Air Supply
sponsored by
NYC ROCKS Jonathan Clarke Q104.3 FM NYC (104.3 FM in NYC and streamed via q1043.com)
Jonathan Clarke joined Q104.3, New York’s Only Classic Rock Station, as an on-air personality in 1997 and continues to be a mainstay there as well as the Host / Executive Producer for “Out of the Box,” New York City’s Number One New Music Show since its debut over four years ago. He’s been on the air in every time slot at Q104.3 and currently holds down weekends and fills in as a regular classic rock jock. Clarke is frequently called upon as a music industry expert and has been spotlighted in The NY Post and NY Daily News numerous times. ZERO hooked up with Jonathan over the phone while he was getting ready for his show. For the last four years, Clarke’s been showing his support to musicians with a forum dedicated to showcasing their
latest works in his weekly Sunday night show on Q104.3 “Out of the Box,” a show that spins deep cuts from new CD’s by classic rock artists, new music from newer artists, as well as music from the garages, basements and lofts of the many undiscovered artists and bands in the NYC tri-state area. Noel Gallagher, Michael Stipe, Mark Knopfler, Liz Phair, Robert Randolph, Bruce Hornsby, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Pete Yorn are just a few of the artists that have co-hosted the show with Jonathan. ‘Out Of The Box’ also has some interviews available for Podcast, with some of those artists, Jonathan thinks that ‘We do it to bring more content to our listeners, so if someone has missed something, they can go to our website and catch something that a friend has told them about, if you were really ‘teched’ out, you can get the show recorded and listen to it the next day’
“ ‘Out Of The Box’ also has some interviews available for Podcast, with some of those artists, Jonathan thinks that ‘We do it to bring more content to our listeners, so if someone has missed something, they can go to our website and catch something that a friend has told them about.”
Here’s a sample playlist from the show. Listen in! Jeff Beck Rosebud – Epic Juliette & The Licks You’re Speaking My Language – Fiddler Stellastarr Sweet Troubled Soul – RCA Pieta Brown #807 – Valley Myracle Brah Message ‘78 – Rainbow Quartz The Killers All These Things That I’ve Done – Island Melodrome Love Keeps Me Alive – Melodrome.com The Campbell Brothers Frammin – Ropeadope Nickel Creek Somebody More Like You – Sugar Hill Oasis Let There Be Love – Epic Brandi Carlile Follow – Columbia Matt Costa Astair – Venerable The Alarm Coming Home – Snapper UK
Want to Podcast some cool interviews? Go here: www.q1043.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=outofthebox.xml
90 | ZERO MAGAZINE | www.zeromag.co.uk
02 Radio.indd 90
24/8/05 16:40:14
Known Virus Alert! Except this time, the bug is most welcome. This fine looking piece of kit is the Bug from PURE Digital. I’ve had one for about two weeks now and it’s simply taken over from the regular radio around here – there’s not much it can’t do, unless you’re really into listening to an awful signal that breaks up in the middle of your favourite song – it doesn’t do that. This is one serious piece of small equipment. Touch of a button, hack into your favourite digital station. Like a song.. you can rewind and hear it again! Really like the song? You can record the damn thing. With some of the nations best digital rock stations streaming in, it’s damn near essential to get yourself hooked up with one of these. The Bug comes in white or graphite and is the most advanced DAB radio on the market. This is the future of radio, and while the bug will set you back a mere £130, there are stacks of other designs around. Check them out at www.puredigital.com – if you have problems finding one, you can always call 01923 277 488 for stockists.
Win The Bug! It just wouldn’t feel right not to give one of these little chaps away, but you’re going to have to work hard for it. Mail in your name and address to the usual address with the comp title “Give Me The Bug”. See – hard huh?
Prior to coming to Q104.3, Clarke served as Music Director / On-Air Personality at WDRE / WLIR on Long Island. He was also on-air at several radio stations in the NYC tri-state area including WDHA in North Jersey and WPDH in Poughkeepsie. While on the airwaves for the past 16 years, Clarke stood out from his peers with his extensive background as an A&R person, rock historian / interviewer and journalist. He started his career as a charts researcher for Billboard Publications before heading to Arista Records as a national director PR. During his tenure there, he also
“In a world where the word ‘format’ is king, Jonathan is a prince of thieves, he steals this 60 minutes of airtime and exposes listeners to what can only be described as ‘freeform rock n roll’ ”
successfully signed The Samples to Arista with Clive Davis in conjunction with his A&R activities. Clarke also held high-level creative positions at the Hard Rock Live TV show, and I.R.S. Records with Miles Copeland. Jonathan adds ‘Radio is my natural home and where better than here, Q104.3 is a classic rock station, but we are playing new songs from classic artists, New U2, Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, I am a regular jock on that station, while ‘Out Of The Box’ plays more updated rock artists, music that is probably ‘new’ to the listener, It’s amazing that I am on the biggest station, in the biggest city for one hour and I get to play what the hell I want’ he adds ‘the bosses Bob and Eric really support this, they trust me even though the artists are so diverse’ In a world where the word ‘format’ is king, Jonathan is a prince of thieves, he steals this 60 minutes of airtime and exposes listeners to what can only be described as ‘freeform rock n roll’ When you look at the playlist, you could think it can’t work, but when you listen to the show it does; ‘I structure this show so it flows - Crosby, Stills and Nash followed by The Killers should not work on paper, but radio is not a magazine! The show has been on for nearly five years and the ratings show that it’s number 1 in its time slot, which means I’m doing something right. People listen to the show at home, but I think that lots
listen to the show while driving’ I get the impression that Jonathan knows his audience, because he is his audience! Jonathan has also been a contributing writer to industry trade magazine Hits and Creem Magazine, profiling various recording stars and industry execs. A singer /songwriter and producer in his own right, Jonathan continues to record and produce original music for himself and other upcoming artists. These songs are currently being placed in TV, films and commercials ‘It’s in my blood’ he states, ‘My father took me to see The Beatles and he was involved with the Grateful Dead who I love - it’s nearly ten years since Jerry Garcia died, but alongside artists like the Who, he also loves Coldplay, who he wishes would rock out a little more. ‘The new Oasis album is quite amazing, they have come into their own at last, I also love jazz and hip hop, I could play Jay Z on my show, but not every week’. This fact sets him apart, he has open ears. There is no ‘rock snobbery’ at the station, ‘Great music is just great music - Aerosmith, Pearl Jam, Elton John, they are just three of the many artists with so many great songs, so we just play the song, not the artist, no matter what category of rock you can put it into, like he says, ‘You know a great song when you hear it, it jumps straight ‘Out Of The Box’. Damn Straight!
The main “Out Of The Box” site is here: http://q1043.com/pages/outofbox/index.html
www.zeromag.co.uk | ZERO MAGAZINE | 91
02 Radio.indd 91
24/8/05 16:40:17