After forty years in radio and television, Tripp Rogers has seen just about everything the broadcast world can throw at him, and he’s still doing it live, loud, and local in Spokane.
Currently the morning show host and program director at Rock 94½, Rogers’ career started with an internship that turned into a lifelong calling.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to learn under legendary programmers like John Rook and Gary Allen,” he says. “I started straight out of an internship in college, and I never left.”
Over the years, Rogers has worked for some of Spokane’s most iconic active rock and AOR stations, including Rock 106 KEZE (the former sister station of Seattle’s KISW) and his current home, Rock 94½, where he first landed in 2001. After a stint in television doing motorsports commentary across the Pacific Northwest, he returned earlier this year to take over the Twice as Much Rock Morning Show and programming duties.
For Rogers, radio has always been about connection—not just with listeners but with the community.
“From helping with Christmas Wish and Toys for Tots to bringing the best concerts and festivals to the Northwest, Rock 94½’s listeners depend on us to deliver what lives inside all of us — a rock and roll attitude and a sense of pride in where we live,” he says.
That connection is something Rogers takes personally. Having helped launch The Mosh Pit All Stars back in 2003, he knows his audience inside and out.
“It’s an incredibly inclusive group that looks out for one another and picks each other up. And if you don’t get what the station is about, that’s fine,” said Rogers. “Not everybody’s going to love a station with this much attitude. But Spokane has loved to rock for decades, and we’re happy to oblige.”
Rogers is also a strong believer that, despite digital competition, radio’s magic isn’t going anywhere.
“Spotify, podcasting, and other outlets have never connected with the masses like radio does. Those who say, ‘I don’t listen to the radio anymore,’ somehow find their way back,” he says. “It’s the immediacy, the community, the promotions—those are things you just can’t replace. Spotify isn’t giving you a shot at Tool tickets every hour. Live radio is where it’s at.”
Rogers practices what he preaches, when he means live.
“Nobody wants to hear AI doing a midday shift,” he laughs. “When you’re live, life happens. So, screw up! Show them you’re not perfect. That’s what makes us real. I get that budgets are tight, but we have to find our way back to what made radio great—personalities. Real people.”
That personality extends online, too. “When it comes to social media, it’s all about promotion, promotion, promotion,” Rogers says. “You can hear the smile on our faces when we talk, so let yourself smile when you write your posts. It makes a difference.”
As for the next generation of talent, Rogers believes the key lies in keeping music discovery alive.
“New music is the fountain of youth. Whether you’re into the new Taylor Swift or stoked about the new Mudvayne, it’s all about that connection,” Rogers says. “Our listeners feed off it.”
And when it comes to great talent, Rogers has one golden rule: “Your reputation needs to precede you. Your name should speak for itself. If you need a résumé to tell me who you are, I may not be interested. Let your reputation speak for itself. And don’t ever put it in jeopardy.”
October, or “Rocktober,” as Rogers calls it, is one of his favorite times of year.
“We’re stacking the deck with concert promotions and live in-studio performances. We just had Autumn Kings and Hollywood Undead in front of a sold-out crowd, and The Funeral Portrait will be in the studio soon as well. It’s going to be wild.”
The team at Rock 94½ also keeps the community fired up with Seahawks giveaways, gas cards, and chances for fans to score tickets to home games. “We’re all about giving back, whether it’s through music, experiences, or community support,” Rogers says.
Rogers sums it up best: “Spokane loves to rock — and ROCK HARD. We’re here to make sure it stays that way.”
Listeners can tune in at rock945.com or connect with Tripp on Facebook at @TrippRock945.
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Charese Fruge’ is an award-winning Content, Broadcast, and Marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas. As the owner of MC Media, she works with radio brands and individual talent, especially young women, helping them grow their brands and negotiate on their own behalf. She is also a Voice Actor and Voice Over Talent as well as a Freelance Writer for International Broadcast Outlets. Find her at @MCMediaOnline or www.mcmediaonline.com.
