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Charese Fruge’ (@MCMediaonline) Talks To Rachel Ryan
May 30, 2023
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When we last checked in with Rachel Ryan in March of 2021, she had just joined the team as the new midday host for KSCS (New Country 96.3)/Dallas/Ft. Worth. Two years later, she’s proven that it’s possible to entrench yourself in a community, format, and lifestyle if you are passionate about what you do. In addition to her current role at KSCS, she has taken on other responsibilities. “I also pipe my show in for Shreveport, Q97-3, and Toledo Q105, and I’m the local producer for ‘Nights With Elaina.’ I communicate with her weekly on local events, giveaways, liners etc. to make sure her syndicated night show sounds hyper local and flawless.”
Since Rachel has moved to Dallas, she’s also taken on several passion projects and responsibilities outside of radio. “I’m an ACM Member and I’m now an alumni member for Cook Children’s Medical Center ‘Experience the Mission.’ I’m also an active ambassador for the Atlanta Humane Society and the SPCA of Texas,” she explains. “As far as passion projects, I’m coming up to almost a full year of highlighting shelter pets from SPCA of Texas and DFW Rescue Me, in my weekly segment on air and on socials called, ‘Wet Nose Wednesday.’ This past December I hosted a pet food drive called ‘Fill the Truck’ to help feed shelter pets here in North Texas, and we collected 30,000 lbs. of pet food. For 12 days straight during the month of December, we highlighted shelter pets from SPCA of Texas, with ‘12 Strays of Christmas’ to help shelter pets find a loving home before Christmas.”
Rachel originally got in to radio by winning a radio YouTube contest in 2010 in her hometown of Mobile, AL for the legendary station WABB. Click here to see her video submission. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl53Rw6Vo8I) “I started out part time on air and doing everything with promotions, production, etc.,” she says. “I eventually became full time and hosted my own midday show. Once the station was sold, Cumulus picked me up to do mornings in Mobile at the now WABD in 2012. I then took the leap in 2014 to start a new morning show in San Antonio at KTFM. In 2016, I moved to Atlanta to do middays again at Q100 (now Q99.7). After several years in Atlanta, I transitioned to the Country format, and I am now hosting my midday show at KSCS.”
Rachel just returned from the ACM Awards in Frisco. It was quite an experience for her. “I’m still trying to play catch up on social media with that,” she says. She’s had the opportunity to experience some amazing events since moving to Dallas. “Covering the blue carpet for athletes in ATL during the Super Bowl in 2019 was pretty exciting but working media row during the ACM’s and broadcasting my show at the Star leading up to the award show was super rewarding,” says Ryan. “There was so much happening with the ACM kickoff fest every day; vendors, giveaways, street artist etc. The content was given to you already, so it was all hyper-local. It’s always more exciting being out of the studio and actually seeing your listeners and engaging with them in public, they make your job easier! Country music really does have the best listeners ever.”
“In addition to that, interviewing Dolly Parton during ACM week was pretty unexpected. She had a Dolly Pop Up Shop open during ACM week and I went for media day not really certain if she was going to make an appearance, and before I knew it, I was in a 45-minute press conference with Dolly 10 feet in-front of me. All the news stations were asking the local questions, so I had fun and asked her a legit question that I’ve always had a problem with…shoes! ‘Can you give me advice on how to wear heels cause my feet can’t do it Dolly?’ Her answer? ‘Lots of practice!’ That was a pretty surreal moment.”
Since joining the team at KSCS, Rachel has also been able to Iive out her dream of being on a reality TV show. “Jon Taffer asked our afternoon host, Al Farb, and me to be his recon on ‘Bar Rescue’ (Season 8 episode 15),” she explains. “As far as biggest accomplishments for me though, this past December our station was able to raise $1,045,469.33 for our annual ‘Cook Children’s Radiothon.’ I’ve never felt more connected with a city than those 2 days. Texas really does have the biggest heart!” she says. “I was also a part of winning a Marconi, ‘Country Station of the Year’ for 2022, that doesn’t happen for everyone and I’m super humbled to be a part of that win.”
Ryan’s success hasn’t come without its challenges over the years. She struggles with the same thing lots of radio vets do. “Learning to say no,” she admits. “When I first started out in my career, I always wanted to be a people pleaser and have the ultimate reputation of being a team player and a ‘yes’ person. Which I still think I am, but I am focusing on a better work/life balance,” says Ryan. “Affirmations and Kirk Franklin are a part of my morning every day before work. I keep my calendar on me everywhere I go even if I have to pencil in ‘REST’ just to take time to do nothing and recharge, I obey that. Right now, I’m trying my very best to be as proactive as possible to my Peloton…I have to make time for it!”
As far as capturing the loyalty and engagement of a younger audience to help grow radio, Ryan has a strategy. “As cliche as it sounds, I think being relevant and growing with social media is huge. Even if you’re not crazy active online, be familiar with the trends, the lingo etc.” she says. “Also just listen to them (Gen Z). People love to hear themselves talk. Be open to learning something from them and ask questions. People also love to give their opinion and feel powerful by teaching/explaining something to others. Giving someone your time is the biggest compliment while truly engaging with them. Hopefully that’ll go further, and they’ll feel a connection with a sense of trust. The goal is to always pass ‘the vibe check,’ don’t be fake, be genuine, even if it means you have to ask questions and be clueless on something.”
As far as diversity, equity, and inclusion, I asked Ryan, “what can we as an industry do to improve? Are we there yet?” She wants to see more progress. “I believe there is room for everyone, and I want everyone to win,” she says. “The best thing I can do to improve radio is to teach someone younger than me who is interested in the industry, someone who may not necessarily look like me or come from the same background as me. Teach them everything I did to get where I am right now. The skills, tools, how I progressed, the communication - the negotiation skills I used to be where I’m at. I think what the industry can do more of is to avoid gatekeeping and to listen more to those who may bring a different culture and perspective to the table.”
As far as AI for radio goes, Ryan brings personal experience to the table to explain why she’s not a fan. “AI will never measure up to real on-air talent,” she says. “A couple of weeks ago we had a mass shooting in Allen, TX, where all day parts were live on air during the event. Our community needed us, mental health is a real thing so if it meant listeners calling in screaming, crying, confused, and frustrated--whatever it may be, the mic was open. Their voices were heard, and we were there connecting and engaging with our community. We can’t lose that.”
As far as the personal side of Ryan, I asked her what she’d be doing if she hadn’t chosen radio as her professional path. “I was a dance teacher in college so maybe I would’ve opened my own dance studio,” she says. “Or Hair Stylist maybe? Have a farm and rescue animals? Lots of options to choose from, although like most in the business, I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
As far as what’s ahead for Ryan, “I’m getting married in October in Florida, this is a huge project in my life that takes my attention every day, planning a wedding out of state is a lot!” She says. “Other than that, our station New Country 96-3 has an event with Tango Charities who we’ve teamed up with to ‘Feed the City’ where Dan + Shay are going to be involved. More details will be released next week! I’m also planning another ‘Fill the Truck’ event with SPCA of Texas in the near future!”
Follow Rachel Ryan on her journey on TikTok: @RachelRyanRadio, IG: @RachelRyanRadio, and FB: Rachel Ryan.
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