10 Questions with ... Ken Carson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• WOVV/Ft.Pierce, FL (1975)
• WHNN/Saginaw, MI
• KHTZ/Reno
• WHJY/Providence, RI
• WPHD/Buffalo
• WHTQ/Orlando
• WROQ/Greenville, SC
• WCOO/WYBB/ Charleston, SC
• KKLZ/KSTJ/Las Vegas
• Cox Radio/Birmingham, Houston
• Citadel/Harrisburg, PA
• Saga/Asheville, NC
• Midwest Family/Springfield, IL
• WCOO-WYBB/Charleston, SC (2018)

1. How did you become interested in radio?

When I was 11, my den mother in scouts (who was the wife of industry legend Paul Christy) took us to the radio station in Washington, D.C. where Paul was working, and it was like opening a magic door. At the age of 15, my parents retired to Port St. Lucie, FL and the local radio station out of Ft. Pierce (WOVV) was broadcasting a part-time opening for a high school junior or senior. I applied and landed the job. As a teenager on the air at a 100k-watt station. I wasn't what you'd call focused until I met, and became a student of, Dave Brewer. Dave straightened me out and helped me focus on my skill-set. That's when I realized, this is it!

2. Who were/are your mentors?

Dave Brewer, Tim Moore, Fred Jacobs, Caroline Devine

3. I know you are just there, but what kind of tweaks are you initially doing to WCOO?

Removing classic rock and re-introducing songs from the '90s and early 2000s, especially those played by 96 Wave in its heyday.

4. What new music are you most excited about?

All of it, however the quality of singer-songwriters is astonishingly abundant right now.

5. What do you like best about working at a Triple A station?

Different is good and turning listeners on to new artists is a dream come true.

6. The station ties in with a lot of great events each year, tell us about some of them.

Cooper River Bridge Run, High Water Festival, Blue Grass Festival, Wine & Food Festival, Spoleto Arts Festival, Charleston Marathon, Craft Beer and BBQ Festival, Volvo Car Open Tennis Tournament ... and the list goes on!

7. What prompted you to want to return to South Carolina?

Family, Lynn Martin (owner) and the fact that Charleston is the cultural center of the South.

8. What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

Engaging listeners with original content they can't get anywhere else. They must get everything they need from your station. Also, when will the large radio groups learn that what works in Atlanta or Dallas WILL NOT WORK in Milwaukee or Charleston? Local, community radio customized to each market is crucial, so stop cramming "the corporate model" down programmers' throats and give them the freedom to create content and programming that is customized to their community. Thank goodness I work for a private owner who gets it.

9. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

You're only as good as your last show.

10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ...

Looking at pictures of my children and grandchildren.

Last non-industry job:

Selling newspaper subscriptions when I was 14.

First record ever purchased:

Grand Funk Live album

First concert:

California Jam 1974 ... I was a kid!

Favorite band of all-time:

Pink Floyd. Favorite artist: Mark Knopfler.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?

Scuba.