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10 Questions with ... Todd Marker
April 3, 2018
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started in radio in 1989 as an Account Executive for KPLM/ Palm Springs. Three years later I was promoted to sales Manager. In 1996, my wife Meg Marker and I bought KPLM. A year later we purchased KLCX, a Classic Rock station and we flipped it to Smooth Jazz. A couple of years later, we purchased KMRJ and we reformatted it to Rhythmic AC. Our fourth FM is KOOL 95.9fm, a Soft Rock station and in February 2018 we launched our newest station ALT 101.5fm - The Desert's Alternative.
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
I got into radio in 1989 when my uncle Art Rivkin convinced me to move out to Palm Springs and work for his radio station KPLM. Prior to that I was working in the liquor business in Minneapolis.
2. Tell us about your radio properties in Palm Springs and what led you to launch ALT 101.5 on KJJZ-HD2 last month?
We have 4 FM radio stations in Palm Springs: 106.1 The Big 106 Country, Music Jammin 99.5 Rhythmic AC, Q102.3 Classic Rock, and Kool 95.9 is our Soft Rock station. In November we purchased a translator from EMF. We were able to increase the power from 10 watts to 250 watts. We felt there was a gaping hole in the market for an Alternative station. The Coachella Valley is home to the world's largest alternative music festival Coachella. There was not a station in the market that played the music.
3. Give us the 411 on ALT 101.5- The Desert's Alternative and your target audience?
OUR target is Adult's 18-49. Alt 101.5 is the place to discover new music. In a very crowded radio market the one gaping hole was alternative. I would say 75% of all songs we play will only be played on our station. Being the home of the largest music festival of its kind it only made sense.
4. What does everyone need to know about Marker Broadcasting?
Marker Broadcasting is locally owned and programmed. We also have an event division and we produce dozens of concerts each year. We are looking to bring live alternative music to the desert in the coming months.
5. What is the coverage area of ALT 101.5?
The coverage is the Coachella Valley from Palm Springs to the west and Coachella to the east.
6. How are you marketing ALT 101.5 and what are listeners saying about the station?
We are marketing Alt by running promos on all of our other stations. We also purchased billboards and we plan on doing TV. Listeners are telling us they love it. Finally there is a station playing great Alternative music.
7. You mentioned to me when you signed on the station that your daughter Lauren Marker is ALT 101.5's Music Director. How is your music meeting structured and what is most important when determining what new music to play on ALT 101.5?
Jacobs Media is our consultant. My daughter Lauren Marker will be listening to new music and discussing music adds and rotations with Jacobs Media. Lauren has had a few years experience working under Country PD Kory James.
8. What do you enjoy most about the radio business?
I enjoy that every day brings new challenges no day is ever the same.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Without a good cup of coffee.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
People would be surprised that I was not really that interested in music in my younger years. I would have much preferred to go to a sporting event.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Weekends start with playing tennis, going to the gym, putting in sometime at the stations, attending a station event, and enjoying a dinner out with my wife Meg and the kids if they are around.
What are your hobbies?
Playing tennis, working out, golf, and trying out new restaurants
First record ever purchased?
Boston
First concert?
The Rolling Stones
Favorite band of all-time?
The Rolling Stones
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