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Johnny's
Career Capsule
1992-1994 WBLZ (Z-106.7)
Mt.
Vernon /
Evansville,
IN
1994-1996 WYNG (105 WYNG)
Evansville,
IN
1996-1999 WWYC (Young Country)
Lexington,
KY
1999-2001 WLKT (104.5 The Cat)
Lexington,
KY
2001-2004 WQEN (103.7 The Q)
Birmingham,
AL
2004-2005 WYOK (HOT 104)
Mobile,
AL
2005-2007 WBVM (SPIRIT-FM)
Tampa,
FL
1.
Personally how do you keep the ministry in the “business”?
Day by reading from my daily devotional
and before each meeting we all stop and pray that God’s guidance
will be there for us as we touch the lives of our listeners.
2. Overall, how is Christian radio different today, from 5 years
ago?
Better programming. With more secular programmers finding out how
great the CCM world is, the better the product has become. And the
artists are putting out music that rivals, if not better than what
secular radio is playing.
3. What do you think are the main characteristics of today’s
Christian radio PD?
Always continuing to learn. When I was programming with Clear
Channel, there was a saying that “you never know everything about
programming” it was actually more graphic than that, but that was
the culture of Jacor / Clearchannel when Randy Michaels was building
the empire.
4. What criteria do you require for a song to be played on your
station?
I have a handful of people in the building that are in our core demo
to give me their opinion of the song, I also check local Christian
record store sales and we have local research as well as the
national research through the trades and other avenues. I try to
really watch what songs are starting to break out before going out
on the limb on an add. Except when it’s a definite home run (i.e.
Third day, tobymac, Steven Curtis Chapman – Cinderella) those are
easy to pick.
5. What kind of promotions work best for Christian radio?
Promotions that make the listener feel like they are bettering the
community and themselves at the same time, having a chance to win
something that would help their families situation. Gas giveaways
are big. We do ‘operation impact’ where the listeners can get
involved with a single project that will affect the life of a person
in their community that is in need. We had a tornado the first day
I was on the air here and the out pouring of people to help clean up
the debris was amazing. Everyone wanted to help. So many that they
had to turn many away.
6. How do you think Christian record labels can better serve
Christian radio?
They do a good job of getting the artists to the stations as best
they can. After working in secular radio for so long, it’s so nice
to be able to talk to an artist who isn’t full of themselves and
actually is just a normal human like the rest of us except his
talent is to play music to spread the gospel.
7. In your opinion what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian
radio today?
Large companies trying to make money on a format that’s about
helping the community to become better people and closer to Christ.
When it becomes all about making a profit, then the reason for the
ministry is ruined. It’s about touching lives and saving those who
feel they have no where else to turn, not to turn a profit.
8. What do you believe is the primary role of the Christian radio
air personality?
To be real and open and talk about what you are struggling with just
as the listeners are. We aren’t pastors or ordained ministers so we
have problems just as they do and that honesty helps you connect
with them. They don’t look to the personality as above them but
just as a friend who struggles with the day to day sins that we all
are trying to avoid. When the personality begins to take themselves
too seriously and try to talk “to” the listener and not “with” them,
that’s when your audience can see right through your “act” or
“performance”.
9. What (if any) Christian radio stations do you consider as
innovators today?
Before I left Tampa, I always looked at 101QFL as a unique station.
Not only because it’s also a commercial station and can compete with
the big company stations, but the events, promotions and talent of
morning show host Darren Marlar was refreshing. You don’t always
have to be reading scripture to be on a Christian station. And
pulse in Iowa is another station that’s taking a chance to try and
reach out to those who need the help. If you are preaching to the
church, you’re not helping those who are hurting and are looking for
meaning in their life. Just as Christ spent his time with the
prostitutes, tax collectors, etc. We don’t need to be afraid to get
our hands dirty and get in with those who need us the most.
10. Where do you see Christian radio in 5 years?
Hopefully as a operations manager or VP over multiple Christian
stations, but wherever God leads me is where I will be in 5 years.
He hasn’t let me down yet!
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