Jackie Selby
By Alex Teitz
Jackie Selby works in the trenches of the radio wars. She hosts the midday slot on Alice 106 FM in Denver, Colorado. Being a DJ in commercial radio is a tough and thankless job. FEMMUSIC was honored to get a few minutes of her time to ask a few questions. For those used to commercial radio, her answers will surprise you.
FEMMUSIC: How did you get started in radio?
JS: My love of music got me here!
I went to Northern Arizona University, and majored in Telecommunications with a minor in acting. A fellow dorm mate took me by the hand to the radio stations on our campus, and told me I would be good at it! So, college radio (punk show), then on to Flagstaff radio (oldies), and then to Phoenix radio in 1985.I worked in Alternative, Rock and then left in 1989 for Las Vegas where I worked in management and on the air. I came to Colorado in 1993 to Vail at the Radio One Network. Then I was hired to sign on KXPK 96.5 The Peak in June 1994. Then I started at Alice in Nov. 1997.
FEMMUSIC: What is your biggest challenge as a DJ?
JS: Weathering the storms of corporate takeovers, and potential job loss!
FEMMUSIC: What freedom do you have in what in played during your showtime?
JS: Freedom? Musically, Zero (just like every other station in Denver). But, complete freedom over what I say.
FEMMUSIC: What is your view of how the internet has changed the music industry? What is your opinion of web radio?
JS: We will probably all be listening to Web radio some day. I would like to work in it! As far the internet’s effect on the music business, it is pretty much status quo for now. The music business is hell bent on putting out CDs!
FEMMUSIC: As a woman in the music industry have you faced or seen discrimination?
JS: What a laugh! Of course I have faced discrimination being a female in a male dominated business!!!!!!!!! We get paid less, always. Jamie White is the exception to that rule. Woman are utilized in certain on air positions and that is about it. Total and complete tokens. IE: Women during midday! My shift is called that, and it always has a women on! KBCO has Ginger, The Hawk has Lalaine, Alice has me, etc. See? We are used for those certain positions on the air. And, rarely used in management! But, these are facts that you learn to accept and work around if you want to work in radio.
FEMMUSIC: What is your opinion of the radio mega-mergers now occurring?
JS: The mergers have caused radio to suffer considerably. It used to be you knew the owner of the radio station, that person used to have an office in the radio station, walk the halls and say hello! Now it is all 2 or 3 big companies that tell their other stations all over the country to sound exactly like you do! Same concept as having a Macaroni Grill in every city, when you would rather eat at the Mom and Pop Italian place!.
FEMMUSIC: What trends do you see emerging within radio for the next five years?
JS: More community radio will pop up, on the new allowances for low level stations! Denver will have one!