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10 Questions with ... Benjamin Marcotte
October 25, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. The world around us is constantly changing, and so are the habits, tastes, and needs of our audience. Ultimately, it's on us to continue to check in, and ask our listeners what they want, take that feedback, and go to work implementing it.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Chicago, IL -- WLS-AM Producer/Board Op/Commercial Production
Joplin, MO -- KMXL-FM & KDMO-AM Asst. Operations Manager/News Director
Spokane, WA -- KIIX/KISC/KCDA On-Air/APD/MD + KFOO On-Air
Portland, OR -- KKRZ HD2/PD/On-Air
Seattle, WA -- KFOO/KJAQ PD/On-Air
Indianapolis, IN -- VPP/PD/On-Air
1. Ben, let's take a deep dive into the WOLT's rebrand in August to Indy 103.3 – Alternative from the 90s and 2000s. What led to the change?
The world around us is constantly changing, and so are the habits, tastes, and needs of our audience. Ultimately, it's on us to continue to check in, and ask our listeners what they want, take that feedback, and go to work implementing it. Like many formats, we continue to evolve, and as that happens you have more opportunities for format evolution.
2. How would you describe the music you are playing on the New Indy 103.3?
It's a nice balance of the early-mid 90's grunge that shaped a generation and gave us Nirvana, RHCP, PJ, Green Day, etc, then moves into the 2000s, and mid 2000s where we watch it morph into artists like Killers, Fall Out Boy, etc. The music combined with the imaging will make you nostalgic for those times when your biggest stress of the day was convincing your Mom to buy you a pair of JNCO jeans. Which, I can now say, I see where she was coming from. I did look ridiculous.
3. The station is no longer playing currents. Are there plans in the future to incorporate new music into the mix on Indy 103.3?
I wish I could predict the future. All I can say is we are constantly evaluating, and reevaluating our brands, and looking for opportunities to grow, and make them better.
4. Looking at the music log on Mediabase, it looks like some hours you rotate it's an even balance of 90s and 2000s. Give us a rundown of a typical hour of music on Indy 103.3?
I think you pretty much nailed it. It's a balance of 90s, and 2000s. You'll hear all artists/titles you'd expect to hear from that era, but we will hit you with a surprise every hour too. You'll be hearing Linkin Park like you would expect, but then get hit with Chumbawamba.
5. How are listeners reacting to the new station?
How can I answer this and not sound a little biased? Truthfully, It's been really positive. From emails, to phone calls, to tweets, to DMs people have really responded. We put a lot of thought, and care into creating this new brand, and we really listened to what the audience wanted. When you make the listeners part of the process it goes a long way.
6. Who is your target audience?
Everyone! Which is a super boring answer, if we're going to dive deeper, I'd say the sweet spot is 35-44, and we want this to be a station both women and men can agree on.
7. I saw cume was up significantly in the Nielsen September '22 PPM and Indy 103.3 now ranks inside the Top 10 in Indianapolis. Where are you seeing the biggest increases?
Honestly, we saw it with both females and males, and in almost all demos. It's really encouraging to see the cume spread out, and you're not relying on one side, or one demo specifically.
8. Tell us about your on-air lineup on the station.
AM Drive we've got the multi-talented Woody Show, Theresa in middays, myself in PM Drive, and Mike Jones in evenings
Each talent brings something different to the mix, and my favorite part about each of them…they are 100% themselves, they are who they are on the air, off the air, and listeners sense that.
9. In your as VP/Programming, tell us about the brands you oversee and what a typical workday is like for you?
WFBQ-FM (Q95) our heritage classic rock station, and home to Bob & Tom, WZRL-FM (Real 98.3) our hip hop station, and anchored by the incredibly talented Breakfast Club, WNDE-AM (Fox Sports Radio), and WOLT-HD2 (Business News 97.5)
Not every day is the same, but it always starts with me getting up, and logged in around 6a to make sure shows are running on time. Answering any emails, prepping for calls/meetings. Meeting with sales to brainstorm/close any potential client relationships, coordinating with promotions on events/contesting, scheduling music, writing imaging, engaging and posting on our social media platforms, doing my afternoon show on Indy 103.3, analyzing streaming data, creating action plans to drive growth, and implementing them.
10. What is your favorite part of your job?
It's the collaboration process, and the taking of an idea, filtering it, and bringing it to life. Very rewarding.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Right now? Well, I don't have to mow the yard as much, so that's kind of nice. Lots of errand running, a night out for dinner, and on Sunday's flag football.
How do you use social media?
From a brand perspective, you try to be as engaging on it, as you are on-air. It's your biggest marketing tool. Social media should be an extension of what you're doing on-air, and you should use it to promote all of your station features, benchmarks, etc. It should also be used to engage with your community, and show them you're experiencing all of the things that they are.
What are your favorite places to eat in Indianapolis?
We frequent King Dough quite often. It's a wood fire pizza place, but the menu goes beyond just pizza. They low-key have one of the best burgers in the city IMO.
Tell us about growing up in Bourbonnais in Kankakee County, Illinois and what are your top priorities when you get back home?
Beyond seeing friends and family. If I can sneak in a trip to Jaenicke's (hot dog place), or Sammy's Pizza. So, basically all of these bonus questions revolve around me and food.
It was a tough season for your Cubs. Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls
Favorite new band over the past year?
Turnstile, Beach Bunny, Maneskin
Anything else you would like to add?
Someone bring back Butterfinger BBs
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