1. Tell us about your market and how it is unique?
After
attending Northwestern College (and meeting my
wonderful wife, Sue, of 30 years) I came back to my
family business/ministry at WWIB. In the days before
automation I worked just about every airshift- from
middays to midnight. A few years after I began
working full time I started a daily interview show
with professional and amateur Christian sports
personalities from across the country (which is still
on WWIB to this day.) In 1985 we signed on with a
station on the AM dial, 680- WOGO. After morphing
through several format changes including Clean Country
and a business format, I have taken on a news/talk
format that includes: Bill O’Reilly, Laura Ingram,
Dave Ramsey and Hugh Hewitt. I’m Station Manager and
Program Director of WWIB, a personality oriented AC
100,000 Watt Commercial FM station.
When we
first signed on over 30 years ago our regional market
tended to be an equal mix of rural and small towns.
In the last 10 to 15 years a number of small towns
have grown into busy mini metros. While retaining a
friendly, folksy feeling our market has become a
growing region that appreciates Contemporary Christian
radio.
2.
What is the most fulfilling aspect to you
personally about Christian radio?
I think
knowing that your're doing something of eternal value
is most fulfilling. When you receive a letter, e-mail
or phone call (which we frequently do) about someone
who has trusted Christ as Savior because of something
he or she heard on the station I’m reminded how
important this work is.
3. How do you personally keep the ministry
in the business?
Ministry
comes first here. We meet weekly as a staff and pray
for the needs that our listeners have shared with us.
I make a point to read the mail that comes in so I can
stay connected to the heart of our listeners.
4.
What is the criteria that determines if a song
receives airplay on your station?
The words
of the song must be consistent with scriptural
reading. The song needs a musical hook to draw the
listener in. Christian music today is the best in the
world, so we’re proud to be an AC Reporting Station.
Any time we can we try to make some room for local
artists if the music is of good enough quality.
5.
What kind of promotions work best for your station?
We do a
number of promotions every year. Those include:
1)
the Back to School
Makeover contest (this year we gave over $5,000.00 in
prizes)
2)
2) Woman of the
Year. Listeners nominate their candidate for Woman of
the Year. (Overall winner and county winners receive
cash & prizes.)
3)
3) Great Vacation
Giveaway. (Each spring we give away a grand prize wit
the theme of vacationing. Might win a trip, might be a
camping package, etc.)
6. How do you
think Christian Record labels can better serve
Christian radio?
I think
generally the labels do a great job. I’d like to see
them push through the singles a little bit faster so
we aren’t sitting on one song from each artist so
long.
7.
In your opinion what are the biggest obstacles facing
Christian radio today?
I’d say two
main obstacles: The secular world thinking that
nobody listened to Christian radio and the Christian
community taking Christian radio for granted.
8. What do you
believe is the primary role of the Christian radio air
personality today?
I guess it
would be as a communication of the gospel in such an
entertaining effective manner that listeners don’t
want to leave their radio for fear they’ll miss
something.
9. What (if
any) other Christian radio stations do you consider as
innovators today?
I don’t
really have one station that I look at and say, “We
need to be just like them.” I think I learned
something from a lot of Christian radio stations from
across the country.
10. Where do
you see Christian radio in 5 years?
With the
advent of satellite radio, some have predicted the
death of local radio, but I believe there will always
be a place for local radio. We must do the best job
we can both technically and creatively. With
webcasting, podcasting and digital radio the future is
bright if we’re progressive and imaginative.