I listened to Casey Casem's AT 40 religiously every weekend and wrote down every song and kept my own records of the weekly countdown ... geeky, I know!
3) How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?
Country is HUGE! Classic Rock is pretty big, too! My station is the only frequency that really plays any current "pop" music. Therefore, we are a lot more "broad" than most Top 40s; we play stuff off the Pop chart and we pick up the biggest hits on the Hot AC and Rhythmic side of things. We have the highest cume in the market and we pulled some of our biggest numbers in the last Arbitron ratings. Hot 975 is customized for the Bismarck market.
4) What is your favorite part of the job?
Other than the fact that I get excited to come to work every day, get to listen to new music first, come up with promotions, schedule music, do an air shift, work with a great group of people and get paid for all that ... (deep breath) ... I have a pretty flexible lunch schedule!
5) What is the most challenging part of the job?
Having only a "little" to go a "long" way, but that forces creativity.
6) What artist would we be surprised to find on your iPod?
I guess my "broad" musical tastes really show if you were to scroll through my iPod. Let's see ... Angels and Airwaves, Ying Yang Twins, Secondhand Serenade, Trust Company, Rihanna, David Lee Roth, Flyleaf, Keith Urban, Lifehouse, Timbaland, Journey, Eminem, Staind, Natasha Bedingfield, Faith No More, Will Smith, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, Colbie Caillat, Ryan Cabrera, Leann Rimes, Wheatus ... nothing too shocking!
7) Could you give us a little insight into your on air staff?
We start off the morning with Kidd Kraddick - the most compelling and entertaining morning show around! The show is a monster for us:.#1 W 18-49, #1 W18-34 ... and the men dig it, too! The show has really grown here in Bismarck! I do afternoons from 2-6. My show is filled with entertainment news, local events, listener interaction, an afternoon countdown and an all-request "old skool" feature for the drive home -- which is HUGE with the listeners! Reed does nights from 6-10. I picked him up from CK 105.5 about a year ago. What a great hire! He's very interactive with the listeners, loves being on the streets and he's easily recognizable in public with his crazy hair. He definitely stands out ... and that's a good thing! Our night numbers show that the listeners love him!
8) If you could add one full-time position to your budget right now, what would it be?
A midday personality. Right now we are jockless in the midday, but the station still does very well. It would be nice to have a female talking to our workday crowd.
9) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
I have a lot of personalities that I admire, but I have to say my all-time favorite is J.J. Kincaid from Z100. I remember listening to him online in the overnights when he was on KDWB. He has a way of keeping you listening and wanting more! He has great energy and you can tell he's having fun! Best of all, I met him a week ago, and he's a nice guy, too ...go figure!
10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Never burn a bridge in radio! Everybody knows everybody!
Bonus Questions
For someone vacationing in your market, what one thing would you say they "must see"?
New Salem Sue - she's this big plastic cow outside of town that people worship!
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