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10 Questions with ... Jon Manley
August 23, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. “While we don’t pitch to radio, we do help our artists achieve radio success by helping them build solid DSP profiles, that helps with those magic streaming numbers that so many programmers are (justifiably) enamored with. We can also provide them insights into who and where their fans are, which can help them be more strategic and focus on what stations and formats they should potentially target for air campaigns.”
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Got my foot in the door back in 2002 and never said "no" to any opportunity is the short version.
KEDJ/Phoenix in 2002
KXTE/Las Vegas in 2010
KNDD/Seattle in 2014
WKQX/Chicago in 2019
Ingrooves in 2022
1. After 20 years on the radio side, what led you to Ingrooves Music Group?
Radio has been all I’ve done for my entire adult life and how incredibly blessed I am to be able to say that, but after 2+ years of basically programming a radio station from my bedroom to a city and its people I didn’t know yet, through a pandemic, on top of
, it really started to take a toll on my happiness and quite frankly my mental health really began to suffer. The blessing of all that is I have somehow surrounded myself with some wonderful people in this business (you all know who you are and how eternally thankful for you) who immediately started giving me ideas and insight on potential opportunities and after a few calls with Jen Bontusa and Lloyd Hummell at Ingrooves, I quickly realized I had found a new avenue to do what I love, expose music to the masses. 2. Give us the 411 on Ingrooves.
Ingrooves Music Group is a global music distribution, marketing, and technology company for independent labels and artists. We work as strategic partners with our labels and artists, providing industry-leading data analytics and insights, patented marketing technology, education, and a global team to help them grow their audiences and businesses. Ingrooves is also home to some of the most significant independent labels and artists including Big Hit Entertainment, Dirty Hit, Rich Music, Cinematic, Imperial, and so many more with rosters that cross genres including BTS, The 1975, Rina Sawayama, SECH, G Herbo, Eslabon Armado, and more.
3. What is your job description as Label Manager?
Right after I accepted this role I spoke to a good friend and longtime music industry vet Howie Muira for any advice on transitioning from radio to the music business and he said something that I thought was so perfect and accurate that I wrote it down and look at it every day, and I think it really describes what my job is: “The artist is always right about their art. Our job is to listen to them, and help make their feelings tangible to others, including their fans, their potential fans, and our business partners.”
4. What is a typical workday like for you?
One of the coolest things so far for me is that there isn’t really a “typical” day. I may be submitting marketing forms on a Tuesday to pitch to DSPs, jumping on a Zoom chat with a label to discuss their upcoming releases on a Wednesday, uploading songs for distribution on a Thursday, or helping a label or artist strategize and build a roll out plan for an upcoming project
5. What artists are you working with that Alternative Radio need to know about?
Pretty sure everyone knows The 1975, but don't sleep on beabadoobee! There are also a few other really exciting things on the horizon so as the kids say, watch this space.
6. What is your favorite part of the job?
I love that every day is different and the amount of knowledge and insight I’m gaining about all aspects of the music industry.
7. How do you work with radio?
While we don’t pitch to radio, we do help our artists achieve radio success by helping them build solid DSP profiles, that helps with those magic streaming numbers that so many programmers are (justifiably) enamored with. We can also provide them insights into who and where their fans are, which can help them be more strategic and focus on what stations and formats they should potentially target for air campaigns. And who knows, maybe I make a few calls to some old friends someday
8. What would surprise people most about Ingrooves?
There are a few former radio people here. I know we radio folks tend to feel like broadcasting is about all we are qualified to do, but our skillsets transfer to many different parts of the industry. As a company overall, Ingrooves was one of the first digital distributors of music, launching back in 2002. They now have a massive global footprint and are creating pioneering marketing technology that has already been awarded two U.S. Patents over the past two years. There's also a team of data scientists, engineers, and mathematicians working to solve some of the biggest challenges in the music industry. It's truly an exciting time to be here.
9. What was your biggest takeaway from radio?
Anything is possible with a little determination and a lot of hard work.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Everyone says coffee, right? I just got a new espresso maker so trying to pull the perfect double shot has become my morning ritual/obsession. It/s harder than you think!
Bonus Questions
What were weekends like for you?
This is my first Covid free (mostly) summer since I moved here so I’m trying to get out and see as much of Chicago as I can. There’s a street festival just about every weekend during summer so there’s not a lack of things to do that’s for sure.
Favorite new restaurants?
It’s not new but I have developed a pretty unhealthy relationship with the burger, beer, and shot special at The Loyalist lately.
How often do you get back home and what are your top priorities when you get back to Wisconsin?
I try to get back every few weeks so I can golf with my brothers, film skate videos, ruffhouse with my nephews, and grab a beer with Nonna, who is still the funniest person I know even in her 90s.
How many games will the Green Bay Packers win this year?
I think I’m going to have to do one of those psychedelic retreats that Aaron Rodgers did to find some clarity and then I’ll get back to you.
Tell us about your favorite new band over the past year.
The two that immediately come to mind are Turnstile and Sad Night Dynamite. Turnstile because they remind me of how great live music can be, especially in the Alt space, and SND because they are a blueprint of what I think is the future of music, the melding of all styles to create something unique and exciting.
I’ve been asking you for Hot Picks for the last 20 years. What are your 3 Hot Picks?
And please never stop! The Killers- Boy, Panic! At The Disco - Don't Let The Lights Go Out, beabadoobee -The Perfect Pair
Anything else you would like to add?
I still love and believe in the power and importance of the radio, and I #ROOT for it to find its place in this new media landscape. There are so many great minds out there (Troy Hanson, Ross Mahoney, Andy Hawk, Amber Miller, etc.) I have no doubt it will.
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