Market Enginuity Overview
In 1997, Public Radio International, backed by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, created the Public Radio Underwriting Partnership (PRUP) to discover best practices for commercial broadcasters that could apply to public radio corporate support.
Jim Taszarek, Sr., a veteran commercial broadcaster, spearheaded the project. From 1997 to '99, 'Taz' met with scores of personnel at 10 selected stations. After intense study, he shared recommendations that became industry standard.
In 1999, KJZZ / K-BACH General Manager Carl Matthusen sought corporate support increases and hired Jim Taszarek, Jr. to provide corporate sponsorship representation in the local marketplace. The relationship and results inspired other public radio stations to follow suit. Partnering with Kirk Nelson, a successful commercial radio sales manager, Market Enginuity formed.
As public radio and television stations added digital platforms and content, Market Enginuity expanded its corporate sponsorship capabilities. In 2015, Harry Clark joined as partner, directing the Market Enginuity national team and Market Enginuity Podcast Group, scaling both multiplatform and multi-market sponsorships.
In 2022, Market Enginuity launched the spinoff sister company Soundrise, with Clark as CEO. Soundrise extends Market Enginuity's longtime tradition of connecting premium, independent voices with values-aligned sponsors so they can thrive, with a focus on podcasting. The company delivers comprehensive sales, marketing, and operational infrastructure to support podcast creators, while preserving their creative independence and content diversity.
With offices throughout the country, Market Enginuity currently represents local and national sponsorship for a mix of public media stations.
