Marc Chase
Encyclopedia
Marc Chase (aka Mark Thompson) is an award-winning American
radio executive currently working for Tribune Company
as the President of Tribune Interactive.
, considers himself a native of Alabama
. He entered radio broadcasting as a disc-jockey for WRFS
in Alexander City, Alabama
while attending Auburn University
. His on-air career took him to WJHO-Opelika, Alabama, WFRI
-Auburn, Alabama, WSGF-Savannah, Georgia, and WMJJ
-Birmingham. In August 1984 he was approached by WKXX
-Birmingham. In the process of making that move, his name changed to Marc Chase. The next move was to WYHY
-Nashville where he became Program Director and led the station to its first ever #1 Arbitron
ratings in 1987. In October 1989, Marc Chase left Nashville to become the Program Director and morning co-host of the “The Power Pig” (WFLZ-Tampa). The Power Pig became the number one radio station in Tampa
, unseating legendary CHR station WRBQ
(Q105) in 74 days. In January 1994, Chase left WFLZ to become the operations manager of WEBN
-Cincinnati.
When radio began deregulation in 1996, Chase was appointed Regional Vice President of Programming for Jacor Communications. When Jacor was purchased by Clear Channel Communications
in 1998, Chase became a Senior Vice President of Programming, a job he has held for over a decade.
, WFLZ, WEBN
). Marc Chase was the first program director to ever win Billboard Magazines Program Director of the week award twice in one year (1989). He was also named one of the best program directors in Radio by the Trade Magazine Radio Ink.
on WGN America, playing the character of the Night Watchman. Chase has been playing the Night Watchman since 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio executive currently working for Tribune Company
Tribune Company
The Tribune Company is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, with ten daily newspapers and commuter tabloids including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida...
as the President of Tribune Interactive.
History
Chase, although born in IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, considers himself a native of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. He entered radio broadcasting as a disc-jockey for WRFS
WBNM
WBNM is a radio station licensed to serve Alexander City, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by William and Margaret Neeck, Co-Trustees. It airs an oldies format.-History:...
in Alexander City, Alabama
Alexander City, Alabama
Alexander City is the principal city of the Alexander City Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Coosa and Tallapoosa counties and had a combined population of 53,677 at the 2000 census....
while attending Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
. His on-air career took him to WJHO-Opelika, Alabama, WFRI
WKKR
WKKR is a radio station licensed in Auburn, Alabama, USA. The station, established in 1968, is currently owned by Qantum Communications and the broadcast license is held by Qantum of Auburn License Company, LLC...
-Auburn, Alabama, WSGF-Savannah, Georgia, and WMJJ
WMJJ
WMJJ , "Magic 96.5") is a Clear Channel-owned Adult contemporary radio station that broadcasts from Birmingham, Alabama. Other stations in the Birmingham market owned by Clear Channel include WDXB-FM , WQEN-FM , WERC-FM , and WERC...
-Birmingham. In August 1984 he was approached by WKXX
WKXX
WKXX is a radio station licensed to the community of Attalla, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Broadcast Media LLC.WKXX broadcasts a hot adult contemporary music format to the greater Gadsden, Alabama, area...
-Birmingham. In the process of making that move, his name changed to Marc Chase. The next move was to WYHY
WRVW
WRVW is a radio station broadcasting on the FM band at 107.5 MHz, licensed to the city of Lebanon, Tennessee, but serving the nearby Nashville market. It is currently branded as 107.5 The River, broadcasting a Top 40 format, and has become something of a heritage station for Top-40 music in middle...
-Nashville where he became Program Director and led the station to its first ever #1 Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings in 1987. In October 1989, Marc Chase left Nashville to become the Program Director and morning co-host of the “The Power Pig” (WFLZ-Tampa). The Power Pig became the number one radio station in Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, unseating legendary CHR station WRBQ
WRBQ
WRBQ-FM is a commercial classic hits music formatted radio station in Tampa, Florida.-History:Formerly WPKM and later WEZX, 104.7 switched to a rock ’n roll format as Q105 in December 1973, home to the Q-Morning Zoo, Cleveland Wheeler, Scott Shannon, Dave Saint, Jack Harris, Bill Garcia, Uncle...
(Q105) in 74 days. In January 1994, Chase left WFLZ to become the operations manager of WEBN
WEBN
WEBN is a commercial radio station serving Greater Cincinnati, airing an album-oriented rock format. The station pioneered the concept of album-oriented rock, and is in fact the longest running AOR-formatted station in the United States, first airing this format in 1967. The station is owned...
-Cincinnati.
When radio began deregulation in 1996, Chase was appointed Regional Vice President of Programming for Jacor Communications. When Jacor was purchased by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
in 1998, Chase became a Senior Vice President of Programming, a job he has held for over a decade.
Accolades
Chase has been the recipient of Radio and Records Awards in multiple formats (CHR and Rock) for programmer and station of the Year (WYHYWRVW
WRVW is a radio station broadcasting on the FM band at 107.5 MHz, licensed to the city of Lebanon, Tennessee, but serving the nearby Nashville market. It is currently branded as 107.5 The River, broadcasting a Top 40 format, and has become something of a heritage station for Top-40 music in middle...
, WFLZ, WEBN
WEBN
WEBN is a commercial radio station serving Greater Cincinnati, airing an album-oriented rock format. The station pioneered the concept of album-oriented rock, and is in fact the longest running AOR-formatted station in the United States, first airing this format in 1967. The station is owned...
). Marc Chase was the first program director to ever win Billboard Magazines Program Director of the week award twice in one year (1989). He was also named one of the best program directors in Radio by the Trade Magazine Radio Ink.
Side projects
Marc Chase also uses his entertainment talent on the weekly television show Movie UndergroundMovie Underground
Movie Underground was a weekly television program produced in the U.S. by WGN America that aired from 2008 to 2010.The show revolved around the character The Night Watchman who guarded the Fortress of Television Innovation. His job was to guard the movie vault and protect the viewer from mediocre...
on WGN America, playing the character of the Night Watchman. Chase has been playing the Night Watchman since 2008.