Small Market Radio Station DJ with a Lot of Heart: Galen Stevens

Large market radio stations and syndicated radio shows can reach hundreds of thousands of listeners each day. There is practically an army working behind the scenes to support the on air personalities. Their  budgets are large and their listener base even larger. Yet, in the heart of America, exists a different breed of radio station. It is the small market radio stations which serve as the cornerstones of their community, providing quality entertainment to local people by local people.

Meet Galen Stevens. Stevens is the morning show DJ at KKLR in Poplar Bluff, a small town in the bootheel of Missouri. He does not have a large crew supporting him on the air..in fact, he also works as both the program manager and music director. He is also responsible for all the promotions done by the radio station. both the advertising done by the station and for the station.

Stevens has wanted to work in radio since he was seven years old. After graduating from high school, he attended Linwood College in St. Charles, Missouri. He started his career with Fox Radio and moved to River Radio in 1999. Stevens started at the bottom, working as a part time engineer during the overnight shift. Now only 28, he has worked his way all the way up to his current position.

Stevens' day starts early. He goes on the air at 6 AM, sounding chipper and alert, although he says he is not a morning person. He finishes up his airtime around 10 AM and then the rest of his day begins. A large part of Stevens' job consists of scheduling the music for the station. Long gone are the days of DJ's actually playing records or CDs. Everything is computerized..songs, commercials and the bumpers in and out of the breaks. Although he receives advice from a consulting firm, he tends to go with his heart and instincts as to what will work on the station. He says that a song "doesn't have to be on a list for me to play it."