1. Tell
us about your market and how it is unique?
Chicago is major radio
market with over 75 stations competing for
listeners. There are lots of commuters in Chicago
either coming into the city each day or leaving from
the city to work in the suburbs. Because of this,
basic news and traffic info is a staple on every
station.
2. What is the most fulfilling aspect to you
personally about Christian radio?
We have a built in
camaraderie with our listeners by being part of the
body of Christ. Meeting listeners at remotes and
station concerts is a blessing as they share how the
station ministers to them. After every remote
broadcast I take part in I tell myself "we ought to
do more of these".
3. How has God
used you in your role at WMBI?
I love my job. We have
a great team and working as PD is a real blessing.
I think God has blessed me with a certain ability to
make people feel special and important. I want each
of my team members to feel they are plugged in to
where they can best use their talents.
4. What is the
criteria that determines if a song receives airplay
on your station?
Like most Light A/C
or Inspo stations we look at the lyric and quality
of music. We also report for CRW so that is a big
help to both be an influence and be influenced.
5. What kind of promotions work best for your
station?
Simple ones. We've
tried some contests in the past that were somewhat
complicated and they didn't have a big response. If
you can't explain it on the air in just a
few seconds, it is too complicated. Promotional
items that are practical seem to get the best
response. We just had our annual listener golf
outing and we gave away cool bottles of sun screen
with station logo on them and packets of
individually wrapped Chicklet gum with printed
station logo. Promotional items with a purpose- a
big hit.
6. How do you think Christian Record labels can
better serve Christian radio?
I don't remember ever
hearing from our National Music Director that he
received a call from a label asking him how we could
better be served. That would be a nice start.
7. In your
opinion what are the biggest obstacles facing
Christian radio today?
The pressure to
cut costs and yet sound local. We are going to have
to be very intentional in remaining local
to keep Satellite Radio from making significant
inroads in our listenership. For our station, making
some difficult programming decisions will need
considered in order to focus on our primary target
audience.
8. What do you
believe is the primary role of the Christian radio
air personality today?
There are many but I
would say the primary role is "to spur one another
on to love and good deeds". To be a companion.
Radio is SO personal. We have the ability to get
into peoples lives and be with them wherever they
are. We can have a major positive impact on people
by helping them see God's will for their lives.
That might mean giving them the helps they need to
be a better father, a better mother, a better
financial steward, a more committed Christian, and
the list goes on and on.
9. What (if any) other Christian radio stations do
you consider as innovators today?
Those that
make programming decisions not based on how much
money it will make but how much impact it will have
for the Kingdom.
10. Where do you
see Christian radio in 5 years?
Maybe the Lord
will have met us in the air by then....
