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10 Questions with ... Ryan Kramer
August 15, 2006
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NAME:Ryan KramerTITLE:MD/MiddaysSTATION:KSME 96.1 KISS FMMARKET:Ft. Collins, COCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:Iowa City, IA. Sept. 10, 1979RAISED:Ha! Iowa, Ohio, Arizona, Colorado & California
Please outline your radio career so far:
KHTT Tulsa 11/03-3/04
KJMM Tulsa 3/04-2/05
KSME Ft. Collins 2/05-Current1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
My first job was doing an overnight shift from 2AM-5:30AM at KHTT a couple of nights a week. Some of the most interesting phone calls I have ever gotten, especially with my name being Freak Nasty. Use your imagination.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
Well the bottom line is that I love music, can't sing, can't rap and can't play an instrument, so I figured this way I could at least stay around music. That defining moment had to be the second I turned on the mic for the first time. I was shaking like it was 20 below zero, but it was the biggest rush of my life.
3) If you were just starting out in radio, knowing now, what you didn't then, would you still do it?
In a heartbeat. There isn't a thing in the world that could keep me away from this business. It's something I eat, sleep and breathe. Just ask my wife. She has GOT to be tired of me doing breaks in my sleep.
4) Where do you see yourself and the industry five years from now? How do you feel about the PPM eventually replacing the diary?
Well, I see the industry being around and me being in it. No, really I think the future of terrestrial radio is bright and I can only hope to be a part of it. I'd love to be in a top 100 market as an MD or maybe even PD in 5 years, but time will tell. I think the PPM is only a temporary answer until an even better system is in place. The PPM may end up being a bit too inconsistent in the fact that it's going to pick up any radio station while you are doing things such as shopping, not giving an accurate reading of what you as the listener actually listens to on a regular basis.
5) How you feel about being made to wait on a record you hear until the research validates it? Elaborate.
I think research is only part of what you need to use in order to validate a record. I think gut plays a role in a record. You know your market the best, and when a record comes around, you know if it's going to work for you or not. We were the first station on the Rascal Flatts record, and that wasn't thrown in based on research. We heard the record and said, hey that could very well work, and luckily enough, it did.
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 voice-tracking?
I think that by taking away some of the overnight shifts with voicetracking, there are definitely fewer chances for young fresh talent, but what will happen is that it's just going to show who really wants it. It's going to separate the contenders from pretenders and bring the cream of the crop to the front and make radio even stronger than it has been before.
7) What adjustments have you had to make in your new position?
The biggest adjustment I had to make was making the move from Urban to CHR/Mainstream. My first love has always been rhythmic music, so going from a urban based station to a true CHR was a big one. It was even tougher when I was named MD because I kept wanting to add rhythmic records ahead of some rock/pop records, and I had to realize that wasn't the direction of the station. I make adjustments everyday. We are in an ever-changing business and if you don't make those adjustments, you get left behind.
8) Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?
I'd like to improve in every area. There's a saying I live by, and that's "Once you think you know everything, it's time to move on". The only thing is that no one ever truly knows everything about something. Something can always be worked on and that is how I will be through my whole career.
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?
Well what it's really doing is leveling the playing field. There were stations that took full advantage of payola and it gave them the edge promotionally, whereas the stations that played by the rules were penalized by doing so in that manner. I don't think it's going slow anyone down from playing new music. You don't need some giveaways to play a hit song.
10) As you look back over your career ... any regrets? Missed opportunities?
No regrets, only learning experiences. I've been fortunate to seize opportunities as they come my way and I can only hope to be as fortunate in the future.
Bonus Questions
What do you do with a song you don't like?
Just because I may not like it doesn't mean my listeners will feel the same. I keep an open mind to everything and let them decide what they want to hear. If I don't like it, well then I'll just turn it down when it comes on!
Do you read ... everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What's your favorite reading material?
I read all sorts of things. Books, magazines, internet, newspaper. My favorite materials though have to be Sports Illustrated and anything related to the industry. I'm in the process of reading Wendy Williams "Wendy's Got The Heat" for the first time.
What "reality show" could you see yourself appearing on and why?
American Idol for sure. I know, I said I can't sing or anything, but I'm bound to be the next William Hung. Just you watch.
You just won the lotto and you have your boss on the line. What's the first thing that you would say?
Hey, I just won $100 million in the lottery. You want to go to Vegas and help me blow it all?
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