Charese Fruge’ @MCMediaonline Talks To Lo Sessions

Lauren, “Lo” Sessions is the new APD, MD and afternoon host for one of the biggest Country stations in the U.S., Cox Media’s KKBQ (93Q Country)/Houston. Imagine one of your first assignments on the job in a new city being a live show from the kickoff of one of the biggest events to ever hit a city the size of Houston - The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It’s quite an indication of the task Lo has ahead of her. The event kicks off in January with the announcement lineup and includes one of the largest Bar-B-Que cook offs in the world, followed by weeks of rodeo competitions, food, fun and major concerts. It’s the Mardi Gras of Houston, and if you work in Country radio, it consumes your existence for the entire time, which runs all the way through mid-March.

But the fun won’t stop there for Lo in her new position, Country is a new format for her, but it’s been a lifelong dream. “I've been doing this radio thing for a decade now and the one format I've always wanted to be a part of was Country,” she says. “I grew up listening to Country music, I love what the genre represents and when presented with the opportunity to not only join the CMG family, but the largest Country radio station in the nation, I couldn't pass it up. After meeting the KKBQ team and the leadership in our building I knew in my heart this was my new home. It was a no brainer decision.”

Lo started her radio career at WFLZ/Tampa, FL. She quickly climbed the radio ladder from intern to part-time on-air shifts for the station from 2012-2015. Her first full time gig was with WV Radio Corp as the midday talent for WVAQ/Morgantown from 2015-2016. Sessions then joined Alpha Media in 2016, first as the evening host on CHR KBFF/Portland, then took over MD/midday duties at Top 40-R KINK HD-2 in January 2018.

In late 2021, Sessions took her talents to Alpha's sister cluster in San Antonio, TX to act as the APD/MD/afternoon host for then CHR KTFM (Energy 94.1) and the Content Director for Top 40-R KTFM HD-2. As of December 2022, Lo is now safely planted in Houston, and on the way to making a name for herself at KKBQ.

“One of the most exciting things to happen in my career happened just recently with KKBQ,” explains Lo. “We broke the venue record at The Rustic in downtown Houston for our 93Q Star Party. While I wasn't a part of the beginning planning stages of the event, I'm still proud of the team that I'm on now for pulling that off.”

“My biggest accomplishments in my career thus far, I would say, are being nominated as one of Radio Ink's 30 and Under Superstars and being chosen for the MIW mentorship,” says Sessions. “I think a lot of people in this industry definitely go through some self-doubt throughout their career, and I absolutely have gone through that. There are still moments of like...how did I get here? Do I deserve this? I overcame that by leaning on the people I trust the most. On a career level and a personal level. Sharing how you're feeling and getting feedback from friends and colleagues is always helpful. And that has certainly shaped the professional I am today.”

“This sounds so cliche but to succeed, you must stay true to you and your vision of yourself,” Lo says. “It's so easy to let someone tell you how to 'blaze your path,' especially in an industry this competitive. You end up working on someone else's goals and dreams for them and leave yourself for last. Don't do that. Keep your goals and ideas at the forefront. And just be a nice person. Kill people with kindness, even if you don't think they deserve it at that time. Good people want to work with and for good people. Be a good person.”

That’s great advice for women who want to rise to the top in the broadcast and audio business. Lo also has great advice for connecting with the younger demographic, the audience we need to grow to keep the business alive. “We gotta start showing that we care about the listener, like really care, instead of caring about ourselves and the bottom line,” she says. “We should be treating our listeners like friends instead of looking at them like dollar signs. Don't get me wrong, revenue is super important, it's what pays all our salaries and keeps us employed, but if we continue to put the listener last in the equation of radio, we will continue to stare down the doom and gloom of extinction. Create more local content, contesting, and opportunities to engage. Try to turn a listener into a friend and you may just see a shift.”

As far as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the business, Lo has her own thoughts. “I think there are always ways the industry can improve,” she says. “If you're not changing, you're not growing. However, I do feel in most recent years the industry has done a good job with its diversity and inclusion. I would like to see more women in leadership positions, I know a lot of us do. I'm proud to be one of those women working towards that goal personally. I feel supported and heard in my current position. I'll be working closely with leadership on music discovery and curation, talent coaching, along with community efforts and event planning, all important steps on the way to continued improvement among diversity efforts in the radio industry.”

“When I'm not on the radio, I'm curating the cutest charcuterie boards you've ever seen,” says Lo. “I would love to eventually get my charcuterie business I started with my sister a few years back off the ground, but for now it's just a fun hobby and a different creative outlet. Check it out on IG @charcuterieplease”

As far as what keeps Lo up at night, “Do you ever lay down and start thinking about random objects you used to own and wonder where they are or what you did with them? That's me. And while I try to find balance, it’s tough because I have serious FOMO,” Lo explains. “I want to be a part of everything because I don't want to miss anything. Sometimes though, you gotta take a break, pause, reset, and reflect so you can get back into the groove with a full battery. But in order to do that you have to give back to yourself first,” she says. “Lately, I've been using my early mornings and lunch time as ‘me’ time. Whether it's going for a walk, getting out of my workspace, etc. it's been helping me get into a good space mentally so I can give 100% to the next thing I'm working on.”

As for what Lo is working on for 2023? “World Domination!!!! JK …But I definitely want to put myself out there in the Country radio world,” she says. “Making as many new connections as I can this year is one of my 2023 goals. I also want to work towards getting my afternoon show and the station in the Top 5 space consistently this year.”

Follow Lo Sessions on Socials - @itsLoRadio