We are located in the heart of this great nation
serving three states up and down the beautiful
Mississippi River and live to the net 24/7. We are
located in Quincy, Illinois with Hannibal, Missouri
just across the river and strongly into Iowa as
well.
2. What is the most fulfilling aspect to you
personally about Christian radio?
I think the most
fulfilling thing for me is helping our listeners to
be able to say that their Christian station is
awesome, playing only great songs that they want to
hear and in a good sense they are able to be "proud
of" their station. Our vision is to be as good or
better than the best mainstream stations in the
area. A couple of weeks ago Arbitron called us and
told us we were #1 in our market overall in persons
25-54 and #2 with persons 12+. We have over thirty
stations in our market and we are seeing God fulfill
His promise to us that "...more and more you shall
take dominion over them in the morning." We are
very involved in our community and most of all very
real (but professional) on the air.
3. What
is the criteria that
determines if a song receives airplay on your station?
For a song to receive
airplay in the Mix! first of all, it has to be a
GREAT song, not a good song, why play a good song
when you can play a great song? The commercial
quality and sound and style has to be on target for
our listener. Then and only then do we even look at
the lyrics which of course have to be right as well.
4. What
kind of promotions work best for your station?
Promotions that work
best for us are those that God kind of brings along
in a right time and place. We've tried to strive to
put together something but the ones that have worked
have been those He's brought along. One of our best
has been Mix Day at the Landing...a cool area water
park when we take over the place and people can come
in all day for free...we have bands and giveaways
but really just a fun day together with our
listeners and lots of them who could never do that
otherwise. People bring in busloads....the park
holds around 2500 and we had over 4000 a couple of
years ago so we had to limit it for health
department regulations last year. We also do many
great concerts. We find that simple things are just
as popular.
5. How do you think Christian Record labels can
better serve Christian radio?
One of my biggest
frustrations in Christian radio has been with
service from record labels. They are wonderful
people and I know they are servicing many more
stations now but unless I constantly keep contacting
them we miss singles now and then and I have to
continually go through the motions and time and
effort of begging for service...even though we are
getting upwards of 90000 hits a month on the web
alone. I realize they have to occasionally update
their databases....but if they want to take us out
(once we are in there)...maybe they could check
with us to see if we are still here or something.
It is a major frustration for us. It has been
better lately I think so that's good!
6. In your opinion what are the biggest obstacles
facing Christian radio today?
I think the biggest
obstacles facing Christian radio are the same ones
that are facing secular radio...(this is taking for
granted that we are talking about really good
Christian stations now)....and that is that we are
all doing pretty much the same old Arbitron clock
formatting, liners etc. and I think if we don't get
more creative and CAUSE people to listen, we may
thin down a lot in the coming years. I think we are
all searching for that great fresh niche....I mean
someone had to one day decide that they were going
to play records on the air and top 40 was born....we
need that same kind of radical new approach in
reaching people with radio. I believe the more real
and honest and one on one we are, the more powerful
we are as a force....and we are finding that can
be VERY powerful as God is in it! I think that
bridging has taken on new meaning these days also as
people ...lot's of people are looking for Truth and
some real life and what's right. I think actually
sharing the Word of God on the air is what He
actually says is cool when it's REALLY DONE RIGHT
AND RELATIVE AND REAL, not some bless me club
preacher man. Kind of like "hey did you that God
was talking about terrorism in.....and so on". Not
being afraid to really hit spiritual things but it
MUST be real and culturally right.
7.
Where do you see Christian radio in 5 years?
I'm kind of concerned
about the longevity of our artists...getting past
that second album thing....I feel like we are a
little dangerous with the amount of new artists as
compared to people they really know. Don't get me
wrong, we really get juiced with new music around
here but I'm concerned that our listeners are not
familiar enough with new artists. We try to do
little artist clips and spotlights to help. I'm
also concerned with the financial picture with so
many other alternatives now and families strained
with the horrendous cost of housing, gasoline and
living. We live by knowing that if God is in it,
He'll take care of that....we didn't have a dime
when we started and He's blessed us with everything
we need for 18 years now, new studios and the best
equipment. It has been more of a challenge in the
last year or so...but we know that He wouldn't have
called us to this tremendous medium if He didn't
want to use it! What a privilege to open a
microphone and speak to your world everyday!
