Get to know former Q101 DJ Ian McCain

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: NAME: Ian McCain : TITLE: MD/Creative Services : STATIONS: KJMY : MARKET: Salt Lake City, UT : COMPANY: Clear Channel : --------------------------------------- : Please outline your radio career so far: : I started out at Alternative pirate radio KRCK-FM in Omaha with Paul Kriegler. From there, I held a plethora of different positions including programming in Lincoln, Omaha, Des Moines, Kansas City, Tulsa, Chicago and Salt Lake City. I was recently the Music Programming Manager at AOL, Music Now in Chicago and part-time at Q101 before returning to Utah last year. : 1) What Got You Interested In Radio? : Music. I've always been huge into music and thought I could make difference in shaping tastes and trends... no, not really, it was actually the free concert tickets and posters. : 2) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry? : I interned with Lori Blumenthal and Charlie Londono at IRS Records in NYC in 1990. I like to believe I'd be doing something in the music industry, even if it was swabbing toilets at First Avenue in Minneapolis. : 3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at? How would you describe the radio landscape in your market? : Three words, "Salt. Lake. City." 'nuff said? Kidding aside, Salt Lake City sits second only behind Albuquerque as the most over-saturated radio market in the country. The competition is fierce and you don't want to see what happens when a cross-genre artist comes to town. : 4) What do you do when a song that is a national hit, but the initial reaction from your audience is negative? : Katy Perry's song "I Kissed A Girl" had some initial negative response with the more conservative base in the community. I think you just have to be really tuned into your market and believe in every song you play. The response was short-lived and it quickly became one of our best researched songs. : 5) How often does your airstaff front and back-sell songs? : We've branded three things very well here at KJMY-FM, "No DJ's, fewer commercials and the title and artist of every song we play." My boss describes MY 99.5 as the "Facebook" of radio in SLC. The on-air product is completely listener driven as they supply the content all day with their calls, random notes and requests. On top that, we tag the back end of all of our tracks, the title, and the artist. The sound is a streamlined, entertaining product. The song tags get mentioned in every perceptual that's been done in the market since we launched. : 6) What are your three favorite industry web sites? : My favorite non-porn related sites are All Access, R&R and Digital Music News. : 7) What long-term role do you see HD radio playing in the future : The broadcasters have put in a valiant effort in trying to get the word out on HD, but in reality, there's no placement in any of the big box stores. I feel our success will come through the car manufacturers. Once the customer hears the difference between the two, it's a no brainer. : 8) What do you believe will be the next trend in music technology? : Worldwide Wi-Fi. Users will be able to stream millions of options in their vehicles. : 9) What was the first song or full-length release you purchased? : I hate to admit this but The Bay City Rollers was the first album I ever bought with my own money. Do I regain any credibility that KISS "Alive!" was the second? : 10) What stations do you have on your car radio pre-set buttons? : MY 99.5 (of course) : X96 (Simmons Alternative) : The End (Citadel Adult Alt) : ESPN Radio : BBC World Service : Sirius First Wave : Howard 100/101 : 97.1 ZHT (Clear Channel CHR) : The Mix (Millcreek Hot AC) : Bonus Questions : 1) What is the most popular giveaway item at your station? : Chapstick. It's funny, but with the dry climate of the state, everyone carries it around. I have people show up at remotes that have been carrying the same stick they picked up three years ago... obviously those people have very dry lips. : 2) Do you have any good stalker stories? : You mean how many "self-employed models" have I dated? Too many. : 3) What's your favorite fast food? : The "Angry Whopper" is more like the Bipolar Whopper. : 4) You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have 5 CDs with an unlimited supply of batteries. What are they? : Stone Roses; Hayling FC; Theloneous Monk; The Replacements; Radiohead : : (All Access)

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