Lindsay Kimball

How did you first hear about The Current (KCMP)? How long have you been involved there and when did you become PD?

The Current launched in late January of 2005. I was studying abroad in South Africa during my senior year of college when I got an email from my parents telling about a station that was about to launch that I “might like.” I returned home shortly after the launch of The Current, applied for their internship, and was lucky enough to be hired. I started a couple of days after graduating. I spent my 12-week internship learning and doing as much as I could – nearly 20 years later, I’m still here! Over the course of 20 years, my role has evolved as I’ve taken on more and more. I started as a Music Assistant and built up the digital music library, which gave me the opportunity to learn the technology and systems behind our library and play to air systems. I tracked overnights for several years, which allowed me to hone my on-air hosting skills. I was an Assistant Producer, where I supported a variety of live and recorded broadcasts with artists like The Avett Brothers, Adele, Mumford and Sons, Maggie Rogers, Iron and Wine, Patty Smith, and the list goes on. Those skills combined into an Assistant Program Director role, which I developed my leadership skills and programming sense. I was asked to support our Membership team at Minnesota Public Radio on an interim basis, which turned into leading Membership for 3 years. (I kept my Friday night on-air shift though!) My heart was always in content and programming, and I came back to The Current as Program Director in June of 2022.

Tell us about the duties of your job as PD as well as how the music programming at the station works. What part of your job do you love the most and what part do you find the most challenging?

As program director, my core accountability is honing the sound of the station. I do that by coaching and managing a team of hosts including regular training, air checks, and developing programming ideas together. I work collaboratively with the programming team to review music, maintain relationships within the industry, and bring the best music discovery to our listeners. I have cross-functional relationships across our organization to support revenue generation in underwriting, membership, and events. And one of my favorite parts of my job is that I get to be creative in coming up with content ideas that serve the audience. We have an audience insights team, which helps us learn more about our listeners, and I use that information to make sure our programming is meeting the needs of the audience. It’s rewarding to hear that echo back with strong listening numbers, membership revenue, and incredible comments from listeners. I love connecting our audience with their next favorite song or band and creating the soundtrack to their day. The most challenging part is finding the time to do it all – there’s no end to creativity, but there is a finite amount of time!

Share a story about an artist or band you feel The Current broke that had no real presence in town before receiving airplay on the station. We love examples of how radio continues to matter when it comes to an artist’s success in a city they didn’t have a following in before your support.

The Current has dozens of examples of bands that started developing a following once they got airplay. In fact, the term “The Current Effect” was coined for when a band would take off after getting airplay on The Current. Mumford and Sons is an early example of a band that broke. Other examples include Lucius and Wet Leg. We were one of the first stations to play The Last Dinner Party, Lola Young, and Gigi Perez. We get reports of Shazam numbers spiking once we start playing an artist. Jonah Kagen’s “God Needs the Devil” and bby’s “Kinky” did that.

How did you first get involved in ‘the music industry’? Were you a student MD or have any music-related jobs along the way on your road to The Current?

I was first involved as a fan! I would go to local shows, and I was so passionate about the local scene and sharing that music that I was compelled to join the college radio station. I started as a Saturday night DJ at KWLC. I became MD my sophomore year and fell in love with that job. Best work-study gig ever! Then I spent my summers as an intern in a bunch of different industries to learn as much as I could and get as much experience as I could – college radio promotions, booking, record label. I think that rich resume right out of college helped me get the internship at The Current.

Who is an artist or band that you’ve discovered in the past year or so that has become one of your favorites? What is it about their music you love?

Country music has never been my favorite, but in the last year, I’ve found that it has expanded its sound, and I’ve found my entry point. There’s a Nashville (by way of Indiana) artist named Stephen Wilson Jr. that I’ve been listening to non-stop. He mixes rock and grunge influences into his brand of gritty, raw, emotional country that has also been called “Death Cab for Country.” His lyrics are revealing and clever while also being rhythmic. The music has layers that keep peeling with each listen, so it never gets boring.

Do you have an all-time favorite artist or album you never get tired of listening to?

Yes. Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago It’s genius.

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

There’s very little “outside the realm” of The Current, so this is a tough question. Probably some screamo from the late ‘90s and early ‘00s like Finch.

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

There’s so much I want to change, but I’d change who the incoming president would be. Tim Walz is the governor of Minnesota (where The Current is), and he’s super rad.

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

Probably working at The Current. I’ve had an opportunity to learn so much – from becoming a leader to more culturally competent. I’ve had a variety of experiences and worked with so many people that have challenged me and shaped me as I’ve gone through adulthood.

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

If I’m going back in time as the age I am now, I’d go back to the ‘90s because so much of the music of that era was groundbreaking.
If I am the age I was during that time, I’d go back to college. I loved college and the bands emerging during that time – Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs…

Do you have a favorite Twin Cities restaurant that you recommend people try?

When you come to the Twin Cities, you need to try a Juicy Lucy, and there’s a debate about where to find the best one. I prefer Blue Door Pub – go to the one on Como Ave near the University of Minnesota campus.

What in your life brings you the most joy?

My family!

Lightning Round:

Dog or Cat? Neither.
Morning Person or Night Owl? Night Owl.
City or Country? City.
Beach or Mountains? Mountains.
Watch TV or Read A Book? Watch TV.
Sunny or Rainy? Sunny.
Restaurant or Home Cooking? Restaurant.
Pants or Shorts? Pants.
Warm or Cold drinks? Cold.

Do you have any current favorite shows you’re enjoying/binging?  How about a movie (new or old) that you’ve watched recently that you loved?

My current binge is Yellowstone. It’s kind of ridiculous at times, but I’m sucked into it.
I recently saw a screening of “A Complete Unknown” about Bob Dylan’s early career and then going electric. Timothee Chalamet does an amazing job embodying Dylan. He showed up at the screening and did a Q&A about his work on the film, and it was clear that he put a lot of work into the part – it paid off!

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

Food. I hate grocery shopping.