10 Questions with ... Jennifer Daunt

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

1991-1995 college radio, 1995-2003 various San Francisco bands and boutique record labels, Coast to Coast promotion, then I started my own company, Dauntless Promotion, in 2003 when it became apparent that Noncommercial radio could break artists the way I used to discover them on KROQ & 91X in the ‘80s. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to work with more Commercial stations who’ve adopted similar ears.

1. What got you interested in the record business?

When my dad told me to “stay away from the hippies doing drugs in the music business,” I was immediately curious. (he had a bad experience in the late ‘60s when he was kicked out of his friend’s recording studio for a being a ‘square’ by hippies called Jefferson Airplane). I think I’m following his dream of working with music -- he was electronics engineer and avid record collector -- but never could relate to artists or the business. I found the characters behind the scenes just as fascinating as the music on the radio. John Vernile, Paul Brown, Audrey Faine, Tom Frouge among others showed me early on how to work with passion and perspective, how to fight for the little guy and put your heart into your work.

2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

Mighty six ninety, 91X, KROQ, KLSX, KNAC, Mars, Pirate, KSBR, KUCI. The Southland/SoCal has always had great radio. My parents let me have all the presets on the car radio, it paid off!

3. What prompted you to leave the Bay Area and go to Portland?

To raise kids and have a house with a backyard, more access to nature and to have a rehearsal studio in the basement!

4. So how are your kids now? And with Portland being so politically/socially active, how have you explained that to them?

My kids are starting middle school in the fall. They’re very aware of the politics of the time and have gone on a few marches with us. They’re on their own path of self-discovery we’re trying to understand, but, wow, even I got old and find myself reiterating my parents’ concerns.

5. You tend to focus on the more “adventurous” projects, tell us how you settled into that niche.

Working for Windham Hill, Hearts of Space and Putumayo World Music kinda gets you in that mindset of “left of center!” I have to be challenged musically by my projects or I might as well be selling soap. What’s just around the corner has always been thrilling. I’m glad I’ve found a format to work in that agrees.

6. What is the toughest part of your job?

Picking the records to work and why. Having to say no sometimes, I HATE IT.

7. What new artists are you most passionate about?

I’m most passionate about the new artists with a clear vision early in their career, self-starters, collaborators. Is that a boring answer?

8. What do you view as radio’s biggest challenge these days?

Staying local, true to mission statements, keeping up with new music, not being lured by $ (I do understand that’s a luxury to not be driven by the bottom line), keeping in touch with their audiences to make sure they’re on track, and keeping promoters at bay… yep.

9. What would surprise people most about you?

My addiction to the NFL (this would have been an answer 10 years ago). I’ve kicked the habit, I don’t know if anything would be surprising now, maybe that I am still learning and surprised to be here… to have made a career out of my obnoxious music opinions and radio obsession)

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

… making someone laugh.

Last Non-Industry Job:

Flower delivery

First Record Ever Purchased:

Olivia Newton John

First Concert:

Captain and Tennille

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

Paddle boarding, cycling, anything in nature