How do you personally keep the ministry in the business?
The same way I do when I’m out hanging with friends…
whether they are believers or not … it’s just about
being real. Translating that onto the air waves each
night means… being real!!! Showing
your humanness on the air… relating with the listeners
about real life and not tossing useless mumbo jumbo on
the air. So when it comes to ministry. First off
the music does the ministering for the most part, but
when there is a chance to go the spiritual route on the
show … I definitely go there “IF”
it’s compelling and evokes emotion… If I can’t
get the listener to stick
around how is anything going to minister to them.
4. Why
should a station air Total Axxess?
I am a harsh
critic of CCM radio. I’m not the best jock in the world
and this isn’t the best show in the world… but I was a
product growing up of bad CCM radio… I guess
un-relatable is a better word. Let me be honest. I had
reservations of hopping from mainstream into CCM radio.
I took this job because I felt the management of TA and
Wayfm wanted to do something
ground breaking. Do a show that first of all gave your
listeners a spotlight into the lives/homes of their
favorite artists… but also a chance to do a show in
Christian music that was real!!! I have an amazing team
around me that gives me the chance to pull this off each
night. From program Director Dave Senes to my producer
Shimmy and all the uppers WayFM
nationwide. The momentum is unreal. Recently signing up
The Refuge Radio Network… JQ in Grand Rapids … When you
look at the evening options across the board in
Christian radio I think this is the show you have to
have! Passionate people giving 150% to relate with the
listeners and give them access to Toby Mac, 3rd
Day, Audio A on and on each night …
5. What kind of promotions work best for your show?
Over the past 3 months we’ve done some crazy stuff:
* Flew in 2 listeners for a BBQ in Toby Mac’s backyard
* Acted out famous movie scenes with Michael W Smith and
gave away a trip for 2 to
Nashville to
have a dinner Thanksgiving weekend and hang with
Smitty!
* For 2 weeks I hopped aboard Toby Mac’s tour bus along
with Matthew West, Barlow Girl, and John Reuben… doing
the show live from a different city each night
*
Toured Matthew West’s house live on the air…
* Currently
taking votes at
www.totalaxxess.com
for the 1st ever TA radio awards… Of those
who vote… one listener and a friend win a trip to
Nashville to give out a Dove
Award on stage at the GMA music awards
* In March we
kick off Cell Phone Superstar 2… like American Idol but
on a Cell Phone. Winner receives a trip for 2 to Denver
to go to workshops at GMA in the Rockies and then gets
flown to Nashville to record BGV’s
on the next Matthew West album
* April- I go
back on the road with Building 429 and
Tait over 4 weeks doing the
show live from a different city..
The theme? … Giving listeners
access to stuff they can’t buy!
6. How
do you think Christian Record labels can better serve
Christian radio?
Believe in
what we are doing. It’s not the norm so people are
hesitant to try something out of the box. Also
understanding that when you get your artist in front of
¾ of a million people each night the exposure is the
most important thing. An artist will get their spins
but artists like Toby Mac
understand that developing a relationship with my
listeners is more important than the amount of times
“Burn for you” is spun on the show.
7. In your opinion what are the biggest obstacles facing
Christian radio today?
Catering to
legalism.
I’m guilty of it to but when I make this show sound like
it’s a “Christian club” … I’m not relating like I should
be. It’s a fine line balancing culture and God on the
air. Jon Frost/Tommy Kramer describes it with a simple
graphic. One circle is culture. The other circle is God
and spirituality… push those
2 circles closer to each other until they overlap and
there is your sweet spot in the middle. I don’t want to
make this show sound like it’s a
Christian church pot luck. Non believers can come
if they want but you’ll be sitting alone in the corner
with the casserole you brought. I just want to be a dude
on the air that talks about stuff that applies to my
listener’s life. I think if they can trust that I am a
God fearing believer … then they’ll trust me when I
merge into “culture”… I won’t say something that will
ruin their trust.
8. What do you believe is the primary role of the
Christian radio air personality today?
Relate. Know
your audience. I just don’t believe that they are all
missionary Christians. 95% of the Christians I know only
enter a Church on Sundays… they watch this movie or
listen to that mainstream station… I think we are
missing the mark on the air. If it’s not evoking emotion
or hitting her where she is at… why am I saying it? If I
go on the air thinking that the listener cares about my
opinions… I’m mistaken… if I can evoke emotion… they’ll
remember me.
9. What (if any) other Christian radio stations do you
consider as innovators today?
Oh
my gosh I have no clue. I’m
sure there are stations out there and shows who are
innovating but I just have never had a spare second in
my day to listen. Probably the same reasons tons of PD’s
don’t know Total Axxess. I
also have only been on the CCM side for a short time so
I have no history with a bunch of stations. I will throw
3 names out… I think Dave Arthur in Portland is an
innovator…he’s walked me through this journey into the
Christian side of radio… also in conversations with
Johnny Stone I can tell this man “gets it” ... and also
knowing the folks at KTSY Boise… they get it… I’m sure
there are more I just have never had a chance to
listen...and I have also
loved working with Bryan O'neal on numerous occasions….
10. Where do you see Christian radio in 5 years?
IT’S
MY PRAYER that Christian radio pulls a
Switchfoot!!! I pray we are
less concerned with making “Christian radio” … but
rather more focused on being believers ”who work hard to
make great radio”. I believe God will use us but
lets put a great product out
there. Switchfoot-factor!
They don’t spend their time trying to define themselves
as a band… they are too exhausted trying to love on
people like God asked them to