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Star 94's Mark Kanov retiring after 40 years

R

rho01

Star 94's General Manager Mark Kanov is retiring from the company next month after 40 continuous years there, an incredible run in the radio business. He was there when WQXI was the hot top 40 station as a salesman and transitioned the FM station into a top 40 powerhouse. He helped shepherd Steve & Vikki and brought in Cindy & Ray. He survived the transition from Jefferson Pilot to Lincoln Financial. And he's leaving on his own terms, even as Star 94 is going through a morning show shift. We won't know for awhile longer whether his bet on the Morning Mess will play out in his favor.
 
Mark certainly accomplished something extremely unusual in the radio business, spending his entire 40-year career at one company through different owners and formats; and making it to the top position and staying in it for years. And I don't think Jefferson-Pilot and Lincoln Financial were the only owners. I think Pacific & Southern owned WQXI when Mark started.

Mark and the station have of course been heavily criticized for the new morning show this year. But Star has had far more stability in all areas during Mark's tenure than just about any other Atlanta station. And the people working there seemed to be happier than the average station crew.

If making himself and others around him (salespeople) rich over the years is a measure of success, you'd have to say that Mark was quite successful.
 
One station...three callsigns (WKXI, WQXI-FM, WSTR)...four or five different formats (including easy listening, AC, hot AC, top 40)...three different owners (Pacific and Southern, Jefferson-Pilot, Lincoln Financial).

There are not many people that spend 40 years at one company, regardless of industry. He is doing a good thing bowing out while on top. The last year has been iffy with a new morning show and the competition getting stronger every day. Lincoln Financial is going to have a very hard time replacing him. Today, most people work on average at five different companies over their working careers, so they will never have a GM or anyone with a long tenure.

BTW...The Pacific and Southern days in the late 60's to early 70's were WQXI AM 790, FM 94.1 (after a brief stint as WKXI), and TV Channel 11 (then ABC). P&S sold WQXI AM and FM to Jefferson-Pilot in 1974, and WQXI-TV became WXIA-TV (P&S later merged with Combined, and then Gannett). WXIA's partnership with Star 94 on promotions I think comes from this common ownership during the P&S days.
 
While I certainly respect his longevity and track record, like most athletes he lasted a season to long. If he knew this was on the horizon he should habve named a successor sooner and let them pick the next morning show. I think he lost something off his fastball with this Mess he his leaving them with.
 
RTibbs said:
While I certainly respect his longevity and track record, like most athletes he lasted a season to long. If he knew this was on the horizon he should habve named a successor sooner and let them pick the next morning show. I think he lost something off his fastball with this Mess he his leaving them with.
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This year, it has gotten tougher. He never had both Jordan Graye and Kate McCarthy to compete against before.
 
You have to admit, good move by Cox to move Kate McCarthy head-to-head with Cindy & Ray. Despite having a more music-intensive show she takes almost as many callers on-air as they do. And hey sorry Tripp West but Jordan Graye is a legend in this town, tough to go up against a legend.
 
RTibbs said:
You have to admit, good move by Cox to move Kate McCarthy head-to-head with Cindy & Ray. Despite having a more music-intensive show she takes almost as many callers on-air as they do. And hey sorry Tripp West but Jordan Graye is a legend in this town, tough to go up against a legend.
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And when Kate is not taking calls, it's because she's running to the thermometer to check the temperature.

In all seriousness, I've met Jordan Graye a few times, and she's a terrific person.
 
He deserves the rest. Classy guy till the end, good competitor always a gentleman. You don't last that long anywhere without delivering. Enjoy the beach Mark
 
Mark is just about one of the classiest people in this business. I learned so much from him. It isn't often that a GM leaves his door open...to anyone. He supported me when I worked for him and when I didn't. He is always my first call when things get "iffy". He never let the title get in the way of nurturing talent. More than that, he knew every single person on the staff. Whether you answered the phone in the front...or you worked Sunday's from 9p to midnight - Mark knew who you were. He took a major gamble with Cindy and Ray...and whether you like the show or not...the ratings are great. He's one of the best because he took chances and it will be interesting to see if the morning show turns it around just like Cindy and Ray did.

Enjoy the glory, Mark. You deserve it.
 
All of you Naaaaaaaaa Sayers..... OUCH indeed... What a long run in a job.. Congrats to this fellow, because he worked at and ran one or two of my all time faves of Radio Stations. W-Quxie was one of the greatest to listen to frequencys in my lifetime.. If the ship is sinking, then maybe they will go talk? LOL
 
One of the best, if not the best, EVER to have worked in the market.
No one has his resume of longevity and sustained success.
He deserves every accolade that comes his way.
People liked working for the guy and he always understood what a team atmosphere meant.
Kudos to an Atlanta legend.
 
I think Kanov learned alot from Gerry Blum (and that's a good thing!)
Congrats on a great run in a great city.
 
I've known Mark for more years than I can count. He was always a class act and would never say this publicly, but he's taken a lot of the fire- and I mean lots and lots of fire, for the botched decisions that were made above his pay grade over the last few years at Jefferson Pilot by people simply not qualified to run the show there.

I think Star 94 will go down in history as one of the greatest overplayed hands in the radio industry- a station that was once so dominant but now bordering on irrelevant. They might have been able to swing back from that 15 years ago, but I think the final nail is in that coffin.

Great timing for Mark to get out before things get really ugly with S&V coming back into the market. I hope he stays active in the industry somehow- a board or something. Even with 40 under his belt and a secure future, he's too young in spirit to completely retire.
 
Retired From Radio said:
I've known Mark for more years than I can count. He was always a class act and would never say this publicly, but he's taken a lot of the fire- and I mean lots and lots of fire, for the botched decisions that were made above his pay grade over the last few years at Jefferson Pilot by people simply not qualified to run the show there.

I think Star 94 will go down in history as one of the greatest overplayed hands in the radio industry- a station that was once so dominant but now bordering on irrelevant. They might have been able to swing back from that 15 years ago, but I think the final nail is in that coffin.

Great timing for Mark to get out before things get really ugly with S&V coming back into the market. I hope he stays active in the industry somehow- a board or something. Even with 40 under his belt and a secure future, he's too young in spirit to completely retire.
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Well said RFR! Mark was raised on radio with Gerry Blum and Clarke Brown - two guys who always kept the show business excitement and local focus of radio alive. Mark took this approach to the next level with Star 94. Plus he made a lot of people a ton of $$$! Anyone want to speculate who's next to sit in the "Big Guy's" chair?
 
clarke was another who got out too soon. i am sure they could use him now.

from what i hear, the new jefferson pilot has no bench to go to- they've cut so many of the #2 type positions that they don't have anyone inside for the job. they will have to go outside, but would you want to take that job knowing any minute the station could be sold out from underneath you because some accountant in the corp office decides the time is ripe? they also have to deal with running a solo operation in a market full of clusters. no thanks.

i am very glad i moved on from radio when i did. its a trail of tears going forward.
 
Leslie Fram where are you. She helped build 99x and q100. Give her a shot but keep her off the air.
 
they will have to go outside, but would you want to take that job knowing any minute the station could be sold out from underneath you because some accountant in the corp office decides the time is ripe? they also have to deal with running a solo operation in a market full of clusters. no thanks.
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I agree with you about getting someone good when the station could be sold at any time. They'll probably have to pick someone from within LF.

Regarding your second point, Mark Kanov did a heck of a job with that solo operation. Clusters have been a fact of life for a while now, and Star's billing was always near the top of the market.
 
Star's billing WAS at the top of the market- key word there. From what i hear from people who still work inside JP/LF, that station bills no where near what it used to, with most of the fall off happening in the last 3 years. "Train Wreck" was the way it was recently descibed to me.

I'm not saying a single station can't make it, I just wouldn't want that assignment.
 
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