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10 Questions with ... Casey Smith
August 8, 2022
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1. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
Most of them! I tended to follow the jocks, and growing up in the 80s and 90s outside of Nashville, we certainly had some good ones. I was a big Coyote McCloud guy, and once I got into radio, I really dug a guy named Joe Elvis.
2. What got you interested in the radio business?
An overwhelming need to hear myself talk about music? I really don’t know. I just know it was something I got way interested in very very young. I grew up in a house where there was always music playing, and I wound up being one of those kids who would spin up and down the AM dial at night, because I figured out that, with a little luck, you could hear some really cool stuff from pretty far away.
3. How long have you been at Lightning 100?
I started doing weekend shifts in 2016, and I’ve been doing afternoon drive for the last three years or so. This is actually my second tour with the company. I was here before from like 97-02.
4. Who are your mentors that guided your career so far?
I’ve always been fortunate to sort of be in orbit around a lot of talent. I actually got to work very briefly with Coyote, and a lot of the jocks who I was around when I was a kid had been the air staff at the old WMAK, which at one point had been THE station in Nashville.
I also 100% blame my current PD, Dan Buckley, for getting me back into radio, though he has been great at helping to knock off the mic rust.
5. Nashville is rich with local talent, tell us about the 615 local show that you program?
This will take a minute! We run a program every Monday at 6P Central called “the615.” It’s a two hour block of music made by artists in and around Nashville. One of the things I am the most proud of is our Submission System. Literally anyone in town can go to our website, submit a song, and wind up on the air. I’ve had a few instances where I’ll come to work on a Monday morning having never heard of an artist, see their submission, and play them on the air that evening. I’ve also gotten in the habit of reaching out to the artists who submit and letting them know the first time their song hits the air. I started doing that just because I didn’t want anyone to miss out, and over the last few years I’ve personally been reminded many times that “First Time On The Radio” is still a HUGE deal to folks!
In February of 2021, we refreshed the615, expanded it to two hours, and we created a spin off show, 615 Saturday. While the Monday show is all about submissions, shows, and what’s happening in town, the Saturday show gives us a chance to go back and spotlight some of the newer or lesser known locals we’ve played, and I’ll even find a little time every now and then for something like some John Prine or Jason and The Scorchers. I also start every Saturday with a brief (?) story about something unique from Nashville or Tennessee’s history, but that’s really just me tapping into my inner Paul Harvey. And, after researching and telling around 75 of these little chestnuts, I can say one thing about my birth place…We’re weird, man.
In all seriousness, I am very proud of this part of our operation. I’ve loved seeing these shows continue to grow, especially when you figure in some of the unique challenges our industry has faced the last couple of years.
6. What’s the biggest challenge in finding real talent to put on the air?
You know, the talent is there. What I run into is the “other stuff” like audio quality. I’m a big proponent of DIY and bedroom studios. I completely get some of the limitations an independent artist will run into, and I’m happy to overlook some quality issues here and there for someone starting out. But, from time to time, I’ll still get things that sound like Voice Memos.Even if you’re pretty comfortable when it comes to writing and performing, if you’re new to the recording process, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Also…if you’re submitting to radio, please consider the content of your lyrics. If “The Best Song In The World” has one of a few different words in it, then I can’t play “The Best Song In The World.” Period. Radio edits are your friend. I also remind people sometimes that radio is not streaming. There are different schools of thought, sure, but it can become challenging on this end when an artist releases a new song every two weeks. Don’t be afraid to let your stuff breathe.
7. How do you balance out your show while staying in the lane Triple A radio?
Just barely! This is where Lightning 100 having a 30 plus year history in Nashville comes in handy. I think our listeners know that yes, we are a AAA station, and we do have a format, but over time I think we’ve cultivated an understanding of “Look, we’re music nerds. And we’re betting you are, too. And you will probably dig this.” On the615, “music nerd” can sound like a lot of things, and it’s nothing to hear bluegrass, punk, r&b, country, AAA, soul and funk all wrapped up in the same two hours.
8. I heard you listened to 2000 submissions in 2021. Is there anything you would tell a local or emerging artists to avoid doing?
That I did! (The trick is to try to listen to at least a little bit of something every day!) If you’re just starting out, I’d say to listen to as many records as you can, and dig deep into some older stuff. Check out the people who influenced your influences. Don’t be afraid of different styles. If all you’re listening to is metal, it’s time to check out Nina Simone.
Also, pay attention to what’s happening around you. Don’t create in a vacuum. You may be working on something very cool, but if you’re doing what everyone else is doing, your very cool thing seems less special.
9. What are some pet peeves or growth advice you would give bands who are seeking opportunities to get their band heard?
Make sure people know how much you appreciate their support, because in the beginning, you will need a whole lot of it. That’s friends, family, everybody. If you’re getting booked, be very good to the venue sound, security, wait staff, etc. Realistically, you’ll be spending a lot of time around these folks when you’re starting out, and “They’re good, but they were a nightmare to deal with” is absolutely a thing. Short version: Show up on time. Be ready to work. Be nice.
10. If you were to leave the radio business today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
I think you’d see me pop up on a random TV station at like 2AM on a Saturday hosting double features about Atomic Saucer Werewolf People and such.
Bonus Questions
Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without …
I feel like I should say something like “sunshine” or “the laughter of children,” but, Diet Coke. The answer is Diet Coke.
Last non-industry job:
Working HR and Safety for a great big retail company.
First record ever purchased:
Poison’s “Open Up And Say Ahh!” It was on cassette. I was 9. My mom was nonplussed.
First concert:
Ray Charles. Starwood Amphitheater. 1986.
Favorite band of all-time:
Ohhhh…The Clash? The Ramones? Beasties? Or, has anyone started a band that sounds like a cross between Dolly Parton and Motorhead? Because that would instantly become my favorite band of all time.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?
As much as I’d love to say something cool like “I retire into the shadows and become the scourge of the underworld,” I really just hang out around the house with my wife and son.
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