Karen West is Program Director of 97.3 The Eagle, WGH-FM, Norfolk/Virginia Beach.
West was recently named PD (BMM 1/10) but has been with the station for 30 years, has been MD, and now co-hosts the morning show.
West is a CRS veteran. She is known as a champion for young artists, and not surprisingly, meeting those new artists ranks high on her memory list.
“What I look forward to at CRS is always meeting the new artists and getting to know them before they blow up—getting to hear some of the new music they will offer us. CRS is great; of course, you got the ‘New Faces Show.'”
“For brand new people, it gives you a chance to meet your reps face-to-face and actually get to spend a little time with them, get to spend a little time getting to know the artist.”
West likes the idea of looking to younger people for panels with new promotion ideas.
“I’m still waiting to go to that promotional panel that’s got new ideas. I think that that’s going to be few and far between because I’ve been in radio for over 40 years. I think I’ve done them all. I’m waiting for that new blood to come in here with some great brand-new ideas we can throw out in the universe.”
West would welcome the opportunity to be on or host a panel in the future. And what does she have in mind?
“I would love to be part of a panel like that, how do you put this without offending anybody? It’s been the guy in business forever, and I would like to be part of a panel where women talk about how they’re finally getting some say. It’s exciting for me to see that corner turn and see things work.”
West would also welcome the chance to share some of the things that work well for “Eagle Mornings with Steve and Karen.”
“I would love to bring all that’s working for Steve and me to the table because it is not the phones but it’s our text line and our socials that are on fire.”
“I don’t want to talk on the phone. I’d be a lot happier if I could text and get my information in our email. Even when I have to call for doctor appointments. I’d rather talk to an automated system because I have no time.”
“That’s where it’s trending. Maybe that could be a panel to discuss where your audience is right now. They’re probably not calling you, but you should have a text line and your socials open. Always be active on both because that’s where they are.”
West is a fan of The Women’s Mentoring Breakfast, an excellent chance for successful women to coach and advise up-and-comers.
“The young women that came up are starry-eyed about the business. One of the things I had to tell them was just that it’s a long road ahead, but it’s a road that feels very, very good.”
“A girl named Paisley (Paisley Dunn-Banks) was there the year I did it, and she was so excited. Now, I see her doing a morning show in a smaller market. It was amazing to see her passion. And she went straight into a morning show.”
“Not many young people do that. It was great to help mentor her at that age.”
West’s favorite music memory is seeing Jelly Roll perform at the “New Faces Show.”
“My favorite showcase thus far was the one he was on. I mean, seeing everybody in the audience that had drawn the cross on their face for him.”
An unexpected appearance by Dierks Bentley at the luncheon last year also stood out.
“There was a rumor that he might be there performing “American Girl.” Then we went to that luncheon, and there he was. Valory (The Valory Music Co.) got me up close. They said you sit at our table. I never get to sit in the front. I could see the color of Dierks Bentley’s eyes. That was freaking fabulous.”
Any embarrassment of once walking into the wrong record label hang was quickly forgotten when West unexpectedly met an A-lister.
“There was one year I was face to face with Darius Rucker. I was in the wrong freaking hang. There was one with Joe Nichols, Ben Gallaher, and Nate Barnes, and they were around the same area.”
And then there was the Midwest hang, which had all the big people, Darius Rucker and Vince Gill. Well, I walked into there thinking that was the one we were going to. I didn’t know that there was another one right next door.”
“It’s packed, and I can’t move, and I think I might be in the wrong hang. The guy in front of me turned around and looked at me, and we were nose to nose. I’m like, oh my God, it’s Darius Rucker. Do you know what? The embarrassment was worth it.”
What advice does West have for first-time attendees?
“You do get pulled into all kinds of directions. I would tell people to be patient, not overexert themselves, and to plan what to go to on the day of, not the day before.”
“Don’t try to do everything all at once because that was my mistake the first year I went. I was exhausted and didn’t get to do some of the fun stuff. But then again, you don’t want to do all the fun stuff either because you’ll be too hung over the next day. You cannot do all the panels. There are so many of them.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
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.
