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10 Questions with ... Chris Diestler
September 8, 2020
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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 in its nascency. 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 University, 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. That show just celebrated its 800th weekly episode during COVID -19.
3. You must have been very excited about KBAC winning Station of The Year in the JBE SummitFest awards. Tell us about that.
Yes, I was (and still am) a little shocked. KBAC had been nominated before but I don’t think it had ever won. Obviously, there’s a lot of amazing signals out there. Actually listening to music might be the key, and being willing to give new artists a shot. Ira was always doing both, and I took it to heart.
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 always a factor, even during COVID-19. Hutton has screens in restaurants and hotels.
5. What has been your biggest challenge at the station during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic?
Retooling everyone’s skill set to be able to work from home. We’ve always had a lot of live interviews with the community, local musician and touring in-studios. All that happens from home now. Ad revenue took a steep dive and there’s been furloughs and layoffs, but we’re making it work.
6. What special programming and events have been doing to support the Santa Fe community?
Back in April (which seems like 10 years ago), Scott Hutton suggested we do livestreams with local and national acts to raise money for local charities like The Food Depot, and that was a smashing success. We’re small so we can turn on a dime, and the big guys hadn’t yet figured out this was all there was to do as far as entertainment goes. Lately, we’ve shifted focus to our long list of talented local musicians and getting the word out to support them directly through Bandcamp, GoFundMe or whatever they’re using. We wanted to have a festival weekend “in real life” but we’re not allowed to gather during COVID-19, so we just do it on-air, online and through socials.
7. What new artists are you most excited about?
Not sure where you’re drawing the line at “new,” but I’ve really enjoyed turning listeners on to Michael Kiwanuka, Phoebe Bridgers, Arlo Parks, Khruangbin, Marcus King, Pressing Strings, Sarah Jarosz, Jade Bird, Yola, Omicron J Trauma, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Black Pumas, Ondara, Devon Gilfillian, Billy Strings, Vulfpeck, and Mt. Joy. Listeners are constantly reaching out to let us know how much they appreciate us keeping music discovery going during the pandemic as they work from home.
8. What would surprise people most about you?
That I started doing recorded voice-over/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, including smart speakers since most people don’t have an actual radio in their homes anymore.
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.
Bonus Questions
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 bought for me.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
You mean, if COVID-19 wasn’t a thing? 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 and camping.
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