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Karen West has been with Max Media’s Country WGH 97.3 The Eagle in Virginia Beach since 1990. During that time, she has hosted evenings and middays and now co-hosts mornings. She is also the station’s Music Director.
West has made the most of an opportunity presented to her in the parking lot of a Reba McEntire concert when she worked at a Country station in York, VA.
“Our little station was out there at the Reba McEntire show at the Hampton Coliseum, and it was raining. At the end of the show, we had our paraphernalia that we were passing out, and there were the two other guys that worked with us, and I was out there passing it out; I said, well, my hair’s wrecked anyway, and I’m just going to go ahead, and I’m just going to pass all this stuff out. The guys stayed in the van to stay dry, so the GM of this new station, which ended up being The Eagle, came up. He says anybody that would go out and pass out their station paraphernalia in the rain while their coworkers stayed in the van and stayed dry needs to come to work for me. And then he gave me his business card.”
West has been in the radio business for over 40 years, and during that time, one of the changes she is most happy about is the increased opportunities for women.
“I’m seeing women get a lot more opportunities in this business where we didn’t before. I will be honest: we were either seven to midnight or midday or the morning giggle girl. But now I’m seeing where women are getting more programming opportunities, thank God, and being in that part of the industry. So, I’ve seen that change over the years.”
“I actually got to watch it too. I trained a lot of the girls that are out there in the business. They came through our station, and they’re going on to bigger and better things. That’s what I like to see.”
Another big change is the technology and audio delivery systems.
“I’ve seen a wide variety of change, and I’ve been through all the tech, said West. “And the cool thing is, I got four daughters who are actually the demo. And so, they keep me from being ignorant and that sort of thing. I know how to work everything.”
Despite the industry changes, West says she doesn’t feel like she has been at The Eagle for 34 years.
“From the time that I started here to now, it doesn’t feel like it’s been decades. It feels like a couple of years, maybe, but not decades.”
“Because I love this so much. I love this business so much. Starting 7 to midnight here and then now on a morning show. I don’t want anybody to get scared, thinking it takes 34 years to work up to mornings. That’s not the way it works. It’s just the way it works here because nobody leaves.”
She recently joined new hire Steve Waters, forming “Eagle Mornings With Steve & Karen.”
“Steve was a great hire. He and I play off each other very well. I was hoping that we wouldn’t find somebody who was dominant and the other person was not. This is a 50-a-50 morning show where two people are talking to each other and talking to the audience, and we are all equals. We’re all having a conversation with each other. And the conversation we have between the two of us, we’re also having the conversation with the listener,” said West. “We’re friends having a conversation and playing really good music, by the way.”
West is also The Eagle’s Music Director and is known in the industry as an advocate for new music and a champion of young artists.
“My biggest passion right now is the newer artists who are coming in. I think there is room for every flavor of Country, from Ernest and Zach Top, who is bringing the retro back, to Shaboozey, who has that Appalachian sound. He has these lyrics that just roll over you. I think there’s room for all flavors of Country right now.”
And to the West, all flavors of Country include pop crossovers like Post Malone.
“I love that he rolled over and came and joined us because it was just a matter of time. This guy can do any format. And I love that the audience is very accepting of it. Remember back in the day when people said, I’m not going to listen to that, it’s Pop, it’s not Country. We still have a lot of that, but you have less of it because it sounds great together. It sounds like the best charcuterie board ever.”
What about Beyonce and her recent Country album?
“That girl can do whatever she wants. I think that if she wanted it bad enough, she could do it. She might’ve just been dipping her toe in the water and maybe not that serious about it. But she had a lot of really good people on that album. She had Shaboozey. She had your Tierra Kennedy. I enjoyed it. But, to me, it felt like she was dipping her toe in the water to see what would happen.”
And who is on West’s current list of hot picks?
“Well, the new one by Shaboozey. I love this song, but it made me cry. Zach Topp, I’m loving. Ernest, I’m loving. And you can tell that’s kind of the traditional side. Riley Green, Ella Langley. Oh my God, that girl. And we’re seeing more ladies come in who have a really good sound. I like Ella’s sound. I like Megan Moroney’s sound. Drew Baldrige, geez, that guy. Ben Gallaher, can play the guitar like nobody’s business.”
The Eagle has a relationship with a local venue appropriately called The Eagles Nest. The station showcases up-and-coming artists and gives listeners an up-close and personal experience. Over the years, many of today’s A-listers have played there.
“I like to try to get them, and they do a nice little intimate show for about 45 minutes and play their stuff. And we’ve had so many blow up from that. We have pictures of these people on the wall out there. I remember when Kelsea Ballerini did it a while ago, Morgan Wallen before he blew up. That was a long time ago. Chris Stapleton played The Eagles Nest. When I go to Nashville, they say it’s like a rite of passage.”
Listen to 97.3 The Eagle here. Follow her on Facebook.
Jeff Lynn serves as Editor of Barrett Media’s Music Radio coverage. Prior to joining Barrett Media, Jeff spent time programming in Milwaukee, Omaha, Cleveland, Des Moines, and Madison for multiple radio groups, including iHeartMedia, Townsquare Media, NRG Media, and Entercom (now Audacy). He also worked as a Country Format Editor for All Access until the outlet shut down in August 2023.
To get in touch with Jeff by email, reach him at Jeff@BarrettMedia.com.
