Matts'
Career Capsule
I'm your classic
"started out as a board-op" story. There's nothing like being
a board-op to make you appreciate and realize the importance
of being a live on-air talent. There I was, sitting there at
the station, letting a VOICETRACK play and then pausing the
log to pot up the jock that was out broadcasting live. I
would think, "why can't I throw it out to him"?!? Another
victim to technology! I didn't give up though, and Seth
Andrews (who was PD at the time of Christian AC station
KXOJ/Tulsa) gave me my first start back in 1997. Since KXOJ,
I've been with CHR "106.9 Khits" KHTT/Tulsa, CHR "Power 107"
KMOQ/Joplin and CHR/R "Power 96.5 Jams" KSPW/Springfield. I
was recently blessed to return to Christian Radio as PD of
WBJY and WAEF in South Georgia!
1.How did you wind up at
WBJY/WAEF?
Interesting story. Not too long ago, God started showing me
how my compromising on secular CHR radio was not being a good
witness. I mean, I was using the excuse that I was being a
"light among the darkness", but God put people in my life to
show me that even if my words on air were clean, I was still
promoting the message in the surrounding music I was playing.
Kinda hard to talk about good morals when you come out of a
song that just told the kids that women are nothing but...
well you know. So, I started getting the word out within the
Christian industry that I was interested. God brought me
here!
2. What is the most fulfilling aspect to you personally
about Christian radio?
Without a doubt, it's the way Christian radio develops
relationships with listeners! Sure, there are radio
"groupies" that come along with all secular radio stations.
You know, those who are like "Oh my gosh! I hear you on
the radio.... I think! What are you giving away? Have any
concert tickets? I'll do
anything for them!". With Christian radio, it's different! I
recall listeners at KXOJ events coming
up to our morning show (back then, SETH and MARBLES!) with
tears in their eyes telling them how touched they were about a
bit they did on the morning show, or something like that!
Only in Christian radio have I seen listeners get so attached
spiritually to on air staff and also to the message in the
music!
3.How has God used you in your role at WBJY/WAEF?
Ahhh.... the list would be shorter if I listed what He has not
used me as! For those who don't know, both stations are only
a few months old at best! With any station start up, there
are many holes that need to be filled. Until those positions
are filled, I'm the "go to" guy! *sigh* It's really opened
my eyes up to a lot of aspects of radio that I haven't
appreciated before such as Engineering, Traffic, Production,
Secretaries, and Janitorial needs! Actually, there's more
than that. Being that we are the first full time Christian
CHR/Rhythmic station that I know of, God has shown me where I
can apply my knowledge of secular CHR and use it to HIS
advantage. Why should the devil have all the good music?!?
4. What is the criteria that determines if a song
receives airplay on your station?
Well, I follow the Christian charts and what kind of buzz a
single is getting when it comes to what my AC
station airs. I'm more choosy when it comes to my CHR/R
station. I feel there is no real "gauge" in our
industry to look at when it comes to how a single could do.
No one, that I know of, is considering spinning KJ-52, Grits,
and so on, as much as I am. So I follow secular charts! Why
is it that when I look at the secular CHR charts I see MAJOR
diversity within the top 20 (Pop, Rock, Rap, and so on) and at
least 60% of it is leaning rhythmic. Yet, when I look at the
Christian CHR charts, I see AC, Pop, and some Rock! I want to
be a TRUE ALTERNATIVE for our target audience to listen to.
If my target age listener is not listening to secular rock,
why would I spin a lot of rock and expect to reach my target?
So I find the Christian "Eminem's" and "50 Cents". If thats
what is catching my target listeners ear, then thats what gets
on the CHR/R station.
5. What kind of promotions work best for your stations?
Being so new, I can't tell you for sure what works best. I
know that we are having an effect for simply
being local. The more that we are out in the streets raising
awareness of our station the better! I know
of jocks that won't leave the studio without a "remote talent
fee". Don't get me wrong, I feel that jocks
are worth every penny for the time they put in for the
station. It's just that sometimes, the soul that we
are saving out in the public is more than what the value of a
talent fee could bring us. So, my jocks
are more than willing to go out in the area under both
circumstances! People get tired of 1-800 numbers to call in
to win. People get tired of hearing what some caller has to
say across the states. People need to hear what their own
peers in their own area are going through. Thats local
ministry! That's what is
working so far for us!
6. How do you think Christian Record labels can better
serve Christian radio?
Whew! My opinion is different based on the two formats. To
begin with AC, my question is, where is the AC format going in
the next 5 years? What happens when we lose the Steven Curtis
Chapman's, Michael W. Smith's, and Point of Grace's? I see AC
stations playing more and more recurrent's and gold's across
the nation. I'd love to see more fresh talent come across my
desk that will take the AC format in to the next 10 years! As
far as CHR radio, I would like to see labels not so scared to
look "outside the box". It's labels like Gotee and
Uprock that are taking Christian Radio to the next level. I'm
excited when I see Forefront and EMI putting out an artist
like LIL IROCC WILLIAMS. We need more labels to back artists
like him!
7. In your opinion what are the biggest obstacles facing
Christian radio today?
We can't be everything to everybody! Too many stations try to
reach 25-54 and 12-24 and end up not
successfully reaching either. We are also looking over our
youth, and seem to have the mindset that "if
it works in Cleveland OH, it will work here!". We need to
take a look around our OWN market's and see where the secular
stations are catching ears! More stations, in my opinion,
need to focus on things such as better air talent, better
imaging, and a better focus on which target listener they are
after!
Christian radio should not be seen as the *yawn* station. We
need to be the BEST SOUND in the market!
8. What do you believe is the primary role of the
Christian radio air personality today?
I've learned that the Christian radio air personality is truly
a minister. Yes, they need to know the
music, and have a good delivery on air. Most importantly
though, they need to connect to my target
audience! As I mentioned before, in Christian radio,
listeners develop a different relationship with the
on-air staff of a Christian station. They need to be ready at
any time to listen and pray with a caller
that may call in to share a problem with them! It's a God
thing!
9. What (if any) other Christian radio stations do you
consider as innovators today?
I've actually become a big fan of ACAZA.COM lately. Too
bad they are not broadcasting on air somewhere. I was heavily
influenced by the late, but great Clear Channel owned LIVE
101.5 in Tulsa. The PD there, Chad Bonham, really kept a ear
to the heartbeat of Tulsa, and provided a good mix of what the
youth were hungry for. Wish they were still on the air today!
10. Where do you see Christian radio in 5 years?
I hope we make more of an
impact in the mainstream culture. Jesus met people's needs. I
think we need to follow that example. To do that, lets put the
effort out to learn what those needs are. Not just play
follow the leader. I pray we make every single work for
airplay, not just push it on listeners and be like
"hey there's the new Twila Paris single, better add it!".
What about the great talent's such as Toby Mac,
POD, 12 Stones, Grits, KJ-52, John Reuben, and so on.
I'd love to see them chart too! Look outside the box.
Years ago, PD's thought that Christian Rock wouldn't work.
Then RADIO U took the leap of faith, and shown that it could
be successful. Now you have those PD's following along and
duplicating their model. Well, what about the youth who love
Rhythmic? Why do we all have to wait for someone to prove
that something will be successful? I hope "Hot AC" stations
drop from reporting to the CHR charts and stations claiming to
be CHR move towards being a TRUE CHR!
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