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10 Questions with ... Mark 'The Shark' Brower
November 3, 2008
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TITLE:MDMARKET:The whole world - from the U.S. to Africa, and the Middle East to EuropeCOMPANY:Radio Express/Burbank, CABORN:Santa Monica, CA - In the roaring 70'sRAISED:Los Angeles, CA
Please outline your radio career so far:
I first got my start with the Greaseman radio show in roughly 1993. From there I have worked for Los Angeles radio stations KRTH (K-Earth 101), and KZLA. I have also done air work on KSTN/Stockton, CA and KRSQ/Billings, MT. Prior to joining Radio Express, I was with R&R for five years.
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
As mentioned above, I worked for the Greaseman Show in Los Angeles acting as a phone screener and pizza ordering boy. The highlight of working with the Greaseman was trying my best to get the Howard Stern callers talking to the Greaseman. It wasn't easy. We had one caller, I think his name was Pete, and he would talk to the Greaseman all the time as a normal caller, and then towards the end of the call he would say, "Howard Stern, Bababooey." At that moment I knew I had made it because that was my doing. I allowed the Howard Stern caller to get through. (Pats self on back)
2) What Got You Interested In Radio?
As a kid I was a radio contest pig. I won so many contests, and I got on the radio so much that all the DJ's hated my guts. I remember calling up L.A. radio stations at age 14, winning every prize, and just getting on the radio for a song request, or having the DJ's say hi to me. I was addicted to the radio early on, and that led me to wanting to work in radio.
Jay Thomas on Power 106 interviewed me at age 16 as the youngest and biggest radio contest winner in LA radio history. It was a very exciting time, as everyone in Junior High and High School knew me as the guy that won so much on the radio. This definitely led me to where I am today. Many of those DJ's who hated me are good friends of mine today. Strange how that works?
3) Who do you consider your radio mentor(s)?
I had two good mentors early on. One was Tommy Jaxson. I worked with him at Easy 100.3 in Los Angeles. I learned a lot from him about being on the radio. Later, during my time at R&R, Tony Novia became a mentor then and he continues as a mentor today.
4) What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
My favorite station as a kid was KPWR (Power 106) in Los Angeles. I knew all the DJ's personally, and I loved the Dance/Freestyle music. Everyone at Power knew me as the kid who was a station contest pig, but I had so much fun listening and winning prizes.
They had the best on-air lineup ever from Jay Thomas to Mucho Morales to Joe
Servantes.
5) How much music do you listen to each week?
I listen practically until my ears start to bleed! I listen to hundreds of songs because I'm programming so many formats (ten to be exact). I listen to music from the United States, and from Europe. My job is great because I listen to so many songs before they ever hit the U.S. Everyone knows to stay far away from my office because I've usually got the music blasting. Music is the greatest weapon to fight terrorism!
6) How did you get your on-air name?
I've been Mark "The Shark" since I was about 10 years-old. It started out as a little league baseball nickname and it has really evolved into an everyday name. Everyone knows me literally as Mark "The Shark." Even my dad calls me "Shark." I have everything Shark related in my life from towels to my license plate, to statues, to stuffed animals. I have become very obsessed with myself. I tell everyone that I can't be Mark "The Whale" because it doesn't rhyme too well.
7) How much time do you spend surfing the net?
A lot. Not only am I downloading music from various sites, I also try to keep updated with the latest in celebrity gossip. So I enjoy tmz.com, dlisted.com and perezhilton.com.
8) What are your three favorite industry web sites?
In order or importance and beauty, All Access, Play MPE, and Mediabase.
9) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air? (dead air ... forget a mic was still on ... etc.)
I'll never forget. I was working on-air at an "anonymous" station, and I said "hi" to a local bakery on the air and thanked them for listening. It was just a simple hello, that's all. It was my first on-air gig, and apparently the owner wasn't too pleased with me saying hello to someone on the air so he literally punished me for it. I had to come in everyday after that and clean the gum off the floor and kill the spiders on the ceiling. That really taught me never to say hi to anybody on the air, and never again be friendly to anyone.
10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
I like to think myself as a very hard-working individual. I'm extremely passionate, and I'm a team player to the highest degree. Music is my life and I definitely enjoy being a part of it.
Bonus Questions
1) What are your hobbies?
My number one hobby is to go traveling on cruise ships. I take about one cruise a year and I live for those peaceful, stress-free moments. I have been very fortunate to have been on 12 cruises in seven years. It's a slight obsession for me.
2) Tell us what music we would find on your I-Pod right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?
I live for 80's music, anything from Michael Jackson, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Falco, Rockwell, and Murray Head.
3) Who is your best friend in the business?
I have many good friends in the Biz. The ones that stand out are Dan Brady at Premiere, Ken Edelberg at Premiere, Jason Jeffries at Salem, and Anthony Acampora at Radio Crunch. They're some smart...good guys.
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