Rochester NY Radio: Morning Host Corey James Exits WPXY and Radio

Corey James

On Friday, Dec. 16, after nearly a decade as host of the WPXY 97.9 FM morning show, Corey Moran, known on the air as Corey James, will sign off for the final time to fully focus on his real estate career, reports The Democrat & Chronicle.

“I feel extremely blessed,” said the 39-year-old Canandaigua resident. “I feel like I have a bit of a charmed life.”

And a busy life, especially lately.

In April 2021, while helming “#TeamPXY” on the hit music station from 5:30 to 10 a.m. weekdays with Briana “Breezy” Sloth, Moran launched a second career in residential real estate.

Upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic had caused him to think more about his future.

“When COVID hit, that was so difficult for our industry and for so many industries,” said Moran, who grew up in Endicott, west of Binghamton, and had his first run on WPXY, better known as 98PXY, in the mid-2000s as Corey Kincaid before returning in 2014 as morning-show host. “It wasn’t clear how things were going to pan out. So, I thought about what other things I might be suited to.”

He talked with his wife, Courtney, with whom he shares sons Mason, 3 and Ashton, 1. And because of his ability to connect with people — a skill he began to cultivate at SUNY Brockport before graduating in 2006 and honed during his radio career — real estate sales was one of the ideas that emerged.

“It’s a different kind of connection, but they’re both relationship businesses,” Moran said.

The radio industry continues to see a lot of disruption. As far back as 2009, Moran lost a job at an Albany station when owner Clear Channel cut 25 percent of its workforce.

Still, his position WPXY provided a regular paycheck versus one solely based on commission.

“This is obviously not without risk,” he said of his new career. “I’m walking a tightrope, and my net is now gone.”

His contract with WPXY, owned by Audacy, came up for renewal in September, and he was offered another three-year extension. “But with how much real estate had already taken off, I wasn’t interested in juggling both jobs for another three years,” he said.

He extended his stay by three months to give his bosses time to find a replacement.

Last week, Audacy announced that Phil “Moose” Musumeci had been hired to succeed Moran. “PXY Mornings with Moose and Breezy” begins airing Jan. 3.