I'm one of
the strategic advisors (some call us consultants)
with Goodratings Strategic Services, working with
Alan Mason & John Frost and getting their coffee.
I'm working with a great team of people at KSLT /
KLMP in Rapid City, SD, helping them to launch a new
station in the first quarter of 2005. In addition I
freelance voicetrack on about a half-dozen stations
across the USA, and I just recently joined forces
with SIRIUS Satellite Radio as Format Manager for
SIRIUS-12, Spirit. I'll eventually hold down an
airshift there as well.
2. Many people
were shocked you left WAY FM...what happened?
I was at a stage in my
life where I was starting to think about venturing
out into working for myself, and unbeknownst to me
that was coming at a time when they were ready to
help make that happen! :-) But my relationship
with WAY-FM remains very positive and in fact I
still do middays on the CHRSN Network. I play
fantasy football with my former boss. I love
WAY-FM, every single individual who works there, and
I always will.
3. Why do you
think there is a need for your services (consulting)
in Christian radio?
Radio stations
reach out to people like John, Alan, or me for one
of two reasons: Vision....or pain. I try to help
with both whether a station is already a success but
wants to head to places they've never been before,
or if the station is underachieving. I don't ever
presume anyone "needs" me or my services, but often
it takes an objective, experienced perspective to
help get to where it is a station wants to go. I
found that invaluable to me as a PD, and I'd like to
think there are other PDs who feel the same way.
4. What do you
look at as the main criteria in a song receiving
airplay?
You mean beyond my own
innate ability to prophesy and "pick hits"?
Generally, I like to find out if the audience wants
to (or is likely to want to) hear it.
5. In your
experience what kind of promotions work best
for Christian radio stations?
Ones that tap into what
the audience cares about, connects with their
values, puts them closer to the artists, and is
unique to the station. Either that, or giving
away lamps. Lots of lamps.
6. How do you
think Christian Record labels can better serve
Christian radio?
The labels do a
real nice job, I think, on so many levels. For a
long time it seemed many didn't
understand it's radio's job to reflect the tastes,
values and preferences of our listeners and NOT to
lead people to a particular place musically that we
want them to go. Radio stations don't need their
music to be an acquired taste; we need to add only
the songs we have very good reason to believe will
become hits with the right exposure. I don't think
that's such an issue now, although there will always
be the "take a risk v. play it safe" debate.
7. In your
opinion what are the biggest obstacles facing
Christian radio today?
Lack of a clear,
definable, measurable strategy for success, and our
own low expectations of ourselves and what we can
accomplish, by God's grace.
8. What do you
believe is the primary role of the Christian radio
air personality today?
Talk to me about the
things and people I care about, in a way that is
real and human with emotion I can hear and that
sounds like you'd sound if we were just meeting at a
party or at church. And when you're not doing that,
play a song I love.
No, seriously, when I
say talk about stuff * I * care about and play songs
* I * love, I mean me. All Christian radio
stations should talk about what I, Doug Hannah care
about and play only what I want to hear. So it's
the NFL and 24-7 Switchfoot here on out. So, get
going.
9. What (if
any) other Christian radio stations do you consider
as innovators today?
I admire the work and
the success of stations we all know and love like
Z88.3 (#1 Adults 25-54 in market #38!), KLTY, and
Atlanta's Fish. I'm very proud of all the WAY-FM
stations and what they have been able to
accomplish. I think WCQR is overlooked a lot, but
they do a fine job. I'm very very impressed with
93-9 The Song in Indianapolis. Oh yeah, and WBGL,
KCMS, KTSY, and KXOJ -- I admire them all. There
are some I'm missing, but I'm a fan of any station
that embraces focus and plays to win.
10. Where do
you see Christian radio in 5 years?
I don't really know,
but I'm VERY excited about the future. I really
believe the power of this music and the connection
it uniquely makes is going to only get more
opportunities to be heard in many cool ways that
haven't happened before. And I plan to enjoy the
ride!
