INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE WITH DAVID MYERS WHILE HE WAS ON THE AIR DURING HIS AFTERNOON DRIVE SHIFT ON 11/4/02.

SJ.COM: What is your experience with Smooth Jazz?

DM: My first job in radio was in 1992 and I did the over night shift for the previous Smooth Jazz station here in St. Louis (KNJZ), which is now representing the "Mad Hip Hop". (Laughs)

SJCOM: 1992?

DM: Radio is my 2nd career. I ran restaurants in Central Illinois before I got into this business.

I was music director for the Hot AC station in the market ("The River") before I took this position. When the President of Bonneville, the company that owns our stations, decided to fill the Smooth Jazz hole in the market with 106.5, I threw my hat in for the programming position. I've always been a fan of the music.

SJCOM: Based on what we've seen and heard, Bonneville really seems to be a great organization to work for. Is that the case?

DM: Definitely. They are pleased with the niche we've caved out with Smooth Jazz in the market, but they want to be bigger with this station and they have the means and vision to do so.

SJ.COM: When you signed back on with Smooth Jazz in St. Louis what was the response?

DM: "Thank God you've come along!". We get the most positive feedback from our community. And St. Louis is becoming more active with live shows. We had the Rippingtons here last week and Peter White is here this week.

SJ.COM: Do you produce the shows or do you work with a promoter?

DM: We work with a promoter. There just seems to be so much involved with production. We have a beautiful newer venue here called the The Pageant. It holds 2000 people and offers fantastic acoustics for concerts. With the exception of the Peter White show this week, we typically get a full house. Tickets go for $25-$35.

SJ.COM: What are you doing in your market that you feel is unique to the format?

DM: We are embracing our local Smooth Jazz artists. One local artist, Tim Cunningham, for example, should be a nationally known artist in our format. We have teamed up with the St. Louis Bread Company to start searching for new stars. Like a Smooth Jazz version of American Idol.

We're also very community minded. We do many things for non-profits like the Salvation Army.

We make an attempt to return every phone call and every email. That carries a great deal of weight with people.

We have just launched our "Ambassador Club", which our listeners can join and earn points by participating in our events and on-line research. The more points they earn, the more opportunity they have for upgrading their concert tickets, or attending an artist meet & greet or receiving travel vouchers, etc.

We have a heritage AC station here in the market that has been on the air since Christ was 2, so we if we're going to make inroads, we have to get out in the community and hit the street with our branding.

SJ.COM: What position does WSSM take with new music? Do you play a good amount?

DM: I would say that I was very aggressive this week, I added 5 songs. But I won't do that every week. I can't. We test new music and we find that even after we spin something 600-700 times, it still comes back as unfamiliar.

SJ.COM: What makes you go on a song?

DM: A compelling melody line. I take a new CD and I drive around with it in my car for a day or two. That may not be scientific, but it helps me get a feel for how it will play.

SJ.COM: Do you do any "scientific" research?

DM: We break new music on our Web site. We have a "Listener Advisory Board" where we ask our listeners for their input.

SJ.COM: The Smooth Jazz listeners love opportunities like that.

DM: Boy do they ever. Ask them questions and give them a chance to offer their opinion; it just doesn't get any better.

SJ.COM: If you could cross over any sound or artist into the format without concern of risking ratings, who or what would you introduce to Smooth Jazz? Why?

DM: I would do more traditional jazz to be honest. St. Louis has a jazz heritage, so I would throw in a little more straight-ahead. We do play the Ramsey Lewis radio program on Sunday nights.

SJ.COM: What's the best way for a new Smooth Jazz artist to develop their career?

DM: I come from a rock background and one of the things that rock artists do is they promote themselves by going out and meeting program directors as rock stations.

I would recommend that Smooth Jazz artists go out and meet us at radio stations across the country. Maybe do interviews and plug their new CD. A lot of new artists ask if they can come play for us, and while we would love that, we aren't in a position to pay for bands to come through.

I think that personal meetings and station visits, maybe even free concerts if possible, will really pay off in the long run for new artists.

SJ.COM: What was the last live show you caught?

DM: The Rippingtons. They were spectacular. Russ was very cool and came out for a pre-show, did an interview and said hello to the folks.

SJ.COM: What's in your CD player (home or car)?

DM: Steve Oliver in my car. At home I listen to music that is not in the format because I program the station's music from home and it would distract me. So I have some hard core rap and metal in my home player, including Eminem and Tommy Lee's new one.

SJ.COM: Outside of radio, are you an enthusiast for anything else (wine,
golf, movies, etc.)?

DM: Movies. I love movies.

SJ.COM: What was the last good movie you saw?

DM: I loved Lord Of The Rings.

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