The Infinite Dial

Title: Operations Manager for a 5 Station Cluster in Billings, MT owned by New Northwest Broadcasters, LLC.

Who is Kyle? "I started in radio when I was 15 as a Promotions Intern for the Citadel group in Spokane, WA. After working my butt off and pretty much annoyed everyone for a year for free, I was given the opportunity to do the live overnight shifts on the weekends for KAEP. Worked and honed my on-air skills I worked my way to Nights on the weekends! In 1999 my mother passed away, I was 17 and a senior in high school, I needed a full time gig so I would have health insurance, the night time show opened up on our country station, so I applied and I got it! Part of my gig was to produce some station imaging using the MJI plug and play kits. My Operations Manager at the time who was Ray Edwards thought my production skills exceeded those of most and promoted me to Cluster Imaging Director, where I stayed until 2003. From Spokane I moved to Raleigh, NC and was the Production Director for Krash Productions. In 2004, my former Operations Manager, Ray Edwards, was the Vice President for New Northwest Broadcasters headed up by Pete Benedetti, wanted me to move to Billings, MT where they owned 5 stations and I was to be the Corporate Imaging Director and produce all 37 Stations in our company, Program Director for the CHR station and do an afternoon show. This was my first Program Director job and was nervous, but the station has done very well, #1 or #2 18-34, and #2 or #3 12+ ever since. In 2007 I was promoted to Operations Manager and in 2008 was promoted once again to Corporate Webmaster, so I wear A LOT of hats, but LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!"

What would your dream job be? "I'm in it! Not everyone gets the opportunities that I have gotten and I feel blessed everyday. What other job gets to entertain people everyday, and have the opportunity to help people advance in their careers?"

Who has been your greatest influence? "Wow that's a tough one! Since I've worn so many hats in my career there have been so many that have impacted me.

So here's a list! Haley Jones, who was the person who hired me as an intern. Ray Edwards, who knew where my passion and talent was. Krash Bassett, the man who taught me everything I know about imaging. The whole staff at New Northwest Broadcasters, this company is unbelievable! From Pete Benedetti, Trila Bumstead, Tom Oakes, Joe Benedetti, everyone has believed in me and taught me so much from every side of the business, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world to work for such great and talented people!"

What is the one format that you can't believe nobody has done? "Spanish Hip Hop...?? Bueller...Bueller..."

How could radio do a better job of attracting younger listeners? "Radio needs to stop thinking just "Radio". There are so many opportunities out there to attract and keep young listeners. Radio is so much more these days than "hey, caller 5 wins tickets!" Of course there are the prize pigs who will call every time, but c'mon. I was at a local indoor football game recently and sat behind about 20 high school kids, and every single one of them had their cell phones out texting people, you want to know how to attract young listeners? Start using the technologies they use to better your product and sales."

How will radio remain relevant in a digital world? "Have your jocks create a daily blog on the website, post podcasts, integrate text messaging into your contests and promotions, get a twitter account, do something that the younger/technologically savvy listeners can use and interact with, get YOUR content on to their mp3 players or whatever they use to not listen to you."