Entercom Rolls Out Changes Via National Programming

Entercom Communications has unveiled a new nationwide programming slate for it's Alternative and Country stations that replaces local radio hosts with syndicated out-of-town personalities in many time slots.

Details of the changes already are represented by new schedules posted on individual stations around the country, reports the Orange County Register

The Inland Empire-based Country K-FROG 95.1 will lose most of its local weekday hosts as a result of the shake-up.

“The Wake Up Call” morning show, which on Friday said goodbye to Ginny Harman, one of its three hosts, will continue with current hosts David Bugenske and Kelli “Green” Barajas.

K-Frog's Wake-Up Crew Kelli & David

From there, though, the rest of the Monday-Friday lineup looks nothing like it did before, with 10 hours each weekday hosted from studios thousands of miles from K-FROG’s studios.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. K-FROG will broadcast “Katie & Co.,” a New York City-based show hosted by Katie Neal on Entercom’s country station in New York City.

Her arrival bumps Heather Froglear to the afternoon drive shift where she will now team up with Kimo Jenson, a longtime host at KSON-FM/103.7 in San Diego, for “Kimo & Heather,” a program that will be syndicated regionally. They replace Anthony Donatelli who now moves to weekends on K-FROG.

The nighttime shift at the station becomes the “Rob and Holly Show,” a nationally syndicated program hosted by Rob Stone and Holly Hutton at Entercom’s country station in Detroit. They replace Vicki Pepper, who will continue to work for the station on weekends as well.

At KROQ-FM in Los Angeles/Pasadena, no current hosts lost their gigs as part of the Entercom reorganization, and some will expand into new markets.

The biggest change for local listeners is the announcement that Kevan Kenney, the nighttime host at Alt 92.3 in New York City and host of MTV’s “TRL Top 10,” will be syndicated weeknights from 7 p.m. to midnight on KROQ.

The changes come after Entercom initiated several major layoffs and staff realignments on Thursday -- mainly across its Alternative and Country formats. 

Entercom is expected to roll out national midday and night shows across all of its stations in the Country format. The midday program will be hosted by WNSH-FM/New York midday personality Katie Neal. The show will also include a "Superstar Power Hour," with a different Country star co-hosting each week, starting with Luke Bryan. WYCD-FM/Detroit afternoon hosts Rob Stone and Holly Hutton will handle the company's evening show. The company will continue to air local morning programs, and afternoons will air local or regional talent.

Susan Larkin

“Today is launch day for our country and alternative brands reimagined with enhanced content and listener experiences – connecting our communities with the content they love,” Entercom Chief Operating Officer Susan Larkin said in a company memo. “I’m really proud of the creative thinking and hustle our team, broadly throughout the organization, has exhibited in making today possible… One of the most exciting things about this new plan is the opportunity to promote some of our very best leaders and talent. Their skill set and demonstrated success have already created value and now it’s the time to expand that beyond their home markets. Please join me in congratulating our newly promoted team and areas of responsibility.”

Tim Roberts continues as Format Captain/VP of Country Programming, while also serving as WYCD Detroit PD.   Mike Kaplan remains as Format Captain/Senior VP Alternative Programming, with day-to-day oversight of “Alt 92.3” WNYL New York and KROQ-FM Los Angeles (106.7). 

In the memo, Larkin also recognized Chief Programming Officer Pat Paxton and Executive Vice President, Programming Jeff Sottolano and singled out Kaplan, Roberts and Foxx as “the architects of the alternative and country brand plan.”