When a DJ at a college radio station told Jon Adler he didn’t have the “right voice” for radio, the challenge was on.
Adler started out as a business major at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and quickly realized he was not a math-and-numbers person. He decided to switch to a communications major, and no one, especially not that guy, was going to stop him.
“Basically, I started my radio career out of anger and spite,” says Adler.
After graduation, Adler worked for WMMM-FM and WISC-TV in Madison and later took a job at a technology company as a software trainer for TV newsrooms worldwide.
But the pinnacle of Adler’s career – so far – started almost two decades ago when he became the morning show co-host for FM102.1, an alternative rock radio station operated by Milwaukee Radio Alliance, LLC.
“It sounds corny, but it was a dream come true,” says Adler. “It was the top of the mountain for me.”
Adler adapted to the 3:15 a.m. wake-up time fairly quickly and began a career that led him to 3,000 to 4,000 interviews with musicians, actors and comedians. He’s won more than 20 Wisconsin Broadcasters Awards for radio including Best Morning Show, Best Interview, Best Use Of Audio and Best Use Of Sports Coverage (non-news).
“I’ve watched and listened to him pull things out of bands in interviews that no one ever has, because of his warmth and his innate ability to connect with people,” says Michelle Rutkowski, vice president of programming and operations.
Last week, after 19-years-and-four-days on the job, Adler was let go from FM102.1 due to budget restraints.
“Budget cuts and business decisions are really hard words to hear. Well-qualified, talented people are out of jobs every day because of these realities,” says Adler. “I can’t be mad at anyone.”
"Kramp and Adler" 2006-2012
While working at WSUW on the UW-Whitewater campus as a DJ and eventually the music director, Adler met Brian Kramp.
“We weren’t great friends at first, but we always had a rapport,” says Adler.
In 2006, out of the blue, Adler got a call from Kramp. He said the alternative radio station FM102.1 was looking for morning show hosts and he suggested that the two of them team up and apply.
Adler, who was working in Los Angeles for a week, agreed to make a mock morning show when he returned that weekend and submit it to the station.
“Apparently, it worked. Two weeks later I got another call from Kramp. This time I was working in New York City, training people from John Stewart’s ‘The Daily Show,’” says Adler. “He said we got the job.”
Adler had a decision to make. Taking the radio gig would require Adler to move from Madison to Milwaukee. And it would be a cut in pay.
“I thought about it and the only answer was yes,” says Adler.
On March 17, 2006, “Kramp and Adler” debuted on FM102.1.
“It was effortless. It was like playing catch,” says Adler. “It was fun and experimental and different than what was on Milwaukee morning radio at the time.”
The two created popular segments that became mainstays of their morning drive-time show like “Missed Connections,” where they read Craigslist posts about fleeting interactions between two people that left one pining to reunite.
“Some of the postings were really poetic and others seemed more like a precursor to murder,” says Adler. “It made great radio.”
“Facebook Bullies” was another popular segment on the show.
“It wasn’t a complex concept: we literally made fun of people for their Facebook posts. People loved it and somehow didn’t get mad at us,” says Adler. “It was just ridiculousness.”
And then there was Adler
In 2012, Kramp was laid off when the station repositioned to be more music-driven and feature less human banter. Kramp later joined FOX6 Milwaukee where he remains a reporter and co-host today.
“Even though it was a business decision, it felt like I was losing a limb,” Adler says.
When offered the job as the solo morning show host, Adler took a few days to contemplate. He started to experience panic attacks, so he went to his doctor, who prescribed him anti-anxiety medication.
“The meds gave me dry mouth and when you’re on the radio, that’s a problem,” says Adler. “The irony became the funniest thing to me. And after that, I just powered through – realized the listeners were now the ‘other person’ – and eventually got off the meds.”
In recent years, one of Adler’s favorite interviews was with William Shatner. The two hit it off so well that Shatner invited Adler to moderate a Q&A session following a screening of “Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan” at The Pabst Theater.
“Yeah, we really hit it off. I mentioned he was a non-linear thinker and Shatner said ‘Ooooo, that’s good,’” says Adler. “He’s a genuinely kind, entertaining and fun man.”
Interviewing musicians and comedians before they are famous is one of Adler’s favorite aspects of the work.
“I love highlighting musicians and comedians who are not as well known. Like Burt Kreischer. I started interviewing him 15 years ago and now he’s coming to Fiserv (Forum),” says Adler. “It’s really great to get to see somebody develop and you get to be part of it. They don’t forget you.”
And, of course, much of Adler’s success came from his genuine love for music – alternative music in particular.
“There are so many bands to mention, I don’t know where to begin,” says Adler. “Cage The Elephant is coming to mind. I love that band from its first album to now on both a musical and personal level.”
The families
Adler was born in Manitowoc, Wis. Today, he lives in the Bay View neighborhood with his wife, Kristin, their 12-year-old son, Owen, and a dog, Nugget, who was a regular at the station.
Like many people in media, Adler has a second family comprised of his colleagues, especially Michelle Rutkowski, John Schroeder and the late Ian McCain.
McCain passed away unexpectedly last summer after a brief illness.
“Ian was lightning. The most fun tornado of a human being,” says Adler. “He was so excited about everything. There was nothing he wasn’t passionate about. People overuse the word ‘passion,’ but that guy? Yeah.”
John Schroeder was also let go by FM102.1 last week after working for almost 19 years as an on-air personality.
“Schroeder is a fountain of knowledge of music. He keeps an Excel spreadsheet of every concert he’s been to since the 90s. It’s something to be seen. He’s an incredible guy,” says Adler.
Rutkowski, who has been with the station for 19 years, describes Adler as hilarious and familial.
“There isn’t a single human on this planet that makes me laugh like Adler does. He consumes endless amounts of information, which gives his well of knowledge such depth that you never know what’s coming up with the bucket,” says Rutkowski. “He is my brother in arms, always.”
And yet, business is business. The station is struggling and tough decisions had to be made – something Adler understands.
“We are family, but we are still part of a business,” says Adler. “I really don’t feel horrible about this. Losing Ian remains the worst thing that happened the past year.”
What’s next
It’s been a surreal week for Adler. After posting to Facebook that he was let go by the station he was flooded with calls, texts and social media tags.
“I feel like Tom Sawyer when he attended his own funeral,” says Adler. “It’s been really interesting though, hearing what people remember the most.”
At the time of interview, Adler and his son, who was on spring break, were planning a trip to Las Vegas to visit his parents. During that respite he planned to relax and reflect.
“I want to remember everything I liked about the job – as well as what I didn’t like – and go from there,” says Adler.
Adler says he will stay in Milwaukee and is not looking for work beyond the city. He’s open to multiple forms of media – including work that requires him to use his first and last name.
“Am I going back into the world as ‘Adler?’ I dunno. I do have a first name,” he says. “But who knows what the future will hold. I can only control what I can control. I have some ideas and, as always, am just a guy with more questions than answers.”
The author of this article, Molly Snyder, has collaborated with Jon Adler since 2008.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
