Dawn Anderson

How long have you been involved with KBMF and how did you first hear about the station?

Wanting to be part of KBMF is part of why I live here! I moved to Butte Oct 1st of 2019 and took the DJ training the very next day. I was connected to the GM at the time through another station in Missoula, MT, and had heard nothing but positive things about what the station he had started here was doing for the community.

Tell us about the duties of your job and what part of it you love the most and what is most challenging.

My official duties are few, but my primary duty is to expose djs to new music as much as possible. I do this by hosting a weekly New Music Show, constantly adding new music to our library, and by hosting live music events as much as possible, all of which I love to do.

What advice can you offer other MDs regarding the ways you encourage your DJs to play the new music the station receives from labels and promoters?

Ha! I would welcome others’ advice for this one. All of our DJs have their own flavor and their own favorites, and I do my best to encourage fresh selections by sending out emails of my recent favorites every few months, but the feedback I receive averages about one reply per email.

What ways does the station reach out to/interact with the community and work to grow your audience/footprint?

The station does so much for and with the community! We host speakers, broadcast our county’s weekly Council of Commissioners meeting, host all of the city’s holiday parades, and host a community events calendar on our website. Still, I’m all ears when it comes to advice for getting folx to listen to terrestrial radio in 2023!

What was your favorite album of the past year or so and why? Is there a 2023 release still on the horizon you are eagerly awaiting?

Dean Johnson’s Nothing for Me, Please is easily my favorite album of the year, no contest. Now that I’m thinking about that record I can’t even think of any others!

Do you have a favorite artist or album you never get tired of listening to?

Conway Twitty’s Greatest Hits Vol II or Roger Miller’s Third Time Around LP’s have been in my regular rotation since I was a pup.

Who is an artist or band totally outside the realm of the music you play on KBMF that people might be surprised to know you love?

I’m terrible at keeping things a surprise! If I love something, I won’t rest until everyone who is willing to listen has heard about it.

If you had the power to instantly change one thing going on in the world at the moment, what would it be?

Yikes, it’s really difficult to think of the whole world in terms of one single issue. I’d love to see the basic human needs of healthcare and food and housing for all met.

What event or person in your life would you say has shaped you the most as a person?

Another hard one! I truly think my parents’ habit of listening to the radio has been a huge influence. We still watched plenty of tv and played video games, but we also listened to the radio very regularly, which helped me understand what a vital community resource and media source it can be from a very young age. It also put listening to music center stage as a form of entertainment, which is where it remains today.

If you could choose, what time period in the past would you most want to travel back to visit and why?

Oh geez. Maybe just to the early 2000’s to give a young Dawn Anderson some perspective.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in town that you recommend people try?

Butte has much that makes it a great place to live, but food is not one of them. Still, we do have Mr. Hot Dogs, which is the only recommendation for Butte food that I ever make.

What in your life brings you the most joy?

Some of the most powerful moments in my life have come after a big, successful collaboration. I love to be a team! Whether it’s a big event or a delicious meal, it feels really good to work together with my community.

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? I refuse to choose.
Morning Person or Night Owl? Light is so precious in the north that I’m a morning person out of necessity!
City or Country? City for the food and the art, country for everything else.
Beach or Mountains? Mountains unless you ask me in cold, dark February.
Watch TV or Read A Book? Life is all about balance, right?
Sunny or Rainy? I love the sun but I did just find some very cute rain boots…
Restaurant or Home Cooking? Home cooking 99% of the time, but it’s nice to get a break from the dishes.
Pants or Shorts? In Montana it’s best to have both on hand.
Warm or Cold drinks? Again, I refuse to choose!

Do you have any current favorite TV shows you’re enjoying/binging?

How about a movie (new or old) that you’ve watched recently that you would recommend? We’ve been loving Reservation Dogs! We also recently rewatched Paris, TX and it reminded me of how much I love Harry Dean Stanton and that I need to rewatch Lucky sometime soon.

Finally, If you could have a lifetime supply of anything, what would it be?

Delicious fresh roasted coffee beans! Or avocados! Definitely something I can put in my mouth.