What Artists Wish Programmers Knew
We asked a group of Christian radio artists, anonymously, to speak candidly about their experiences with interviews and station visits. Their answers were honest, sometimes surprising, and consistently pointed to one thing: intentionality matters.
What is the best question you’ve been asked in a radio interview? What’s the worst question?
- Artist 1: Best: David A Dein once asked about a specific lyric in one of my songs. It made me feel so cared for, and I had a great story to tell about it too! Worst: “So, do you think you’ve peaked in your career?”
- Artist 2: Best: Sarah Taylor once asked me about something from my childhood, it wasn’t even in my bio, She had CALLED people at the label to get special stuff to ask me. It made that interview so much fun. Worst: “So, what do you wanna talk about today?” I felt like I was interrupting their day and wasting their time.
- Artist 3: Best: Oooh, I can’t think of a specific question off the top of my head – but my favorite questions are thoughtful and specific. There was a wonderful interviewer years ago that would really do their research and find out personal things about us and that was always really fun bc of the intentionality behind it. We appreciate that effort quite a bit. Worst: What does your band name mean? lol (& every night of tour). Or any other generic question we get every day.
What makes you feel valued when you go to a station visit? What makes you feel devalued?
- Artist 1: Valued: I love being taken around to meet the staff. Everyone coming out of their offices for a moment and getting to look in their eyes. It’s fun to meet everybody. Devalued: It’s not always fun to be rushed in like cattle and rushed out. I know everyone’s busy, it’s rare, but there’s a station or 2 that felt more cold than a visit with a lawyer.
- Artist 2: Valued: Anything that shows planning. To be thought of ahead of time makes me feel valued. Devalued: It’s somewhat hurtful when a meeting has been set for sometime and for whatever reason they haven’t even listened to the song I’m there for. I get in my head and in my feelings when that happens. “They’re probably right, I’m not even worth 3 minutes of their time” the voices in my head say.
- Artist 3: Valued: Intentionality conversation, seeing and greeting all those behind the scenes that we don’t get to see as often, catching up with everyone on a personal level. It’s also always really nice when they know the song we are promoting, haha! Really, it’s just the best to genuinely connect with people over our shared passions of Jesus and music. Devalued: No interview, not knowing the songs, not well prepped for interviews. PD’s not coming out of their offices. (Lol – it’s happened 😂) It’s rare though!
What has been the most meaningful or memorable thing to happen during any radio related activity?
- Artist 1: A kid that won a special meet and greet through the station passed out 30 seconds into the meeting. We later came to find out the kid had medical issues that this happened somewhat regularly… but I’ll never forget it!
- Artist 2: I love being part of memorable moments in people’s lives. A station once worked it out with a couple of their super fan listeners that I got to be part of a couple’s proposal. I had the MOST fun.
- Artist 3: I think hearing the stories from local listeners about how songs have impacted their lives. It’s never lost on me what an incredible privilege it is to be able to do what we do and I’m so humbled that God continues to use all of us for this work.
