JamTraxx, RadioMixes Closing
• Over the weekend we received the unfortunate news from radio pro Rob Austin that, due to the volatile revenue climate that is adversely affecting our industry, his 30-year-old companies, JamTraxx Media and RadioMixes are closing shop, effective after this next broadcast week.
In a lengthy letter sent to RAMP, Austin said, “I’ve done a lot in the last 30 years in radio by working at a non-commercial station at Loyola University Chicago, [WLUW] Energy 88.7, to producing the Eddie & Jobo Morning Show at B96/Chicago, to starting JamTraxx and RadioMixes in 1993, and then via national syndication with USRN in 2000, and later, worldwide with Radio Express. That lead to radio station ownership in the late ’10s, shortly prior to Covid, and I have really come full-circle during my career, thus far.
I just want to thank Todd Cavanah, Erik Bradley, and Don Marion for believing in our vision for commercial mix shows while at B96 and being our first affiliate that would amass hundreds of affiliates later through Andy Denemark at USRN and Paul Hollins and Jessica D’Agostin at Radio Express.
To my ex-partner, Joe Delfin, who started the company along side me and who later left to focus on his mobile DJ business, I couldn’t have done this without him. It was truly our baby and he is like a true brother from another mother.
To our employees, past and present: Will Calder, Cory Flanigan, Erin Cummings, Doug Holt, Marcus McBride, Paul Paige, Justin Cowen, Scott Llamas, and Joshua Deurksen; thank you for producing fully formulated mix shows that went on to attract the biggest and best AQH in the history of our industry. Without all your hard work and efforts, it would have never been a reality in producing 23 shows in 17 different genres each and every week.
A big thank you should also be given to Jim Lemon and Keith Rupnik for heading the affiliation Department at JamTraxx Media to make RadioMixes a success!
To our clients, thank you for believing in the product and for having us on the air in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and the rest of the world. It was amazing to see such a demand from everyone that lead to the demise of ZeoMix and the original HotMix. It was always Our Mixes and Your Brand that eventually graduated to America’s Mixshows! We should all be proud for the 30 years that we all worked together and let’s all find our next chapter; the best chapter.
I will be launching a consultancy focusing on CHR, GOLD CHR, HOT AC, and AC under the JamTraxx Consulting banner. I invite potential clients that believe in my programming philosophy to reach out. I can do wonders for your radio station.
I bid all a short and thoughtful adieu with a tear in my eye, but hope that you will be happy to reconnect with me in my next role and crossroads in my career.
The only way I can see RadioMixes continuing is on a cash basis if the demand is there and the staff would love to have that opportunity, if it were to present its self. If it doesn’t, shows that run next week, 2341 will be the last for the organization. Thank you all for an amazing 30 years! It could not have been done without you! Sincerely, Rob Austin.” Austin can be contacted at robaustin@jamtraxxmedia.com.
