10 Questions with ... Brad Erickson

NAME:Brad Erickson TITLE:Host of the KFAT Morning Chaos and Asst. Program Director STATION:KFAT 92.9 MARKET:Anchorage COMPANY:New Northwest Broadcasters BORN:Braham, MN RAISED:In the small town of Braham but it is the Pie Capitol Of The World.

Please outline your radio career so far.

* WCMP (1995 & 1996), Sports Color Commentary. My brother worked there, and everyone he asked was busy so I was his 12th choice for help.
* WYXE in Amery, WI (in 1997 for about a month)
* KKRL in Carroll, IA (1998 to 2000)
* Cities 97 in Minneapolis (2000 to 2002)
* Metro Traffic Reporter, Minneapolis (2000 to 2004)
* KTTB (B92) in Minneapolis (2002 to 2004)
* Hot 96.5 in Little Rock (2004 to 2006)

1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

I did color commentary and kept stats for a few games with my brother in Pine City, MN. I sucked keeping stats. I hate math, and my brother Jim didn't tell me there be any math. My biggest influence would have to be my brother Jim. We used to listen to Hines and Berglund in the morning and then do a fake show and record on tape and listen back to the non-stop hilarity.

2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?

I realized this is what I was meant to do in my first fulltime radio gig in Iowa. It was one of the first times that I actually started getting compliments on a regular basis and for something that was legitimate, and I sucked, as we all do when we start out, so that's when I knew. I did piss off some farmers though when I had the window open and I said it smells like crap outside. Hell, it's Iowa, but they'd rather have you refer to it as the smell of money.

3) If you were just starting out in radio, knowing now what you didn't then, would you still do it?

Yes. I mean, HELL YES!

4) Where do you see yourself and the industry five years from now? How do you feel about the PPM eventually replacing the diary?

I see myself in a bigger market with a huge crew creating funny and entertaining radio. I am not a big fan of the diary because it seems to be inaccurate. You hear the talk on the street that people love your station, and then the diary comes out and your numbers don't reflect that because they landed in a trailer park in the wrong side of town. I hope the PPM is a better solution, but that system has a few issues as well.

5) How you feel about being made to wait on a record you hear until the research validates it?

We are actually at a company and a station that allows the Program Director to jump on some things before they've been tested. That's great because it gives your station an energy and a look to the listeners that you are the best option to hear the best new music first. That's big, especially if you're going up against big companies and/or heritage stations.

6) What is going to happen to the training of tomorrow's talent and programmers if the current trend continues? How do you feel about syndication and voicetracking?

I think you'll get a product that isn't very good or, at best, average. What would happen if we stopped teaching are kids and stop making them go to school?

Syndication works some places and doesn't work in others. If it's a good product, then fine, but just throwing celebrities on the air I think is a bad idea.

7) What adjustments have you had to make in your new position?

I've only been here a few months, so I'm still getting used to everything, but the great thing about radio is that even though every station is different, they are really all the same. Getting used to everybody's personality and them getting used to yours is always the toughest adjustment.

8) Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?

Nope, I'm perfect. I kid, I kid. I would like to be a better teacher and be more tolerant. When working with new people that have just entered the business, I have to tell myself that they are just starting out and they may not look at things the way I do, so it's my job to show them that. Not everyone will have the same passion that you may have.

9) How do you feel the current payola investigation is going to affect both industries? Are Urban programmers going to be slower in adding and playing new music?

If you follow the rules and do the things the way they should be done, then you won't have to worry about it. Even if you don't agree with them.

10) As you look back over your career, any regrets? Missed opportunities?

No, not really. A few things didn't work out, and a few people screwed me over, but that's life. Learn from it, and everything will work out for the best.

What's been your biggest disappointment in radio today?

The fact that people always talk negative about it, especially in the industry. Instead of building it up, we're always knocking it down. If we're in the business of promoting ourselves and our industry, then we need to start doing that. That's why if you're really serious about radio and broadcasting, you need to attend The Conclave June 28 to July 1 in Minneapolis.

How did you get your present job?

I applied and they gave it to me.

What do you do with a song you don't like?

I find a big pile of moose poop, and I throw it in the box that the record came in, and I send it back with this note: "Your record was great, FOR ME TO POOP ON!"

What's your favorite fast food?

Leftovers in the station refrigerator. Salespeople have the best leftovers, and even though they put a sign on the fridge door that says "if it's not yours, don't eat it," I will continue to do so because it usually goes bad anyway. I'm just doing my part -- it's what Oscar winner Al Gore would want.