Originally published on February 23, 2007

Mike Agovino

Triton Media
COO

New venture from former Katz and Interep executive is part investment firm, part digital syndication company

Following a father's footsteps in business is never easy but, during the last 20 years, Mike Agovino has successfully blazed his own trail. A proven leader in national radio sales and marketing as COO of Triton Media, Agovino has put his skills to work by helping build a bridge between radio and its digital future.

Getting into the business: "When I was partying more than studying in school, my father, who was in the rep business, convinced me to do an internship at Katz so it pretty much set where I was going before I ever got out of school. They brought in Bob McCurdy, whose basic premise was that a national rep should know their stations and markets as well as the local reps. I worked directly under Bob for more than a decade."

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Becoming president of Katz Radio: "I was president from 1995 to 2000, just as [deregulation] was hitting and a lot of the independent firms were in jeopardy. One group gets gobbled up, a decision goes the wrong way and all of a sudden you're voided in 20 markets. It was a wild time."

Founding Triton Media: "In 2000, following the AM/FM-Clear Channel merger, Clear Channel wanted to put all 1,200 stations under one roof and create a dedicated company. I was chosen to run that and became COO of Clear Channel Radio Sales. Then in a day that will live in rep infamy, 130 people walked out the door and went across the street. Two days later they went back. Through that whole mess, I ended up going to Interep and stayed about 18 months. That combined experience—having been co-COO at Interep and the No. 2 guy at Katz—gave me a unique view on the national spot side of the business. "My partner Neal Schore and I officially launched in August. The business model is unique. On one hand we are an investment firm. We have a financial institution behind us with deep pockets and we've been deputized by them to find new technologies, applications, platforms and products that can help radio win. We approach those companies about either making an investment in them, buying them outright or partnering in some kind of financial deal. On the other hand, we also go to work for them as a marketing and sales team."

Vision for the company: "Triton is more of a digital syndication company than a digital rep firm. A lot of the seeds for why Triton will be a success come from the knowledge that radio stations need a partner in the digital space; especially the independents and medium-sized groups that don't have the money to build out tremendous infrastructure and do everything on their own."

Long-range issues: "We are rewriting the 'Understanding Broadcast Cable Finance Handbook,' a primer for nonfinancial people and newcomers to the business that we published years ago. We initiated a CFO summit and are looking to redo that later this year while continuing to grow the association to provide member resources."

Long-range plans: "Big. There is an absolute need in the marketplace. There are hundreds and hundreds of vendors for non-tech-savvy GMs and PDs to work through to try and figure out, 'Who do I stream with, who builds my Web sites, what program and application do I take?' That can be a daunting process. We've got the access to grow in a number of directions and buy or invest in some very big things."

Biggest challenge: "Time. We are spending days, nights and weekends looking at technology after technology, company after company. We're also creating sales and marketing alliances for the clients we do have. At the same time it is also difficult getting to yes. The first 90% of the way is always easy; the last 10 is always really hard."

State of radio: "We believe the opportunities presented by new technologies outweigh the threats. Certainly the medium's dominance in the car and in the office are threatened. People have more choices today and a ton more on the way. When the amount of competition increases dramatically, the only way to win is to become better than you were before. The future is about being the most entertaining or engaging of any of those options in the car, the office or anywhere else. Technology gives radio all kinds of new dimensions and new distribution. We can be visual now. Look at the jump in overall visitors and page views to radio station Web sites and radio's share of online listening versus a year ago. People are starting to get on this bandwagon."

Career highlight: "I've had a lot of great experiences and I've worked for some great people but I've never felt a part of something more special than what we've got right now."

Career disappointment: "Right after I became president of Katz, Glen Cornelius, who had been a right-hand person to me for most of my career at Katz, died in the office, basically in my arms, at the age of 39. He left three kids and his wife Kathy behind. I think about them every day."

Most influential individual: "Without a doubt, Bob McCurdy, currently the president of Clear Channel Radio Sales. He promoted me twice and, when he segued into another division, I know he had a lot to do with me becoming president. Every day along that 10-year stint he challenged the crap out of me and I owe him a ton."

Advice for broadcasters: "They know what they need to do. And since when do they take advice from reps?"

Liner Notes
Profile: Mike Agovino
Title: Triton Media COO
Favorite radio format: Classic rock
Favorite TV show: "I have to watch Jack Bauer [in "24"]."
Favorite song: "The Sounds of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel
Favorite movie: "The Graduate" Favorite book: "Anything by Stuart Woods, James Patterson or Nelson DeMille. I love the characters in detective novels."
Favorite dish: "The bone-in rib-eye at Maestro's or the macaroni and cheese at Belvedere, both in Beverly Hills [Calif.]."
Beverage of choice: "A good bottle of red."
Hobbies: "I've got a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, both boys, so it's coaching Little League, working out when I can and the occasional game of golf."
email address: magovino@ tritonmktg.com

"A lot of the seeds for why Triton will be a success come from the knowledge that radio stations need a partner in the digital space, especially the independents and medium-sized groups."—Mike Agovino