It was 661 days ago on a cold December afternoon when Jon Marks announced he would be leaving SportsRadio 94WIP’s afternoon drive timeslot alongside Ike Reese. After joining the station in 2017, he said he spent more than a year weighing his options to find balance between his professional and personal life.
After discussing his future with family and station management, he closed his chapter with the Audacy brand in an emotional final program. Saying goodbye to the listeners who elevated him to the top-ranked show in the daypart.
“If I had to do it all over again, I probably wouldn’t have done a goodbye show,” said Marks, reflecting on his final show on 94WIP. “It wasn’t an easy decision and wasn’t easy to walk away from doing 18 shares in afternoon drive. Making pretty good money on bonuses because you’re the first-place show every year.”
After leaving 94WIP and working part-time for the digital ALLCITY brand PHLY for a year. Marks returned home to 97.5 The Fanatic last week as the new midday program host. His humble beginnings in radio started in the hallways of The Fanatic. Where he rose from intern to co-host alongside several former Fanatic personalities.
The Long Road To Return
Just under two years removed from his departure from 94WIP, Marks said that after his decision to leave, he stayed in contact with 97.5 The Fanatic management. Not necessarily to get back on the radio right away, but to keep a potential landing spot open for the future.
“I thought there would be interest with me leaving WIP. We talked, but at that point I left a really good situation on a really good show on a station that does absolutely killer numbers,” Marks recalled. “It would have had to be a situation where I think I can do a great show and I can win. When I left WIP and we talked to The Fanatic, I just didn’t feel like we were there.”
Marks decided to take his talents to the upstart ALLCITY brand PHLY, which was fronted by former 97.5 The Fanatic host Anthony Gargano. After his announcement, Marks went to work hosting his own program while gaining experience in content creation and editing. It was a part-time role that kept him involved in the Philadelphia sports scene while maintaining contact with The Fanatic.
A Change in Direction
When 97.5 The Fanatic elevated Bill Colarulo from The Mike Missanelli Show to afternoon drive in June, an opportunity presented itself.
“I was talking to the station to work with Mike [Missanelli],” explained Marks. “We didn’t have anything signed, but we were going to work together. Then the layoff happened, and the rest is history where it’s just me.”
Marks said he found out about Beasley Media Group laying off Missanelli the same way much of the sports media world did. Through social media. He was surprised by the news and reached out to Missanelli immediately.
“I was surprised, but I guess working in sports radio you’re never really surprised,” said Marks of Missanelli’s departure. “My first reaction was, what does this mean for me? Am I not in the picture anymore, right?”
Marks never second-guessed his desire to work for 97.5 The Fanatic following Missanelli’s departure. In fact, after consulting those at the station and many of his contemporaries around the country, he said the decision was one he couldn’t pass up.
“97.5 The Fanatic is a great station with great people. Despite Mike being laid off, with the opportunity still there, it’s still a no-brainer,” said Marks.
A Desire To Win
Last Monday, Middays with Marks officially launched on 97.5 The Fanatic with Marks hosting solo. He said two factors drove his decision to return to daily sports radio. First, he wanted to ensure he enjoys the role and can be happy executing it every day. Second, he needed to believe he could be successful and win.
It has been some time since 97.5 The Fanatic has been able to compete with 94WIP in the ratings battle. A big reason is that broadcasting rights for the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies belong to Audacy, giving 94WIP unique programming opportunities. However, Marks believes the biggest gains so far in his return have been the amount of support he has inside 97.5 The Fanatic.
“The resources that I have at my disposal are different than what I had at WIP as far as paid guests or paid contributors. However, I am more than pleasantly surprised at the support and the staff that I have,” said Marks.
With the new show, Marks now has a dedicated call screener and producer. He also has access to a social media manager, YouTube producer, programming coordinator, and executive producer—resources he did not have at his former employer.
“I have more resources now at The Fanatic for producing the show on a daily basis than I had back then,” explained Marks. “I’m actually very happy with the staff that we have and what we’re going to be able to do moving forward. I didn’t have that there.”
More Changes Coming
In the coming months, Marks will have several co-hosts join him for Middays with Marks. While the original plan was a duo show alongside Mike Missanelli, Marks said the plan now is to name a co-host at the beginning of next year after auditions throughout the coming months.
“The goal is to have some rotating co-hosts for the rest of the year and pick a permanent co-host at the beginning of the year,” said Marks. “I’m at my best when I’m driving as the A-host. I really believe a successful show needs multiple pieces with everybody pulling in the same direction. I’m never going to be successful with just me. I just don’t believe that.”
Marks believes that adding a strong co-host he can build chemistry with is the best-case scenario for long-term success. As to who that person will be, he said the final decision will be a collaboration between station management and himself.
“Scott [Masteller, 97.5 The Fanatic program director] has suggested some names, which I am open to, but ultimately it’s going to be somebody that I want to work with,” said Marks. “Could I be working with somebody that I didn’t originally think of? Sure. But Scott’s made it clear that it must be somebody that I’m comfortable with.”
Marks is focused on bringing his program to the top of the ratings battle with 94WIP. He knows the challenge won’t be easy. Rather than trying to replicate what WIP does, Marks believes the content of his show needs to match everything listeners want to hear.
“Honestly, at the end of me being with WIP, I was so exhausted about having to be the guy who had to be critical of Jalen Hurts more than I wanted to be,” said Marks. “I have to create entertaining radio that people feel good about listening to. That’s how I’ll get to where we need to be.”
Less than two years after leaving Philadelphia sports radio, Middays with Marks feels like a homecoming and a fresh start for Jon Marks. He said he doesn’t regret his past decisions and is only focused on a brighter, more impactful future.
“Two years later I’m finally back on the air and getting exactly what I want,” said Marks. “Being able to wake up with my kids. Taking them to school and picking them up every day. Eating dinner with them and being able to coach them in sports… It’s everything that I wanted and more. Working different hours in middays, I’m very thankful that I’ve been able to do it.”
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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.
