10 Questions with ... Jason Reed

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• 1999-2002: Adventure Radio, WHAJ/Bluefield, WV (APD/ middays)
• 2002-2006: Bristol Broadcasting/Tri-Cities - Electric 94.9 (Afternoons/Web Guy)
• 2006-2007: Bristol Broadcasting/Tri-Cities - Electric 94.9 (MD/afternoons/Web Guy)
• 2007-Present: Bristol Broadcasting/Tri-Cities - Electric 94.9 (PD/afternoons/Web Guy)

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

"Radio Boot Camp." When I began in Bluefield, WV, everything we did was grassroots. Not a ton of budget for promotions, so we had to make up our own, like "Bird Bomb Bingo." We had a major bird problem with a 200-foot STL tower at the station, so we brought in a bed sheet, drew numbered squares on it, and had listeners call in and pick a square. If a bird "shat" on a square they won a prize. We even had an online game and T-shirts made.

2) How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?

For the market size, there are a ton of signals. Every major format is covered with the exception of Hot AC. So it's a small market with a ton of choices.

3) What is your favorite part of the job?

The behind-the-scenes stuff, execution of the plan. I'd love to one day be able to focus completely on managing the station and move off-air.

4) What's the coolest promotion you've been involved with recently?

"Think Pink All Week," our breast cancer awareness campaign, became a pretty big deal here. Our team put everything together on a Saturday and by that Monday, we were executing. We encouraged every business in the Tri-Cities to let their employees wear pink the weekend of the Susan G. Komen race. We posted pics online, and had our staff in major intersections all week wearing bras. It was a huge team effort for a great cause.

5) What artist would we be surprised to find on your iPod?

You might be surprised that I don't own an iPod or a working mp3 player. :)

6) Could you give us a little insight into your on-air staff?

I've got a full lineup of live jocks and I'm very lucky to have it. Jinger & Izzy in the Morning ... and we're live in every daypart with the exception of overnights, and live most of the weekend. I am also very blessed to have a team of extremely creative and passionate people who give 1000% every time.

7) Doing anything cool with your HD channels?

Can someone please take HD out behind the barn and kill it with a shotgun before it's too late? The absolute best use for HD side channels (right now) is the ability to add an FM translator. I just don't believe that we need to triple the number of radio stations in any market. We have enough trouble generating content for the signals we have now.

8) What music do you listen to when you're not working?

Country and News/Talk.

9) What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?

The constant change; every day is so different. It's perfect for someone with ADHD!

10) What would you like to do to save radio from its "dying-industry" image?

Ask every editor-in-chief of every industry publication to stop talking about how we have a "dying-industry" image. It starts with us. We have to believe that it isn't. We have all the data in the world that proves our relevancy. Let's invest in our products and make them stronger, local brands.

Favorite artist not in your format...

Zac Brown Band.