Jagger and Kristi
On the back of Mark Jagger’s laptop in the studio at MAGIC 92.5 is a sticky note that says “I love you.” He doesn’t remember when he put it there, but it’s intended to be read by the woman at the microphone across from him. That would be Kristi, his wife, friend and radio-partner on the station’s MAGIC Mornings with Jagger & Kristi show. The duo is obviously good together because according to Arbitron PPM surveys, they are consistently rated one of the top morning shows in San Diego. But what’s even more important to the couple is the fact that they’re still very happy to spend almost every day of their career and private lives together after a fifteen year relationship and twelve years of marriage.
“We have an unspoken agreement,” says Kristi. “Mark gets up at 3:00 in the morning and after he’s showered, he wakes me up. Then we both do what we have to do to get out of the house by 4:30. We drive here (to the Finest City Broadcasting studios near Mission Valley) walk into the station and at 5:00 go on the air. We don’t speak until we get into the studio. It’s how we’ve learned to cope with this schedule.”
But once they’re on the air, it’s a much different story. The two radio veterans glide through their four-hour show with enthusiasm, finesse and genuine warmth that has earned them the devotion of a growing radio audience.
Jagger & Kristi at the Annual Four Corners Food and Coat Drive benfitting the San Diego Food Bank and Alpha Project
“I love it,” says Jagger, whose first radio job was in St. Louis, his native city. “It’s definitely a connection that we have with our audience that makes this worthwhile. If we weren’t doing this, I would miss that the most. And what I’ve learned after working in many markets throughout the country, if something happens in San Diego and you ask for help from listeners, they will always pull through. It’s not like that everywhere. Every year we do a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital and a food drive for the food bank and every year we’re blown away by the generosity we see. San Diegans are so good about rallying around those who are in need.”
Jagger and Kristi are a team in every sense of the word, picking up on cues from one another, calming the other when one is frazzled, and treating each other with a respect that is palpable. They first met while working for a San Francisco station in the early 1990s. When their jobs there ended, they moved to San Diego. After years of popularity in the afternoon drive slot, they made a strategic decision to go to mornings. They were thrilled to come to work for their friend and former employer, then-program director Rick Thomas.
And they saw morning drive time as the most secure spot for talent on the air waves as the radio industry evolves in a fiercely competitive market.
One happy family at Furball 09, the San Diego Humane Society annual fundraiser
“I mourn the loss of opportunity for those who are just coming into the business,” says Kristi. “We’ve worked with so many talented people over the years who were working behind the scenes and got their first chance to go on air in the overnight spot. Now that isn’t available at most stations, and staffs are pared down to the minimum. There are no more pools of raw talent. It’s much more of a business than in the early days.”
Still, the radio couple keeps their show from sounding at all business-like. They’re spontaneous and relaxed and their positive state of mind comes across the air waves. For the most part, it’s family-oriented material. But one of the more popular elements of Magic Mornings is the segment called “War of the Roses” which Jagger and Kristi admit is controversial. That’s because at the request of a suspecting spouse or significant other, the show’s producer calls the person in question, pretending to be from a new flower shop that’s offering to send a free dozen roses to whomever he or she wishes. When the suspected cheater names someone other than the loved one who called in, he or she is busted on the air.
“People sometimes call us the goody two shoes couple for doing that, “ says Kristi. “But it’s really about entertaining radio. And I love doing the segment. You wouldn’t believe these people who are caught in the act and then try to shift the blame on their partner.”
Jagger says for him, it’s an uncomfortable thing to do. “But when they start yelling at one another, you can tell that some of these people just love the drama,” he explains.
Their baby horse Laci at one hour old
The couple says they’re grateful that with their increasing popularity, they have advertisers seeking them out, and a platform where they can address issues that are important to them. Animals are high on their priority list. They advocate for them on the air, featuring pets of the week brought in by the Humane Society. And at home, their pets come in all shapes and sizes. They spend a great deal of time with their horses, dogs and cats.
Jagger & Kristi with their horse Teddi
The environment is another passion of Jagger and Kristi’s. Their website touts carbon-shreading. Just as Jagger finishes saying, “Kristi is SERIOUS about being eco-friendly” Kristi jumps in and proves what he says is true.
“We have no choice. We have to be more conscious about our actions. Now so much of what I buy is from recycled material. Once you start, it’s hard to stop. I think of it like collecting one dollar from a thousand people. It adds up! So when individuals do their part, it makes a difference. If just one person in a home could recycle for the whole family, we’d all be better off. You would be amazed at how much money you can save with light bulbs, and watching how much gas and water you use, and on HG front loaders!”
The couple recently added solar power to their home and is proud to have the company that did the work, groSolar, advertise on their show. They’re also excited about a campaign they’ve helped put together for Toyota of El Cajon which has built a state-of-the-art, “green” dealership.
Throwing out t-shirts with the Pad Squad
As much as they love their work, whenever they can, they shut the door to the studio on a Friday morning after their show and don’t look back. But quite often, there are those additional weekend duties that see them at station events throughout San Diego. They say it’s always energizing to see their fans in person and are amazed at the intensity they show.
Kids News Day with the Padres' Adrian Gonzalez
“They greet us as if we’re old friends,” says Kristi. “After all these years, I’m still astounded at the power of radio to create such a strong relationship between us and our audience. They want to give us a hug. And it’s usually a really big hug that you would give a family member.”
“It’s kind of like being in a club,” Jagger explains. “They all feel like they are our friends because we’re in the same club, playing the music that’s been the soundtrack to their lives for so long. Our “Old School” format evokes many great memories for so many people. It’s positive and it’s a ton of fun.”
From the looks of things, Jagger and Kristi find joy in every aspect of their lives – on and off the air. And when they’re asked how they can manage to make it all work, day in and day out, Jagger quickly answers, “I’m always in control.”
Bodie learning to surf at Dog Beach; he placed 6 out of 14 in his heat at the annual Surf-Dog Surf-A-Thon
Kristi ignores the comment and says, “We don’t analyze it. We just do it. If we do have a disagreement about something, it’s usually work-related and we use it as fodder on the air. At some point, we always realize that it was pretty stupid to begin with.”
Posted under In the Spotlight, Radio
Posted by Nikki on November 17, 2009
