Scott Phillips wouldn’t exist were it not for radio. That’s where his parents met, at CJGX here in Yorkton. As a result, it only makes sense that he has made his career in the industry, and is now he’s a nominee for the 2015 Canadian Country Music Association award for Musical Director - Large Market for his work with Calgary’s Country 105 and Edmonton’s CSIN.
This is the tenth nomination for Phillips, who has won four times so far, something he admits is surprising to hear.
“When someone sits back and says ten to you, you have to sit back and say whoa, that’s a career.”
He appreciates the recognition, and he says it’s always an honour to get recognized for what he does, whether in a nomination or an award win. It’s a close knit family he says, and he’s proud to be a part of the group.
“It never gets old, I won the award four times, and believe me when you hear your name get called out it’s a real rush and an amazing feeling to be recognized like that in front of your peers.”
He has only worked in country radio, coming on the scene in the late ‘80s when Garth Brooks was just hitting the scene. It was a passion for country music that drove him to continue in the industry. He says that it’s all about having a passion for the music, and he says it comes through in the programming.
“We get a lot of music that comes across our desk, especially in this digital age artists can deliver it so easily to you. The product has come such a long way in the past twenty years, the songs have gotten so much better, the production is so much better, and it makes my job tougher but the flip side of that coin is that’s good, because it makes our station look good.”
Phillips can build a career, and he admits it’s a big responsibility but one he enjoys.
“You have a lot of influence, and you have a lot of smaller stations that look up to you. They’ll see you add a song to the playlist by someone trying to get into the business, and they’ll sit up and pay attention.”
Broadcasting is the family business, and while they had attempted to try other things it’s what everyone comes back to. He was born in Yorkton when his parents worked for CJGX, and radio has hit the next generation as well, with his daughter now working in the industry.
“There’s a real love for it in our family, the whole broadcast industry, and it’s really a lot of fun. A lot of the time I’ll say to myself that I can’t believe I actually make a living doing this, that it paid for my house and it paid for my kids’ educations.”
