Radio personality Nicole Alvarez is departing KROQ 106.7 FM after over 20 years, citing tensions with the station’s leadership.
Alvarez announced her exit on Wednesday via Instagram and a farewell letter in The Hollywood Reporter, following her final broadcast on July 30, 2025. Having joined KROQ in September 2003, she was a staple of weekday programming.
In her letter, Alvarez described her departure as an emotional and abrupt decision, triggered by a “heated exchange” with her boss, though she did not elaborate on the conversation. She emphasized that her exit reflects broader issues, stating, “Leaving KROQ is the hardest thing I have ever done.”
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| Nicole Alvarez |
She expressed frustration with the station’s shift toward a corporate, “spreadsheet-driven” culture, lamenting that its current leadership prioritizes professional milestones over passion. Alvarez, who declined a contract extension, clarified she would not speak negatively about KROQ but criticized the broader state of radio and its management.
“Staying would have been a slow death,” she wrote, referencing alleged disrespect from an executive.
Alvarez urged KROQ to reclaim its “world-famous” identity by taking risks and rediscovering its roots. She thanked colleagues, listeners, and artists, including her “holy trinity” of former KROQ figures Kevin Weatherly, Lisa Worden, and Gene Sandbloom.
Addressing executives, she challenged them to infuse “humanity” into their corporate approach.A spokesperson for Audacy, KROQ’s parent company, declined to comment to The Times. Alvarez concluded with hope for radio’s future, writing, “In the right hands, it will always matter.”