1. Tell us about your market and how it is unique? 

This has been a big rock market both now and in the past. At one time we had 3 AOR stations competing.  Consolidation has whittled that number down to 1 new rock (besides us) and 2 classic rock stations but there are still a large number of people that embrace the style.

 

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

That we inspire people to grow closer to our Creator through this format. 

 

3. Here is your chance to testify on behalf of your station...How has God used KVRK? 

We continue to “wow” people who have never thought Christian radio could sound like this.  It’s amazing what path people can take with their lives just over musical taste.  Hopefully we are destroying some prejudices.

 

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

I’m looking for professional “record company” production value recordings.  I prefer major releases from record companies to independents normally.  There just IS a difference and I can’t compete with secular rock stations if my songs don’t sound as good as what they play.  It hurts us as a station to be seen by people as being less professional.  Many independent productions are close but you can hear the quality of the station suffer going from a major release to one of those sometimes.  We do set aside 3 hours on Sundays from 7 to 10PM for local and independent bands for all across the nation.

 Management is looking closely at lyrics.  They want all our songs to have a “vertical” emphasis.  Not all songs are clear enough lyrically to our General Manager to be approved for airplay.

 

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

We like to take the station vehicle and hang out with the listeners at concerts.  (Sometimes it's just a handful of people and sometimes it's 8,000 people at Six Flags).  We’re hoping to spend more time with youth groups when they meet at church and make the station available for field trips in the future.

 

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

I think the labels are doing a good job in this environment.  I hope we have seen the end of the industry adjustment and I continue to pray for the label’s financial well being.  We have come so far.  Let’s continue to “wow”.

 

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

 For us it comes down to money.  We have been growing each year and are getting close to what it costs to operate the station, but we still can’t compete with our secular counterparts in the amount of advertising they do to constantly stay in the public eye.  We have just recently sold the sister station that launched us in 1999.   2005 is going to be a pivotal year for us to see if we can operate as a stand alone station.

 

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

Tell the people the title and artist of the songs.  (No matter how much we do, we always get complaints that we don’t do this enough). 

 

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

We’re in the same market as KLTY (need I say more?).  Seriously, I’m so glad we’re not alone in doing this.  I pray for more stations to embrace this format.  I salute all the stations that have been doing this longer that us (like Radio U) to the newer ones (like The Kross).  We need more!

 

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

I hope by that time the record industry will recover enough to continue to develop even more new talent.  I want to see us grow as a format to have more stations and more artists at the national level.