10 Questions with ... Jon Kleemann 'Jax'

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I grew up in St. Louis and after getting my first full-time gig in a small town in Jacksonville, IL at WEAI 107.1 The Eagle where I started on evenings and moved to the morning show host and MD. From there I did mornings in Active Rock in Hot Springs, AR (Real Rock 101.5) and Ardmore, OK, (92.7 KTRX) before being Brand Manager/afternoon host for Bismarck's #1 Top 40 on Hot 97.5. After a few years there, I was called in to become MD/afternoon host at Big 98.7, where I am now and couldn't be happier here ... I mean, the bars here still had every playoff game for my Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues on, so I'm not complaining! J

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

My first radio gig was in Jacksonville, IL, a town of about 19,000 people at WEAI 107.1 The Eagle. I was the evening guy from 6p-12a. In 2011, we were still using CDs to play music and our board looked like a sonar detecting system used in a submarine during World War II. However, it was such a fun time working with everyone there; it was a great place to learn the behind-the-scenes aspects of a full-time radio gig.

2) What led you to a career in radio?

My two passions in life are music and sports, so I wanted a platform where I could talk about both. I grew up listening to St. Louis Cardinals baseball games on the radio, and back then it was Joe Buck doing their games. I know he gets a lot of hate in general, but he was who I wanted to be. I remember when he started his career; it was a tough listen, but you could hear him getting better as time went on and honestly, it was really inspiring. So say what you will about what you think of his play-by-play, but I think it's fantastic! Also, I watched a lot of TRL on MTV growing up and always thought I could do Carson Daly's job so much better than him. Probably not, but it gave me another reason to want to love being on the mic to talk about music.

3) Big 98.7 is a Top 40/Hot AC hybrid. What's the thought process there?

I almost feel like I lucked out in falling into it. Before I came here, I was at a Top 40 in Bismarck, ND and it was an easy transition knowing that the key demo we're reaching in Fargo is just a little older than what I was working with previously. Just remembering who your primary audience is, is really the key factor in the product that you're delivering on-air.

4) As the station's MD, what's your take on the current crop of currents?

When it comes to Top 40 or Hot AC, you'll always have your staple pop stars who'll continue to pump out hits that can make for some daunting artist separation, but what fascinates me, and what can make things so much trickier are the artists transcending genres, from Twenty One Pilots or Panic! At the Disco to Lil Nas X or Dan + Shay. Every quarter-hour of music feels like it needs so much precision and call me a nerd, but it makes the art of music scheduling exciting! And for the record, Ed Sheeran's new album could end up being a game changer for multiple formats given the unique blend of collaborations on it.

5) Do you think that there is a consensus 'song of summer' at this point?

Personally, if I had to pick one that's stuck with me, and given what the songs done already, it's Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber "I Don't Care." The catchiness is undeniable and it has that summer beat about it. And say what you will about Justin Bieber, but his part in that song makes it so much better than if it were just Ed. If I had a secondary song of the summer, it's early to see how big this will be, but Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello's "Senorita" is growing on me fast.

6) How does social media augment what you do on the air?

We often do as much as we can to carry over just about anything we do on-air over to social media because of the impact it has on the industry these days. Whether it's a video and/or live video, photos, or a post about an on-air break we did, everything we can carry over from on-air to social media is as important as ever and that continues every day.

7) "Local, local, local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?

That's actually one of the things I was so impressed with when I came to Fargo. We're constantly involved with events around the Fargo-Moorhead area and our morning show of Jesse & Amanda with Pike in the Morning certainly has the reputation. They've been voted the Best Morning Show here 15 times locally. We do 'Listener Lunches' and constant events and fundraisers that help give back to the local community. I've always said the best part of radio is having that personal connection with the listener and that's what you see at these events with the connection that Big 98.7 has to the Fargo-Moorhead community.

8) What's the coolest promotion you've been involved with recently?

Recently, we gave away a She-Shed. It's exactly what it sounds like. You know, like the State Farm commercial and Sheryl's She-Shed. And this thing was awesome! Fully customized, totally decked out. But I mean, it's a She-Shed! Who gives away a She-Shed? We do apparently.

9) Who would you say that your mentors have been?

I've been very lucky in my career to come across some amazing people in radio so this may turn out like a laundry list of people. It starts with my college station manager and professor, Mike Lemons; he kinda helped install the radio bug in me that I've been addicted to since. But also Ray Michaels, Chuck Geiger, Larry LeBlanc and Jesse James are all guys that keep killing it in the industry. And some of my radio peers that I've become friends with, I look to them as often as anyone, and consider them mentors on some level, so Jaime (Ames) Williams, Mat Ozee, Katie Green, Alyssa Boccuzzi ... you guys are amazing!

10) What was your favorite station as a kid growing up? Favorite jock?

I grew up in St. Louis listening to Alternative so my favorite station was 105.7 The Point. A few jocks from there that were my favorites -- Donny Fandango, Lux, and Rizzuto. Those were my favorites growing up.

This die-hard Philadelphia Eagles/Carson Wentz fan would love to hear if you've got a great Carson story?

I've only met Carson Wentz one time, but it was pretty awesome. It was a few months after he got drafted, he came back to his hometown of Bismarck, ND where I was at the time. His Dad owns a bank there that our station(s) did advertising with. I was the Brand Manager for the CHR station and the BM for the Classic Rock station got to do an interview with Wentz (interview made most sense to air on that station for the audience) and the day he was there, we were all kind of just crowding around from a distance, a group of about 7 of us, knowing that the #2 pick in the NFL Draft was in the building. Then as Wentz was about to leave, from down the hall, I said, "Hey Carson, can I get a picture with you?" He instantly came back, was as nice as could possibly be and took one with not only me, but everyone else. If I didn't say something, none of us would've gotten to meet him. Super nice guy ... can't say enough of about how cool he was.

If someone was visiting Fargo for the first time, what would you make sure that they saw?

The downtown area in Fargo is really cool. It's got a fun historic feel to it. It's a must-see. But then you would all have to come bar hopping in the south part of Fargo and West Fargo with me. That's mandatory.