1. Tell us about your
market and how it is unique?
Our market is unique, we are in
market 214 and yet there are five Christian stations
in our market. Just four hours from here is Boston,
where there are no Christian stations. Any way for us
it is a real challenge, but then again it’s great
because it forces us daily to be as creative and
interacting with our audience as we can to continue to
push ourselves to be more and more affective, however
at the same time knowing that my ultimate goal is to
affect the young person who feels that their current
radio choice is cookie cutter and to attract them to
105.7 the X as a station that cares genuinely for who
they are and where they are at in life.
2. What is the most
fulfilling aspect to you personally about Christian
radio?
That’s easy ... lives changed!
Every time you have a teenager come up to you and tell
you how they were struggling with life and they found
your station and now ultimately they have found a
relationship with the creator of the Universe….how can
you not get excited!
3. Here is your chance to
testify on behalf of your station...How has God used WHMX?
There are many stories that I
have heard over the past year but this one sums up who
we are. Our current Promotions Director, Jolie
Littlefield, grew up in this area. About three years
ago she was struggling with her relationship with God,
her parents, and life in general. One snowy day she
went off the road and was in a ditch. Crying and
screaming she turned on the radio to 105.7 the X and
heard “If you Want Me To” from Ginny Owens. Right
there in the ditch she rededicated her life to Jesus
and now is a direct by-product of the ministry of our
station and now at the age of 22 is ministering daily
to her peers. That’s ministry 180….that’s what
it’s all about!
4. What is the
criteria that determines if a song receives airplay on
your station?
It must pass the Tim Collins
test!!! Tim is my PD and MD and in 23 years of
broadcasting he is one of the best I’ve seen. Being
one of the reporting stations for R&R we see a lot of
music before any one else. Again, the songs that make
it on 105.7 the X must clearly fit the defined goals
of the ministry and target audience. If it
accomplishes the vision statement and goals that we
have determined for the year, it’s played.
5. What kind of promotions
work best for your station?
This is an area that I have
specifically targeted when I came last year that we
needed to do more of and to be more and more involved
in our community. We try to be out at least every 2
weeks, now sometimes it’s several times a week, but
that’s the goal. On January 3rd we hired a
full-time promotions director because we feel this is
one of the most important areas of our impact into the
community. We’ve done everything from “how many
college dorm refrigerators fits on the University of
Maine football field” (while we were at a Jars of Clay
concert at the University of Maine) to bringing
non-perishable food items to a roller-skating event
just before Thanksgiving to give to the less fortunate
in our area (in conjunction with a local ministry) and
then giving away prizes every 15 minutes for those who
attended. The grand prize winner won a coach trip for
two to Boston to see the Celtics host the Pistons.
6. How do you think
Christian Record labels can better serve Christian
radio?
You have to realize I have worked
overseas for 20 years I’ve seen the full gamut of
Record labels and their ability to work with you.
Honestly my experience with the labels since I have
been in Maine is they have been GREAT! The only area
of improvement that I would recommend is sometimes
their lead times for promotions are very short and we
have our calendar for 2005 already mapped out.
7. In your opinion what are
the biggest obstacles facing Christian radio today?
The biggest obstacle I see is
“keeping the rumor of God” alive in your community.
Being real and relevant to your non-churched community
and showing them true love and compassion.
8. What do you believe is
the primary role of the Christian radio air
personality today?
To be real and relevant!
9. What (if any) other
Christian radio stations do you consider as innovators
today?
We talk to a lot to stations in
and outside of the USA. I have an accountability
group over sees that I stay in touch with and they
monitor what I’m doing and give advice. I think it’s
always great to get opinions from a number of sources
to think outside your own comfort zone and culture.
In the USA I would consider KDUV in Visalia,
California as an innovator in our industry.
10. Where do you see
Christian radio in 5 years?
Hopefully more viable and
credible in our secular society.