When Sean Brace left the surroundings of Philadelphia’s 97.5 The Fanatic in April of 2015, his heart never did. After rising from an intern to a co-host of The Jon & Sean Show from 2013 until his final program on April Fool’s Day just two years later, Brace was unsure he’d ever have another opportunity with The Fanatic again.
Just under a decade later, that second chance arrived. An opportunity to return to his old stomping grounds. After being part of iHeartMedia’s layoffs in October of last year, Brace received a phone call he never expected — especially not so quickly.
“I can’t thank Jon [Marks] enough for reaching out right after I got let go and telling me there might be an opportunity at The Fanatic,” explains Brace. “I was through the moon just to get an opportunity to team back up with him.”
Just over a month after being let go from iHeartMedia following seven years with the company, Brace was back home filling in as a co-host with Jon Marks on The Fanatic. Marks, who had returned to the station in late September, was originally set to reunite with longtime Fanatic host Mike Missanelli.
However, following Missanelli’s departure during layoffs by Beasley Media Group in late August, the formula for the timeslot shifted. Marks told Barrett Media in early October that the plan was to bring in several candidates to work alongside him in an effort to find the right fit.
For Brace, the original phone call from Marks changed his perspective on returning to the sports radio industry altogether.
“When you’re let go from a position that you battled and put your blood, sweat, and tears into, you ask yourself the question ‘do I want to be in this space [sports radio] anymore?” said Brace. “We know that the content game is a young man’s game. I’m getting a little older, but I love sports. And Jon’s been a loyal dude from the beginning and a true friend.”
Homecoming
After a few fill-in opportunities, Brace was named the full-time co-host of Middays With Marks on 97.5 The Fanatic. A reunion more than a decade in the making. Now, with Marks and Brace gaining experience outside 97.5 The Fanatic, the industry has also shifted in recent years. Brace said he feels confident about the opportunity to recapture the magic the duo previously created.
“We’re just beginning and experimenting with some new things, especially now with football season yet to come,” said Brace. “At the end of the day, it’s all about doing good radio. Putting the best product out there, but that’s all we care about. That hasn’t changed at all.”
Brace said he and Marks were mentored by Missanelli during their time at The Fanatic. He noted the experience helped shape their approach. The education they gained built a devoted following. That audience has stayed with both personalities throughout their careers.
From afar, Brace watched the ongoing changes The Fanatic experienced over the past calendar year. In addition to Missanelli’s departure, the station also reshaped its afternoon drive programming as Tyrone Johnson exited last April as the final piece of The Best Show Ever?
Brace said it “pained him” to see so much change happen in such a short period of time to a station he still considered home.
“I love this station, and the listeners. To see everything that they were going through, it stunk to see that. No one wants to see anybody lose their job,” said Brace. “You want to see people succeed and be a successful part of a station that you were able to be a part of. I wasn’t cheering from afar and didn’t want to see these guys fail.”
Despite the number of changes The Fanatic experienced over the past year, the situation did not give Brace any hesitation about rejoining the station when the opportunity arose.
“All radio companies are the same. Everybody is trying to do their best. There’s a lot of stipulations coming from the top down no matter what the company. Regardless, it’s just difficult to be in this industry,” says Brace. “There were a lot of reasons for me to feel different about returning here. It was a positive situation… Radio in general is just a little more difficult than what it used to be.”
Growing as a Programmer
Prior to returning to The Fanatic, Brace served as the program director of Philadelphia’s iHeartMedia sports outlet, The Gambler. It marked his first programming opportunity and allowed him to build a radio brand from the ground up.
He continued to host a daily afternoon drive program while also serving in a programming role, which he says helped elevate his skill set to a new level as a talent.
“Night and day. Building it from the ground up will change your approach with everything,” said Brace. “It really relaxed me. It made me a better host because of the amount of hats you have to wear at a given time. You’re always putting out your best product, and you have to believe in it.”
The experience also allowed Brace to grow his digital skill set. With a signal that he jokes resembled “a red solo cup,” the goal was pushing the listening audience to the iHeartRadio app and video streaming platforms for content.
Over the years, identifying young talent while guiding teams toward growth instilled in him a passion for the role.
So much so that Brace remains interested in possibly returning to a program director role later in his career and has shared that interest with his current manager, Scott Masteller.
Understanding Your Competition
Philadelphia is one of the most passionate sports markets in the country. It is home to a rabid fan base for every team, both professional and collegiate. Sports radio has long served as an outlet for that fan base, driving stations to ratings and revenue success that many in the industry can only dream of achieving.
Having worked in the market for nearly two decades, Brace understands the challenge of competing with 94 WIP. The station carries two of the market’s biggest brands, the Eagles and Phillies. It also remains Philadelphia’s heritage sports radio destination. Knowing the current landscape, Brace understands the challenge of the competition.
“You know what you’re up against. They’re going to continue to get great numbers. It’s built in. You can go down to the Philadelphia Zoo and pick any animal to put behind a WIP microphone, and they’ll get a rating,” said Brace. “The product we’re putting out, we just have to continue being who we are. Having some fun and being that midday show where you tune in, be informed, and have a laugh or two as well.”
Knowing the challenge, setting goals for success can also prove difficult against such strong competition.
“Scott Masteller has laid out some realistic goals as far as digital is concerned. For me personally, I look at financial more than anything, and good ratings will translate to things happening financially,” said Brace. “A win for Middays with Marks is the numbers continuing to rise, and for us to be out and about too meeting our listeners.”
For Brace, the return to 97.5 The Fanatic represents more than just another job in sports radio. It’s a rare opportunity in an industry that seldom offers second chances — especially in the same place where a career first took shape.
Nearly a decade removed from the day he was walked out of the building unsure if he would ever return, Brace now finds himself back where it all began, reunited with a longtime partner and armed with years of experience he didn’t yet have the first time around.
And while the sports radio industry continues to evolve around him, one thing remains constant.
For Sean Brace, Philadelphia — and The Fanatic — still feels like home.
“Ultimately, we want to be the best show out there. If you’re in your car from ten to two, we want our show to be your number one stop when it comes to radio,” said Brace. “We’re going to give you the best information and put a smile on your face each and every time.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
