If you’re looking for an example of what happens when you work hard and dedicate yourself to a career, look no further than Rich Davis. From his early days in York and Allentown, through Philadelphia, Minneapolis. Madison and now Nashville, the only thing that’s different about Rich is his driver’s license picture. His passion for the business he loves, the people he works with and the audience he programs to hasn’t changed even slightly. He’s learned under some of the finest programming minds and has been bringing that experience for the past eight years to his staff at WRVW and added OM duties for Clear Channel’s Nashville cluster a year ago.
e-QB presents excerpts from the August FMQB magazine CHR Up Close with Rich Davis, WRVW/Nashville PD and Clear Channel-Nashville OM
On the transition to the Operations Manager role…
Keith Kaufman (PD/WSIX), Mud (PD/WNRQ), Pamela Aniese (PD/WUBT), and Tom Peace(PD/WLAC) are the best team I could’ve asked for in my transition to OM. Each of them is an expert in their field and is passionate about their stations and brands. Plus, since I knew all the players, and all the systems, I felt like I was able to jump right in without missing a beat. I inherited a great cluster from one of the best in CC SVPP Clay Hunnicutt, so I had some big shoes to fill.
On how active of a role he takes with the other stations…
I am a firm believer in hiring great people and letting them do their job. I didn’t hire these great people, but I got to watch their capabilities as programmers before becoming OM, so I knew what each of them could do. I love talking programming with them and helping to tweak what we have on the air. Another benefit about my role as OM is that I’m also still the day to day Program Director of the River. Rarely am I asking my team to do something I don’t have to do as well. I think that goes along way, I’m in it with them, in addition to being the OM.
On the stations strong ratings…
Everyone’s focus and energy has really taken our cluster to the next level. As of the last trend, we have four of the top six 12+, three of the top five 18-34, and three of the top five 25-54. The cluster is three shares above where we were a year ago 12+. Seven shares over a year ago 18-34, and 2.5 shares over a year ago 25-54. That’s a testament to the great team I’ve got here!
On how his managing style has changed or developed…
My style has continued to grow from the belief that you treat people how you would want to be treated. Like all business, it starts with the people and with the vibe in the halls. If those things are good, that emanates out of the speakers. My team members know what is expected of them though. If they are doing a great job I am the first to tell them. If the job is not so great, they know that too. My standards have always been high and luckily the PD’s on my team have equally high standards for themselves. My motto is “make it happen”.
On the keys to keeping the core WRVW airstaff in place…
We’ve have become a family. My guys and gals watch out for each other, on the station, and in their personal lives. I’ve told them, and they agree that one day we’ll look back at this time together on the River and remember it as one of the best in our careers. We are all blessed to get to do what we do for a living.
On being mentored by the likes of Marc Chase, Clay Hunnicutt, Buddy Scott, Steve Rivers, Steve Davis, Guy Zapoleon, Bill Richards and Gerry DeFrancesco…
I’ve been blessed to learn from a who’s who of the best in the business. Each of those I’ve worked for, and everyone who has worked for me is someone I have learned from. My biggest mentor is a guy not even on the above list and that’s Dave Allan. Dave and I worked together in Philly at Star 104.5. On top of being a great PD, he was seemingly unflappable, had great dry sense of humor and was a great guy. There is a too little used word when it comes to your employees and that word is “thanks”. I make it a point to thank my gang often. They never doubt that I appreciate the job they are doing for me
On how the role of APD/MD Butter evolved…
The great thing about Butter, and it’s always been this way, is that he loves this radio station. I mean it’s in his blood. Butter is a Tennessee guy and his goal was to someday work full time at this station. He is always plugged in, literally and figuratively. He’s always listening and with the technology we have today he keeps his computer logged in to the control room at all times. If there is a problem he is right on top of it. Seriously, he cares about this station almost more than I do. Passion is something you can’t teach and I’m lucky to have a guy like him to help me out.
On how much the 1075theriver.com website factors in to how he programs the River…
Our website is HUGE! Over the last two years we have increased our weekly web uniques over 350%. My team is always looking for Pop culture content for our website and their blog pages. The focus on finding great in-demo content for the web has made the station that much more relevant for our target. We use the website to add the variety and depth we don’t have time for on the air.
On if he feels radio is promoting effectively to the younger generation…
Absolutely. I know you saw the new Jupiter research! To hear that according to Jupiter’s data radio is far and away the most popular method of music discovery was huge!
On some of the biggest challenges facing radio today…
I am definitely a glass half full guy. Do we have challenges? Absolutely. Some of what we thought may have been the biggest challenges a few years ago; web, iPods and cell phones, have turned out to be pretty good distribution platforms for content we generate. Another great tool for us is the iPod. With pod-casting, our audience not only has their favorite songs in their iPod but some of Woody and Jim’s best bits as well. Even when we give away iPods, we pre-load them with bits and interviews from some of the coolest stuff we do on the air.
On being handed the keys to a radio station and doing any format and hiring any jock he wants…. I was handed the keys to WRVW eight years ago. It’s been a great run! CHR is what I love, it’s what I do. It’s the best of the best regardless of genre. It is my true passion. As far as jocks, I’ll take the ones I’ve got right now: Woody and Jim and Intern Adam in mornings, Madison in middays, Ryno in afternoons and Butter at night. These guys are my dream team along withLunchbox in promotions, Jeremy Snell in imaging, Quincy Besaw my web guy and Derry Londonpart-time. It’s still a trip when I get to hear the songs Butter and I have chosen on the air or when we do a killer promotion and I can feel the audience listening. There is no greater reward than having it all come together and having Arbitron reward you with some great ratings.
** QB Content by Mark LaSpina **
| Also in the August Issue: |
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Q&A: Chris P, APD/MD, KRQQ (93.7 KRQ)/Tucson Q&A: Skywalker, APD, WSPK/Newburgh Hot Shots |
