10 Questions with ... Chris Diestler

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I discovered radio around age 10, when I got my own. Made mixtapes off the radio and played DJ on school bus trips. Started making radio in college, won my first award. Did stints at Top 40, Country and Classic Rock signals. Recruited to work outside Seattle and helped re-tool the signal as a Triple A, when the format was barely in its nascence. Eventually realized I was one of those people who needed more sunshine. After moving to Santa Fe, fell in love with KBAC (which was just getting started) and auditioned to be on their "Desert Island" feature. I don't know if my skills were apparent, or if they liked my selections, but one day they called and said, "Hey, we've got an opening. Get over here."

1. How did you become interested in radio?

On the day I checked in to the dormitory at Washington State Univ., I hooked up the tuner to the cable and discovered there was a campus rock station. I went and signed up the next day. KUGR was a practical lab which taught us young kids how to operate a real radio station.

2. How long have you been with Hutton Broadcasting?

I've been with Hutton since 2008. I had worked with Ira Gordon through other owners (including Clear Channel) at KBAC. Ira recruited me to come back under the new owner, Scott Hutton, and the first thing I did was get my specialty jam band show (Toast-n-Jam) relit. Both Ira and Scott are great to work with, by the way.

3. I imagine you don't plan any drastic changes to KBAC, but what subtle tweaks are you considering?

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" That being said, I'd like to beef up KBAC's local music profile, although they already play more local bands than any station I've worked on. I have ideas about launching a weekly acoustic session, concert calendar, etc. Toying with the idea of having a Four-Twenty Flashback on weekdays.

4. How has the Santa Fe market evolved over the past few years?

The Santa Fe market evolves at a glacial pace compared to our neighbors, especially across the Colorado border. The demo here has always skewed older, but maybe that will change now with Meow Wolf (a vibrant art/music collective). Tourism is high this year, because we're getting a lot of snow compared to past years.

5. What is your biggest challenge at the station?

Filling Ira Gordon's shoes! Seriously though, I predict the biggest challenge will be tweaking the music mix, bringing it into a more modern focus without completely alienating our P1s. Also, it's a challenge wearing different hats (production, on-air, etc.) during the day, but I've gotten pretty good at it.

6. What new artists are you most excited about?

Snail Mail, Phantastic Ferniture, Bird Streets, The Record Company, Marcus King Band, Phosphorescent, Mt. Joy

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

We attract listeners who are passionate about music, and discovering new music. I hope that's not too close to the textbook answer (^_^)

8. What would surprise people most about you?

That I started doing recorded voiceover/characters/commercials at about age five or six. We grew up very poor and my sister and I shared a room at one point. At night, I would entertain her to sleep with my best Wolfman Jack impersonation.

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

Staying relevant! Radio must super-serve their individual markets with local information. Also, being available on all platforms is crucial. We're really missing the boat by not being available on smartspeakers right now, for instance.

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

... music. Music, and radio specifically, has kept me going through some dark times. I don't think I'd be alive today if not for music.

Last non-industry job:

Art teacher

First record ever purchased:

If you mean with my own money, it's a tie: Michael Jackson "Off the Wall" and Billy Joel "Glass Houses"

First concert:

Bryan Adams, ca. 1985 - I remember immediately feeling the bass kick in my chest when I entered the venue.

Favorite band of all-time:

I'm sure everybody says it, but The Beatles. Mom has a photo of me at age two proudly showing off the "Hey Jude" album they'd got me.

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

Playing in a local jam band called Pigment, writing/performing in a local comedy troupe at George R.R. Martin's Theater, writing/reading comic books, making/watching movies, poker, concerts, breweries.