[4] In 1983, Poneman began volunteering at the University of Washington's student-run radio station, KCMU, a forerunner to KEXP, and important champion of local independent music.
Mark Arm of Mudhoney, photographer Charles Peterson, Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, and Poneman's eventual business partner Bruce Pavitt also worked regular air shifts at the station.
At a 1985 KCMU benefit show Poneman had booked, he first saw Soundgarden perform at the Rainbow Tavern near the University of Washington and was especially impressed by the band's singer, Chris Cornell.
I walked up to the front of the stage after and introduced myself to Chris and said, "My name is Jonathan, I’m the host of Audioasis and I do the booking down here, and I gotta tell you, that was one of the best shows I’ve seen in my whole life.
"[5]In 1987, Poneman contributed $2,000 of his own money to help get Soundgarden's debut single, "Hunted Down" / "Nothing to Say" and EP, Screaming Life, released on Pavitt's fledgling Sub Pop label.