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10 Questions with ... Todd "Nuke' Em" Noker
September 5, 2006
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NAME:Todd"Nuke' Em" NokerTITLE:PDSTATION:KXRKMARKET:Salt Lake City (#31)COMPANY:Simmons MediaBORN:3/6/70RAISED:Hooper, UT
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started at KJQ in 1988 doing overnights and then did evenings for a few years. I joined KXRK doing nights in 1992, and then moved to afternoons. Moved to the new KJQ as PD in 2002. Back to KXRK as PD in May of 2003.
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Salad Bar Guy at Golden Corral Family Steakhouse.
1. What makes X96 a successful Alternative station?
The fact that we focus locally on what our market wants. Songs like "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's won't show up on the chart, but it tests constantly at number one. It grew out of our evening jock Corey O'Brien's new music feature.
2. How has X96 changed in the past year?
We've been able to address the need for a few older classic songs to keep our sound in tune with what our listeners demand.
3. What part of your job do you like best? Least?
The best part is my four hours on the air. The part I like least is meetings, meetings, meetings.
4. How would you describe the radio landscape of Salt Lake City?
It's a gigantic clusterfuck. We have too many signals, too many rimshot signals, and too many radio stations. There is nothing like it anywhere in the country.
5. Could you rundown your on-air line-up with a little insight of each jock?
6-10a Radio From Hell with Kerry, Bill, and Gina. Their show is amazingly funny and absolutely real. It gets political at times -- which is refreshingly different in Salt Lake, because they speak for the non-conservative segment of the population.
They've been together for more than a decade and their heritage is a great building block. 10-2p is Todd Nuke 'Em. I'm the only member of the air staff who was around back when Radio From Hell started, so we match me with the daypart right after the morning show to keep the older demo interested. The 33 year olds were listening to me in the evening shift back in their teens, so they're happy to have me while they listen at work. I play myself as the guy who knows all about the music, especially the gold. 2-7p is Artie Fufkin. He is hilarious and absolutely unpredictable. He makes jokes that are truly unique.
Hearing him singing about his cats is not unusual. (His cats test well among our focus groups, so the audience is in on his odd humor.) In a recent on air interview with 311, the topic of Nic Hexum owning a private island came up. To the other members of the band, Artie asked with a straight face, "So do you guys ever dress up like pirates and invade his island?" Corey O'Brien takes the 7-midnight shift and is an expert on cool. He speaks the language of our younger nighttime crown. He is the new music guru, and solicits for listener input on new music on his nightly "X96 Xposed" show. Bands like Rise Against, Modest Mouse, Gnarls Barkley, and Plain White T's came from his expertise. Our overnights are covered by AndyPants. Although the youngest member of the airstaff (at a ripe old 20) he is natural and smooth and knows how to talk to the audience. He's a brilliant upcoming air talent and is my first choice to fill in the 7-midnight shift if Corey is out. I have the best air staff in the market, no doubt about it.
6. What makes X96 unique?
Our attitude, and our air staff.
7. What is the one song that has surprised you the most over the past year and why?
"Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's. I've never seen a song so virtually unknown become such a hit.
8. What has been your biggest accomplishment in the 14 years you have been at X96?
I'm pleased to have been able to keep the brilliant station moving along each day. It was truly honorable to have been featured as one of the best Alternative Rock stations by Rolling Stone magazine.
9. Who is your favorite artist you have met?
Depeche Mode and the guys from 30 Seconds To Mars.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
That I also officiate high school football. "First down!"
Bonus Questions
You've written a few books. Tell us a little about your books?
My newest book is Rated F, and it is a social satire about censorship taken way too far. It's somewhere between Carl Hiaasen or Chuk Palahniuk. Rated F by Todd C Noker is available on www.amazon.com.
Read more about Todd's novels at www.junkfiction.com.
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