1. How did you wind up at The Fish?

I was in the midst of a job search when my pastor suggested I give them a call. After meeting Sue Wilson (our PD) I was certain that this is where I wanted to be. I was thrilled when she hired me.

2. What is the most fulfilling aspect to you personally about Christian radio?

That I get to do what I was designed and created to do. I LOVE radio. Songs and melodies can sometimes just reach right into a heart and touch a life with what it needs in an instant. That moment in time is just so powerful and intimate to the listener. And that I can spin a song that does that on an eternal scale is nuts. I’ve been given the joy of pointing to a purpose through this format. That is overwhelming!

3.How has God used you in your role at The Fish?

I don’t really know. I suppose there are lots of different ways. I think I’m a light. And perhaps an encouragement. I do know I have high expectations of excellence that I bring to my job, and so anything that crosses my desk, or that I’m assigned to do, I want to be the best. I believe, as a Christian, I’m called to produce a product reflective of a child of a King, literally.

4. What is the criteria that determines if a song receives airplay on your station?

It’s pretty simple really. We are a music station. So we follow the rules of music programming. For example, here are a few questions that I think should be standard at any station: Is it a good song that she (our target) will like and respond to? Does it fit our format? Does it fit our station, market, vision, & mission?

5. What kind of promotions work best for your station?

The year I’ve been here I’ve seen success with almost anything we have done. My experience at The Fish and the other stations I’ve worked for remind me of the loyalty of the Christian radio listener so public appearances are effective. Anytime you can meet them face-to-face they seem to flock.

6. How do you think Christian Record labels can better serve Christian radio?

I think the labels I’ve worked with and among do a great job. If I had to say one thing I was passionate about it’s not forgetting the role of radio and caring for the relationship between the artist and the station. I remember watching Mercy Me win the Dove for “I Can Only Imagine” and they thanked “Radio”. Then, in the following year…after the Dove…that song got spun on a station and climbed all new charts all over again. There are a few reasons that happened. First, it’s an AMAZING song. AND listeners heard it on their local stations and they liked it, because it’s an amazing song…that they heard on their station…etc.

7. In your opinion what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian radio today?

Not taking the responsibility to expand cume and increase tsl seriously enough. It would be nice to see better stewardship and higher expectations in this format. There is a great illustration given by Jesus about how we are to invest what He has put in our care. I think it ought to be framed and put on every GM, PD, MD, & Air Personalities desk to remind them that in order to reach, you’ve got to stretch.

8. What do you believe is the primary role of the Christian radio air personality today?

Imagine you got invited to a party where you knew you wouldn’t know anyone…when you arrived, you’d be on a mission. You would search out the familiar, the friendly, the one you know and trust and the one you believe genuinely cares about you and is glad you showed up. That’s the relationship we should have with her. She should love our company and want to be around us. And like all great relationships, that means we need to take the time to get to know her and spend some time talking about what she cares about.

9. What (if any) other Christian radio stations do you consider as innovators today?

Musically, I really think of The Fish as being one of the best at this. They are impacting markets and setting higher standards. Whenever the bar is raised, we all improve. From a non-commercial standpoint, I love the vision of WAYFM and the sound of KLOVE.

10. Where do you see Christian radio in 5 years?

A lot of that will have to do with where radio is in 5 years. But I’d like to see more choices in radio. CHRs, Inspos, ACs all in the same market feeding different targets and gaining the respect of the media. I’d like to see this format grow and get used more by the people who won’t use it now. That might take getting out of the box and the comfort zone. It worked for Peter…