Many know him for his long tenure at KITS-FM in San Francisco, the Alternative station formerly known as “Live 105” and today called “ALT 105.3.”
But, few may have realized that he is also the co-founder of one of the nation’s most influential indie music club nights.
Now, Aaron Axelsen is leveraging his role in the creation of Popscene by landing a job as the head of a soon-to-launch audio division of FLOOD Media.
Axelsen will serve as the head of programming of the soon-to-launch audio division, a FLOOD entity under parent Anthemic Agency.
FLOOD Media founder and CEO Alan Sartirana said, “I’ve known and worked with Aaron for over 25 years and have always had a great deal of admiration for the work he did with Alt 105.3/Live 105 and Popscene. FLOOD Media’s mission is to tell the stories often overlooked by other traditional publishers and media outlets. We’ve seen tremendous growth over the past five years and the audio division was the next logical step. I know Aaron will be on the forefront of the audio medium and continue to champion the best artists for discerning music fans all around the world.”
In his new role, Axelsen will oversee the programming and development of FLOOD FM, described as “a 24/7 digital indie, alternative and electronic radio station.” There’s also branded podcasting.
Axelsen will work alongside FLOOD Magazine co-publisher Randy Bookasta as part of the music and culture team.
“With FLOOD Media, Alan and team have built something truly special and I’m thrilled to be joining an ever-evolving team filled with top creatives and music industry leaders,” Axelsen said. “I look forward to bringing my passion for new music discovery and experience of cultivating communities to such a reputable and trustworthy brand.”
Expanding into the audio universe, Anthemic Agency says FLOOD Frequency Modulations and FLOOD FM will offer a brand-new take on indie “radio” and podcasts, providing content that traditional radio outlets don’t.
It’s an indirect shot at Entercom Communications and its KITS-FM, a former CBS Radio property. Axelsen was Program Director for two HD multicast stations tied to KITS, and was one of its most visible personalities from July 1995 through his April 2020 departure. At KITS, he hosted two weekend new music shows, indie and emerging artists-focused Soundcheck and EDM-driven Subsonic in addition to his weekday afternoon on-air shift.
Axelsen joined then-Live 105 after record industry stints, including a role from February 1993-November 1994 as an EMI Music Promotions and Marketing representative for the San Francisco Bay Area.
