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10 Questions with ... Ike D
May 23, 2006
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10 Questions with ... Ike DNAME:Ike DTITLE:PDSTATION:KMXF (Hot Mix 101.9)MARKET:Fayetteville, AROWNER:Clear Channel
Please outline your radio career so far:
I started at age 17 in little Arkansas town called Berryville. The station was KTHS - a very small News/Satellite Country station with lots of commercials. I started by visiting the station for a school project, and was eventually hired as an intern. My dad was in radio in Oklahoma City, had sold his stake in KEBC and moved to Arkansas before I was born. He told me to stay out of radio, but naturally, I disobeyed. After a year and a half at KTHS, I moved to Fayetteville landing a part-time gig on the weekends here at KMXF (Hot Mix 101.9). Later, there was some staff shuffling and before long I was doing nights. I had no idea what I was doing. Until that time, I had only done news and very little talking up songs, and suddenly, I was actually doing time checks on the night show! Luckily, my PD Ken Wall believed in me, and helped me improve. From nights I moved to afternoons and became APD. Since May of 2004 I've been the PD.
1 How did you land your first gig?
It was the closest I have ever felt to being an animal …a gigantic gofer.
2 How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?
COUNTRY! We're in the land of the "Good 'Ol Boys," but there is still room for a very competitive CHR battle. This market is not typical of markets this size. We have the Wal-Mart World Headquarters in our Metro (Bentonville), so there is a lot of activity and standards are high. We also have Tyson Chicken, JB Hunt Trucking, and many other big businesses based right here. This area (Northwest Arkansas) is the fastest growing area in the country second to Las Vegas. It's a great place to be right now.
3 What is your favorite part of the job?
Being a leader, I don't see myself as anyone's "boss". I enjoy drawing up a game plan for success and then helping my air staff, as well as them helping me, to achieve our goal.
4 What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
Actually, believe it or not, my competition now.
5 Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?
Drinking … kidding. I like sports … the Arkansas Razorbacks, St. Louis Cardinals, and St. Louis Rams!
6 What music do you listen to when you're not working?
Any and everything. Lately it's been a lot of classic country - maybe it has something to do with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.
7 What's your take on the increase to $325,000 for violators of indecency rules?
That darn Janet Jackson and her $325,000 nipple!
8 In a Bridge Ratings survey of 2400 podcast users in 10 markets, 60% of 12-24 year olds reported listening to a podcast within the past 30 days - an increase of 6% from April '05. What do you think of this relatively new medium and how it can be utilized to radio's advantage?
It's a force to be reckoned with that's for sure. I hate to say this, but I have an iPod and it's pretty dang cool. One fact remains, radio is how people learn about the best new music and if we keep painting that picture to the listener they will always come back. In some ways, these new mediums have forced radio to get better (see also Less Is More). Technology is going to continue to get better and there will always be some new product to challenge us radio people to find a new way to reach our audience. I heard there's actually a new iPod that will make pancakes and play two songs and the same time …crazy!
9 What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?
It's fun. I don't want to play Kelly Clarkson songs when I'm 40, but I think I'll always have a foot in radio.
10 What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Sales people will try to give your station away if you don't watch them.
Bonus Questions
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
The President …back when being the President was cool.
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