Originally published on August 22, 2008

Jaye Albright

Albright & O'Malley
Country Consulting partner

Country consultancy aims to take on the world

With a career spanning 45 years, Jaye Albright is one of the most respected and honored radio programming consultants. With a thirst for knowledge and a passion for competition, she continues to set the example for hard work, time management and staying ahead of the game. Albright is a partner with Michael O'Malley in the world's largest country consultancy.

Getting into the business: When I grew up in Salem, Ohio, my heroes were Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters on the "Today" show. My first career report in junior high school was that I wanted to be a radio announcer. A local radio/TV repairman, Russ Jones, bought the FM transmitter that had been KDKA-FM, which Westinghouse gave up on because they didn't think FM was going anywhere and signed on WSOM, "the Wonderful Sound of Music at 105.1" [in Youngstown, Ohio]. Ironically it's a country station today, WQXK. I started there in high school spotting for the play-by-play sports announcer. Then I worked weekends and became the news director. I went to Kent State University and worked at WKNT, then all over Ohio, in Youngstown, Cleveland, Akron and Dayton in the '60s.

Becoming a consultant: I owe Larry Daniels this favor. Drake-Chenault started the first syndicated country format in the early '70s, Great American Country, and Lee Bailey consulted it. Lee left and they were looking for someone to replace him. Some of the biggest country stations in America were Great American Country and often had 18, 19, 20 shares. Chenault decided they wanted to take the stations more live so they called Larry and asked if he wanted to join them. He was happily ensconced in Phoenix working with Mike Owens and was kind enough to mention my name. Out of the blue they called and asked if I'd be interested in interviewing. I didn't know what a consultant did but Drake-Chenault, Los Angeles, you bet! They hired me. It was a great experience and I loved it.

Founding Albright & O'Malley: After my gender change, I was prepared to, if need be, give up my career and figure out what other skills I had. I took what was a very frightening decision and got nothing but wonderful support from the vast majority of people in country music and the radio business. Edie Hilliard was a terrific supporter and helped me a lot and approached that change as a marketing problem; however, the people at Broadcast Electronics and the owner at that time were concerned. They renegotiated a separation agreement where they encouraged me to no longer be a full-time employee so if it didn't go well, they could just terminate me, so I became an independent contractor of BE. Since it went well, I went back and asked if I could join the company full-time again—and they said no. Michael O'Malley, Keith Hill and I got together; three independents supporting one another. I found through the process that Mike and I had a similar personality. After 9/11, Keith and his wife decided to get into real estate. He still consults, but our partnership of three just kind of eroded. It went from Albright, Hill & O'Malley to Albright & O'Malley, holistically. As Keith's priorities changed, Mike and I worked closer together.

Mission of the company: We listen to listeners and help stations understand what they are telling them to do. If you really stay in touch with what the audience wants, stations do well. Between the two of us, we work with about 70 stations.

Long-range plans: Over the last five or six years there have been a lot of new licenses issued and companies growing in Canada, and country is doing well there. About a third of our business is in Canada these days, which has been a good decision with the Canadian dollar versus the American dollar. As the economy is becoming more global, we think our company is in the best position to do more global consulting to help country music develop around the world.

Biggest challenge: The American people have not figured out yet that it's highly likely our standard of living is never going to be as good as it has been in the past. These are very challenging times. Trying to run any business is a challenge. My personal mantra has always been, "Follow your passion and the money will follow."

State of radio: I think it's great. What I love most about consulting is focus groups where we'll spend a couple nights in various cities talking to listeners about what they like about their radio stations. I can tell you they're very passionate and they don't think radio is any worse than it ever was. Not to say we don't have problems, but most have been self-inflicted, bad short-term decisions. The basic fundamentals of our business are still quite good.

Career highlight: In Bakersfield working for Buck Owens at KUZZ. At that time with our AOR station, KKXX, together we had a 45 share of all the listening in Bakersfield, and that was pretty cool. Leaving that situation was probably the biggest mistake of my career. Another high point was Hank Williams Jr., who suggested Young Country as a format name; I launched the very first Young Country in the world in Little Rock at KPPK. The folks at Alliance Broadcasting heard it and liked it so much they adopted it. It was exciting to see that go so big in the early '90s.

Most influential individual: Bob Martin, PD at WCUE/Akron when I was there as production director. He was the first to see talent in me and make me feel I could do this successfully. I'd love to tell him how much he meant to me. He really set me on the path I'm on today. Another is Bob Kingsley. Every Monday night at about 9:30, I would call Bob and go over the music for "Great American Country"—for 20 years. Even after I left I continued to call him and we would share our insights on what was going on. And now, Mike O'Malley. He and his wife, Wanda, make my life richer and better every day with their knowledge, positive attitude and outlook. He gives me books to read, guidance and advice.

Advice for broadcasters: Have fun, enjoy what you do, stick around with listeners, not with analysts. The more you spend time with listeners the better you'll feel about the business we're in.

Liner Notes
Profile: Jaye Albright
Title: Albright & O'Malley Country Consulting partner
Favorite radio format: "Country, NPR and any station that plays current music."
Favorite TV show: "The Colbert Report," "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," "Boston Legal," "The View"
Favorite song: "The River" by Garth Brooks and Frank Sinatra's "Put Your Dreams Away for Another Day"
Favorite movie: "Tootsie"
Favorite book: "I'm reading 'Results That Last' by Quince Studer. Other great books are 'The Green Apron Book' from Starbucks, Tim Sanders' 'Saving the World at Work' and 'Three Cups of Tea' by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin."
Favorite restaurant: The Four Swallows in Bainbridge Island, Wash.
Beverage of choice: Sleeman Honey Brown Ale
Hobbies: "Travel."
E-mail address: jaye@albright-andomalley.com

'Stick around with listeners, not with analysts. The more you spend time with listeners the better you'll feel about the business we're in.' -Jaye Albright