10 Questions with Kian Oliver

By the time Kian Oliver was 18, he was signed with music label Ministry of Sound as an artist/producer, but it was studying audio engineering that put Kian on the path to radio greatness.

Starting as an audio producer at 101.7 WSFM & The Edge 96.ONE, Kian worked his way up to the Breakfast audio producer for WSFM’s Jonesy & Amanda. Recently Kian joined the Kyle & Jackie O Show team as an audio producer, but it’s his role as the new host for the iHeartRadio Countdown Show that put him on Radio Today’s radar, and landed him a spot on the Top New Talent to Watch in 2018 list.

Below, Kian answers Ten Questions from Radio Today.

• Who/what inspired you to choose a career in radio?

100% Music. I get to sing, dance, play and talk about the one thing that everyone connects and relates to. It’s the language I speak. Hence why I want to and will do it every day.

• Most memorable on-air moment so far?

Recently, in my ‘Kick It or Flick It’ segment. I asked Megan Trainor if she would kick it with Barnaby Joyce, she didn’t know who that was so I explained to her. The label rep cut me off half-way through and said we can’t talk about it, Megan said “sorry dude I don’t make the rules, they do. And when I’m in the studio with you we can play a full game of Kick It or Flick It”. I then sang to her and she said I was so good at singing (sarcastically), haha!

• What was the most awkward moment you had in your early years of radio?

To be honest, I haven’t really had an embarrassing moment on air that I can remember.

• What’s one radio skill that you’ve mastered, and what’s one radio skill that you’re currently working on?

I have mastered the art of conversation. Being able to completely engage in a conversation with anyone who comes on the show, guest or caller, is something I value a lot. I’m currently working on my patience, I have really high set goals of where I want to be in the industry that I can’t wait for.

• How do you prepare for your shift on-air?

A lot of listening. I craft my show around the guests and music I want to talk to and play. When we have an interview I mostly just go onto the guest’s Instagram story and see what they have been doing in the last 24hours and that gets things going.

• How does the person you are on air differ from the person you are off air?

It doesn’t – what you see is what you get. Maybe I should say what you hear is what you get. Being authentic is super important to me. I want you to tune in to hear Kian and if you don’t like Kian, then don’t tune in.

• What’s the one piece of advice you were given that you can pass along?

Know the rules and break them.

• Sum up working in radio in three words.

Different every day.

• What’s your dream radio job?

Hosting the biggest show in the history of the universe.

• If you weren’t working in radio, what would you be doing?

I’d be an audiologist working with deaf kids and giving them the opportunity to hear how beautiful sound is. Or I’d be a music artist – making sweet tunes that radio will play.