Exploring Life & Business with Marty Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marty Smith.

Hi Marty, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my radio journey on December 7, 199o. I had tried for several years to get into radio but no one would give me a chance. In November of that year, I applied at a small AM station just north of Kansas City, MO. The Program Director asked me if I had any experience. When I told him no, he said, “We’re not hiring” and shut the door in my face. On my way home I was praying and I said, “Lord I quit. If this is what you want, then you do it”. Five days later that station called me up and asked me to come in for an interview.

While at the interview, there was another man there. He didn’t say a word. He just sat and listened. The Program Director said, “We’re looking for someone who can come out the gate and start broadcasting right away. You don’t have any experience so I don’t want to hire you”. I said, “Tell you what, I’ll work free for a month. If you don’t like what you see, let me go”. The other man in the room (who was the radio station owner) spoke up and said, “Why would you do that”? I said, “You need help, I need experience”. That’s how my radio career began. The owner took a chance on me.

That has turned into an incredible ride for the past thirty-three years. I’ve worked at a lot of different radio stations around the country. Some have been in major markets like Denver and Kansas City. Some have been in small markets like Cheyenne, Wy, California, and Russellville, KY. I’ve done satellite and network radio. I’ve learned so much and have worked hard at honing my craft. Now I get to help and mentor others as they begin their radio careers. It’s great knowing that what I’ve learned I can share with others and watch them grow.

When I started, I didn’t know anything about radio. I just knew that I was called to do it. A guy by the name of Gary Babb gave me a chance. The chance he gave me turned into working for major market radio, small market radio, internet, satellite, and network radio. One of the stations I worked at in Colorado Springs, CO (102.7 FM The Q) we built it up and became the number three radio show in Colorado Springs, second only to rock and country. Not bad for a Contemporary Christian station.

Radio has been good to me. Through radio, I’ve been able to meet a lot of Country Music stars and Gospel Music stars. I’ve been able to talk with them, interview and build up good friendships with them. I’ve got friends all over the world that I’ve met through radio. I’ve worked with and worked for some of the best radio people in the world. Some have taught me a lot and I’ve been able to bring that information over to my radio station, Heaven’s Country, and make it sound as professional as possible.

It has also turned into a television opportunity for me. I now host a TV show called, “The Nashville Corner”. I spent a lot of years behind the microphone where no one could see me. Now, with YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, I can be seen and not just heard. Being in front of the camera on my morning show has helped me as I journey in the television field. It’s been a lot of fun.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been a great ride! I’ve been doing this for 33 years now and it’s been a lot of fun. There have been triumphs and tragedies along the way. I get excited when I turn on that microphone. I always have. When I first started my radio career, it was a little intimidating but I learned how to be comfortable behind the microphone. It’s so much fun when you’re the Emcee of a concert and people are screaming your name, they want your autograph and a picture with you. But it’s not always glitz and glamour.

There’s also the rough times. I remember times when I was barely making it financially (contrary to what people say, radio does not pay a lot of money). Sometimes you’re out of work and you have to work elsewhere until another radio job opens up. There were times I had to work numerous part-time jobs just to keep food on the table while still working at a radio station.

Radio can be tough. You’re competing with a lot of people. Not only in the radio market you live in but with the internet, you’re competing with so many more radio shows and people. The biggest challenge is not to compare yourself with others. You are unique and what you have to offer is different than what someone else has to offer.

There were times I wanted to quit. You look at the paycheck and realize you could make so much more somewhere else. As a business owner, when the equipment goes out, I have to pay for that. I don’t have big corporations sponsoring my radio station so sometimes the budget gets a little tight. But you keep going. For me, radio is a calling. It’s my passion.

When you get tempted to quit, look at the big picture. If you know you were called to do something, quitting is never an option.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Heaven’s Country?
Heaven’s Country is an online radio station that plays country, gospel, and bluegrass music. When people hear the word Gospel music, they usually think of old-time hymns. That’s not the case. Today’s Christian Country music is a lot different. You’d be surprised at how many country music artists sing some gospel songs and mainstream country won’t play those songs. That’s where we come in. We play those songs. Don’t be surprised to hear a gospel song from Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Darryl Worley, Luke Bryan, or any other country star who has recorded a gospel song. We also play Positive Country. These are the songs that talk about life, maybe mention God or a prayer in their song but it doesn’t sing about drinking or cheating. We play those Positive Country songs as well.

What sets us apart is our sound. I set up Heaven’s Country to sound like a professional mainstream country station. Most people when they think of Internet radio, they think it’s not very professional. We’re changing that. When you hear Heaven’s Country, you hear a station that sounds very professional and attracts new listeners every day. We’re on iHeart radio, Twitter, twitch, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook just to name a few online places. The morning show, “Mornings with Mar-Tay” is also on several different television networks along with the social media platforms I mentioned earlier. With today’s technology, you can now watch the morning show or just listen to us on our radio app by going to: www.heavenscountry.com.

Our station is, “Heaven’s Country”. Our slogan is, “Take It From The Top”. I spent weeks trying to figure out a slogan. I kept praying for something to speak to me but nothing worked. I called a friend of mine named Ted Griffin. I had worked with him at 102,7 FM in Colorado Springs, CO. I told him what I was looking for and he said he would think about it and call me back in a few days. When he called me back he said, “I’ve got it. What do we say in the music business when we want to start over? We say, “Take it from the top.” As Christians, who do we go to when we want to pray? We go to the top (Heaven). So here is your slogan, “Heaven’s Country. Take It From The Top”. I fell in love with it and that’s been our slogan from the start.

Brand-wise, I’m proud of the fact that we are known for playing the best in Christian Country music. I love the fact that a lot of people who don’t go to church tune in because the message resonates with them in the songs. I get people from all over the world sending emails thanking me for playing music that their kids can listen to with them while they’re at home or in the car. With our radio app, you can tune in via your phone. Most people can then connect the signal to their car radio sound system.

Not only do we offer a quality sound with our music, but we offer advertising packages, and voice work for people who may want us to record a commercial for them and we can also offer them advertising not only on the Heaven’s Country radio station, but on the Heaven’s Country website as well (www.heavenscountry.com). If you’re a business or ministry looking for someone to voice a commercial for you, we can do that. We can also get the word out to our audience and let them know what your company has to offer.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The Nashville area has so much to offer. If you love country music, this is the place to be. There’s always something going on. I love the fact that I can go down to Music Row and hear great country music. I love going to the Opry House or Opryland. Plus, you’ve got sports and the food is great too! I love the Nashville atmosphere. It’s second to none.

If I had to say what I like least about Nashville it would be the traffic. I’m a country boy from Escalante, Utah. I don’t like stoplights, not a big fan of rush hour traffic (who is, right?) sometimes when downtown gets too crowded I tend to shy away from that.

Pricing:

• Website banners are $25 a month.
• Commercials to air on Heaven’s Country – advertising packages start at $100 a month.
• Programs can air on Heaven’s Country at $100 per hour.
• Sponsor the morning show on Heaven’s Country starting at $150 a month.
• We also offer voice work. We can write and voice your commercial for you at $125 an hour.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heavenscountry.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martay65/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeavensCountry
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeavensCountry
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2xRaXZXxvf8jWYzekUGPaA

Image Credits
Marty Smith, The Nashville, Johnathan Bond, The Nashville Cornet, WRUS 104.9, Bev McCann, and Bill Baker