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10 Questions with ... Chris Beasley
February 23, 2015
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started in production at Beasley Media in November of 2009 after moving back home from Alabama. In the summer of 2010 I started my on-air career, doing 6-10p on WJBX (99X)/Ft. Meyers. In the beginning of 2013, I started selling radio full-time for the Beasley Media Group cluster in Southwest Florida. In December of 2014 I transitioned from sales to programming. On January 12th, 2015 I was promoted to PD for WRXK-HD2 in Southwest Florida.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
It was engrained in me during my upbringing. Most of my family has gone into radio.
2. As an HD 2 channel, what's the broadcast situation/reach for the market?
We broadcast on WRXK-HD2 as well as four translators that cover from North Ft. Myers down to Marco Island.
3. How would you describe the music on the station?
We play "modern music." This is a very loose term, but we look at Hot AC, Triple A and Alternative charts along with '90s and '2000s music that has the "sound" we are looking for.
4. How much of the music that you play do you share in the market?
Of our 24 currents, we have 100% share for nine of them.
5. What are some of the station's benchmark promotions?
We have Commercial-Free Monday that has been implemented since the start of the station. We just launched our Artist on the Rise segment. We play artists who are new every day at 12:30p and 3:30p -- and encourage our audience to let us know on Facebook, Twitter and our website what they think. This is a less corny way for our listeners to feel they have a say in the songs we play.
6. How do you stay in tune with your audience?
We connect with our audience using social media, like any other station, but where I think we differentiate ourselves is we like being at community events. Minor league baseball and hockey games, fraternity/sorority events and charity events are some of the events we like to be at where our listeners can interact with the station.
7. What other stations/outlets do you like to keep track of?
KLCK/Seattle and KGSR/Austin
8. What is your biggest challenge at the station?
Being broadcast on translators! Depending where you are in the market, we come in on different frequencies. It has been an uphill battle getting listeners to understand this concept. It was difficult for radio people to understand this in the beginning, too.
9. What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
Keeping the industry fresh and connected with the young generation. Radio brings something to the table that Internet and satellite stations can't bring, and that is the local element. A Triple A station in Seattle sounds different than a Triple A in Austin and different than a Triple A in New York. We can tailor music to fit the area we are in, while connecting with our listeners on a more intimate level. Radio needs to keep the "coolness" that the industry was built on.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ...
... my Monster energy drink!
Bonus Questions
Last non-industry job:
None
First record ever purchased:
Eminem -- the Eminem Show
First concert:
NSYNC - No Strings Attached (not proud of that)
Favorite band of all-time:
Foo Fighters!
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
Playing golf and going out on the boat with family.
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