L-A Radio: Less Shenanigans, More Music On KSWD

Entercom Communications announced today that Mark Thompson, the iconic host of the “Mark in the Morning” show on Entercom’s KSWD 100.3 FM The Sound, will hand over the reins of the show to his former co-hosts, Andy Chanley and Gina Grad.  His final “Mark in The Morning” program on KSWD-FM will be tomorrow, Wednesday, August 3, from 6 to 10 AM.

Mark Thompson

Beginning on Thursday, August 4, 100.3 The Sound’s morning drive time show will be called “Andy & Gina in the Morning.”  While keeping some of the most popular features of “Mark in The Morning,” the new program will devote more airtime to playing music.

Mark first rocketed to fame as half of the popular “Mark & Brian” morning team, first on WAPI-FM in Birmingham, Alabama, and then on KLOS-FM in Los Angeles from 1987 to 2012.

“Doing ‘Mark In The Morning’ was the best job I’ve ever had and the best staff I’ve ever worked with.  We did it right, and I will always be proud of that.  The Sound has decided that they need to play more music in the morning, and that’s not really the type of show I do.  I try my best to entertain those who are listening with humor and shenanigans. So it wouldn’t make sense for me to host a music-intensive show.  Both The Sound and I knew that,” said Mark.

In the near future, Mark plans to launch a syndicated weekend show on The Sound called “Cool Stories in Music,” in which he takes a famous group or artist and, along with their timeless hits, tells the story behind the music that few people know – as only a storyteller like Mark can.  “I love to tell stories.  That’s what I do.  This new weekly show is a great platform to do just that,” said Mark.

Andy Chanley and Gina Grad have both formerly served as co-hosts of “Mark in The Morning.”  Chanley was the first DJ ever on The Sound during the station’s launch in 2008.  Grad was recently named one of 10 “Rising Stars” of morning radio by the Morning Show Bootcamp.  She also serves as “news chick” on the popular Adam Carolla podcast.

“The Sound brand is built on Classic Rock,” said The Sound program director Dave Beasing.  “Andy and Gina will play a lot, and they’ll continue to offer sports with Todd Donoho, LA Rams reports with Sam Farmer of the LA Times, and ‘Flick Chat’ movie reviews with Grae Drake of Rotten Tomatoes.  Plus, Mark’s daughter Katie Thompson will remain as The Sound’s ‘Chick On the Street’ reporter.”

Speaking of his successors in mornings on The Sound, Mark commented, “I love these people and I will be cheering for them.  I also want to thank General Manager Peter Burton and Program Director Dave Beasing for having the vision to bring me back to LA morning radio. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity.  They’ve asked me to continue my relationship with the Sound in other ways and we’re discussing options.”

“Working with Mark Thompson is a career highlight,” said The Sound VP/General Manager Peter Burton.  “We’re excited to help him launch ’Cool Stories,’ and we hope to partner with him in other ways, too.”

KSWD 100.3 FM (5.4 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

In 2008, Andy Chanley was hired as the first on-air host at KSWD. Prior to joining The Sound, Chanley worked for LA stations KLYY and KACD-FM while working as a voice-over actor in numerous television series, video games, commercials and films. Chanley hails from Greenwood, Indiana, and attended Purdue University in West Lafayette. He began his radio career at WKHY-FM in Lafayette, and later worked at WRZX in Indianapolis.

Over the past eight years, Gina has made quite a name for herself among LA’s Radio elite, having worked alongside noted radio talent Tim Conway Jr., Adam Carolla, Dr. Drew Pinsky and Arsenio Hall. Throughout that time, she has served as fill-in co-host and news reporter for The Adam Carolla Show, and for more than two years she served as nightly news reporter on “The Conway and Whitman Show” and “The Tim Conway Jr. Show.” Other gigs Gina’s done include “Valentine In The Morning,” “The Sixx Sense Radio Show,” “The Cash Daddy Show,” “The Bill Carroll Show” and the HLN Network TV show “Dr. Drew On Call.” She’s well known to gamers as the voice of “Rose” in the popular video game Street Fighter IV.