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10 Questions with ... Michael Dukes
August 31, 2021
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. 94/7 serves the same demo as our Hot AC station, but it’s a totally different crowd of folks. We’ve seen almost no cross over in our contesting and our participation and stream metrics have gone off the charts these last 20 months. These listeners are loyal and the love the hyper localization we’re pushing. We LOVE being part of the Anchorage community, especially since most of the other players are big corp clusters that are not as agile on local stuff.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I got started in radio at the age of 15. I was invited by a friend, who had a local radio show, to come by his studio and help with background vocals, noises, music, just kind of goofing off stuff. About two years later I was working as a commercial fisherman down in Kodiak, Alaska, and during my off-season time I lied (overstating my experience) my way into a position at a local radio station. what started out as a temporary filling position, while the local jock was on vacation, ended up being a full-time gig when they fired him upon his return.
I literally lived at that radio station for next few months waking up in the morning and turning on the transmitter, doing a full morning shift, spending my afternoons running around town, then coming back at night and doing a night shift and shutting the transmitter down before I went to sleep in my cot in the basement.
That was my beginning. Later on, I came back to radio as a salesperson, picked up some on-air work and then in 1999 I started my own local talk radio show. Since that time, I've continued as an advertising consultant and an on-air host, up until 2019 when I was asked by my friends at Last Frontier to rejoin them to run two radio stations here in Anchorage that they were purchasing.
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
I’ve always loved radio. I remember listening to our legacy station in Fairbanks (KFAR) with my grandfather as a little boy. I just loved what they did on-air. Performing was a big part of my life, so sales and broadcasting were a perfect fit.
2. What led you to Last Frontier Mediactive in 2014?
I actually started working for LFM back when they were formed in 2011 after acquiring the local stations in Fairbanks. Even after I moved to Anchorage in 2014 to work for another company, I was often back in Fairbanks doing special broadcasts with the LFM stations.
3. Tell us about the Last Frontier Mediactive cluster you now oversee in Anchorage.
In early spring of 2019, I got the call from my friend Perry Walley (LFM-COO), informing me that they we’re purchasing two FM’s in Anchorage. They wanted me to come run them. I was hesitant at first, but they convinced me and I’m glad they did. It was a LOT of work to bring these stations back up to speed, including a full move and studio buildouts, as well as replacement of both transmitters among other things. But they are both dynamite properties and I couldn’t be happier.
4. Let’s focus on KZND 94.7 Alternative Anchorage. Give us the 411 on the station and how much it has changed since flipping from Active Rock two years ago.
KZND was obviously the weaker of the two stations when we purchased them. Not only was the programming a mess, there were already 3 other Rock and Active Rock stations in Anchorage. So, no matter how well it did ratings wise it was still a four-station race to #1. But NO one was doing pure alternative. We could be one station in a one station race as it were. We brought on board Peter Smith from Demers as our consultant. He was also programming 94/7 Portland at the time and since he had already perfected the Alt format for them, it was like a match made in heaven. The response since the flip in 2019 (just 3 weeks after purchase) has been amazing. I’ve had people stop me in parking lots, point to my window decal and give me a thumbs up. People love this station.
5. Talk about the station ratings which have been on the upswing since the rebrand. Share with us your demo highlights and how Anchorage is embracing the Alternative format.
94/7 serves the same demo as our Hot AC station, but it’s a totally different crowd of folks. We’ve seen almost no cross over in our contesting and our participation and stream metrics have gone off the charts these last 20 months. These listeners are loyal and the love the hyper localization we’re pushing. We LOVE being part of the Anchorage community, especially since most of the other players are big corp clusters that are not as agile on local stuff.
6. You recently hired Rachel Odom for PM Drive. Tell us about Rachel and the rest of your 94.7 Alternative Anchorage team.
It’s funny. I met both Rachel and Brad Erickson (Alt morning jock) while I was working for another station in Anchorage. Rachel started there as a Promotions Director, but ended up on their CHR Rhythmic station in afternoon drive. She has an amazing personality, is focused and is an absolute joy to work with. I jokingly said that I got the chance to pick the best of my former co-workers to build my team with.
7. What may surprise people most about the station?
That we are a very small company, that is more like a family than a business organization. Each of us is also extremely dedicated to supporting the community and local causes as well. And we love what we do.
8. What is your favorite part of your job?
I love my people. I love chatting about work for sure, but also about their lives, goals and what they want to do. Creating that synergy is one of my favorite things. Oh…I also LOVE to produce ads.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Coffee…hands down. And my wife. I couldn’t go on without her being there at the end of every day.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
Many people have probably heard my voice and never known. I’ve been a voice actor for almost 10 years and have voiced a lot of stuff, both locally, statewide and nationally. In fact, my favorite thing is to play a spot for someone with 3 or 4 voices in it and then surprise the listener by telling them that every one of them was me.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Pretty quiet. Between my own radio show, running the stations and keeping up with my agency and voiceover business, I work about 65 hours a week on average. Most weekends you find me playing D&D with my kids, 3D printing, building models, shooting or just binging on Netflix. After my “honey-do” list is done of course.
What are your favorite places to eat in the area?
Grape Tap in Wasilla, best steak in the state. Or Ronnie’s Sushi…I’m a sucker for sushi.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Funny enough, I don’t like sports. Like at all. Wait, do 3-gun competitors count?
First record ever purchased?
My first record was actually a cassette. Men At Work – Cargo. (1983)
First concert?
Huey Lewis and the News in Anchorage (1988)
Favorite band of all-time?
Wow…tough one. Two that I could listen to, day after day, would be Pink Floyd and gypsy guitarist Jesse Cook.
Favorite new band over the past year?
Don’t laugh. While they’re not a new band, I just discovered them this year (thanks to the internet). It’s a surf rock band from Croatia called The Bambi Molesters.
Anything else you would like to add?
I’ve been absolutely blessed to have radio be the largest part of my adult life. The people that I work with are my best friends, just like family. And the impact we can have on our listeners lives is humbling. I’m happy to say I couldn’t be in a better place
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