Chasta Michaelis is Program Director and Midday Host of 107.7 The Bone, KSAN, San Francisco. The Oklahoma native moved to Southern California in 2003 and worked in Los Angeles for five years, pursuing her dream of radio and television before relocating to the Bay Area in 2008. There she married her husband, who is a drummer, and shares a son and two dogs with him.
Michaelis began her journey at The Bone as a part-timer and took on various roles, including Traffic Reporter, Morning Show Co-Host, Midday Host, and ultimately progressed to her current role as Program Director. On the side, she’s a music lover, traveler, animal lover, vegetarian and health nut.
“The Bay Area is a massive ‘music market’ being the home of bands like Metallica, Green Day, Journey, etc.,” explains Michaelis. “This is a market that cares intensely about their music. So we cater to that passion at The Bone. Also, being the home of Silicon Valley, we’re very tech-forward, so we prioritize The Bone App and streaming in a major way. Making it easy and convenient for listeners to access the station.”
“One of my favorite elements of what we do as a station is support the local music scene and community,” adds Michaelis. “We host ‘Bone Rock Night Out’ events to showcase smaller local venues/bars and local talent. Also, we partnered with Soundwaves TV and host a local music program on the weekend called ‘Soundwaves FM.’”
But supporting the local music scene is not the only priority for The Bone. Michaelis describes their other passion projects: “We also have our two other programs on air: ‘Bone Breakers’ and ‘Metal Zone,’ which showcase Active Rock and Metal. I like to push the boundaries of what a ‘Classic Rock’ station can really do!”
“And The Bone is as much about attitude and the Bonehead community as it is about the music we play. Being a part of the Bonehead Family is something our listeners really identify with, so the magic sauce is in the space between. It’s in the ‘connective tissue’ as I like to call it.”
Part of the “connective tissue” Michaelis is referring to is an A+ lineup of talent on the station. “The most important thing I look for in my talent is WORKABILITY and ATTITUDE,” she insists. “I don’t do egos. I also really appreciate talent who care about ‘old school’ radio. Anyone can do a break with music fun facts. I’m impressed with talent who engage with the audience and truly understand putting on a show and being entertaining.”
As for what’s missing from the business as a whole right now, “I think radio in general has always been a ‘reactive’ industry. What’s been missing is the reality that things CHANGE. I push myself to think proactively and look down the road at the bridge the industry is crossing at all times. Trying to understand the shift we’re in is most important in the survival of the art of radio as we know it. I like to look at radio as less of a competition and rather a ‘banding together’ as a group of people who appreciate that art and collectively encourage each other to protect and preserve it.”
Follow Chasta Michaelis @Chastalynn on Instagram.
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