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10 Questions with ... Mark "The Shark"
March 7, 2006
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NAME:Mark "The Shark"TITLES:APD/MDSTATIONS:WTKX/WYCLMARKET:Pensacola, FL/Mobile, ALCOMPANY:Clear ChannelBORN:Oak Park, ILRAISED:Illinois, Wisconsin, Italy, Germany, Louisiana (military brat)
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
1983-1984 KROK Shreveport, LA
1984-1988 KTAL Shreveport, LA
1988-1989 Relativity/Combat Records-Midwest Promotion
1989-1996 WQFM Milwaukee, WI
1996-Present WTKX Pensacola1) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
In a period where a lot of stations seem to be on auto-pilot, we're always working to top ourselves at TK101. This is definitely a station that's not resting on its laurels. That's how stations with a long heritage squander their legacy and get beaten. TK101 has been in the format for 28 years, but it's definitely not old.
2) How have the recent FCC regulations impacted the way you program your music and the station's dialogue on the air? What are your feelings about these recent changes?
Have we pulled back? Certainly. And we've never paid more attention to the lyrical content of the music we air. But this is also a pretty conservative deep south market, so we've probably always been a little further from the line than some in our format, even before the stepped up enforcement. And TK is no fringe rock station. We have a large audience and hear about anything that causes offense.
3) How do you feel terrestrial radio competes with the satellite radio and Internet these days?
You have to be a pretty big fan of some genres you're not getting on over the air radio to plunk down the money for satellite gear and the subscription costs. And some of those genres are finding their way onto the HD side channels that are being offered by terrestrial radio. So, I think radio is positioning itself well against satellite. Especially if the sat-casters are going to violate the expectations of no commercials. We just need to get those receivers in peoples hands and familiarize them with this new technology sooner than later.
I'm also happy with the stepped up effort that Clear Channel is making in marrying the radio stations to their websites. We're offering so much more in the way of content like videos, concerts and exclusive acoustic performances that our audience can actually use. Also, Pensacola is a big military market with a transient audience, and we're so pleased to be able to stream our station. This is the home of the Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team, and it's always a thrill to get calls from them on the request line from their winter home in El Centro, California. We also hear from sailors and marines who where stationed here and can now listen from around the world.
4) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
Hurricanes have forced my family off the coast, and they now reside in Auburn, Alabama. So I listen to WTGZ, The Tiger when I'm there. They're not much presentation, but the music is friggin' awesome! And we're in range of "The Big 870" WWL in New Orleans, which since Hurricane Katrina is a study on the impact radio has in keeping a community together in a crisis. Great work over there. It is a fascinating listen.
5) Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?
We've got a real uptempo 70's/80's AC in the building, WYCL, that is a blast to listen to. Musically, it reminds of those late 70's, early 80's top 40 stations that were so great.
6) What format does not exist that should? Would it work?
I was kind of hoping that the classic alternative format would've had a better go of it, but I guess you can't build a station out of what would probably be a pretty good specialty weekend every now and then.
7) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as six months ago, better, or about the same? Elaborate.
With a very few exceptions, 2005 offered little in the way of new music from the marquis acts that we hang our hat on at TK. So we're looking forward to the supergroup releases that are on the way for our format-Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam. Our most asked question of late is "when is the new Tool album coming?"
8) If you could add any one full-time position to your budget with no questions asked, what would it be?
We could really use someone dedicated to our website. I'd like it programmed with as much detail as we do our radio station.
9) Tell us what music we would find on your car or home CD player (or turntable) right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?
It'll sound a little "Brokeback," but I've been listening to a Duran Duran compilation all week. I came across a live show from them on VH-1 Classic last weekend, and ended up buying the c.d. at Wal-Mart last Saturday night.
10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Say as much as possible in as few words as possible.
Bonus Questions
Who would be your dream guest on the show?
The President...to ask him what the hell is going on! I actually did interview his brother, Governor Jeb Bush the day Hurricane Ivan hit Pensacola.
Favorite artist you have met?
For someone I hold in such high esteem, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters could not have been more down to earth.
You're stuck on a deserted island and you get to pick one artist to be stuck with you. Who would it be and don't limit it to our format?
Beyonce. She's bootylicious.
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