Philly Radio: Andre Gardner Inks New Contract with WMGK

Andre Gardner, the afternoon drive host and resident Beatles fanatic at Beasley's classic rock station 102.9 WMGK-FM for the past 21 years, has signed a multiyear contract extension with parent company Beasley Media Group to continue in that role.

“What an honor it is to play you this music we love so much!,” Gardner told fans Thursday in a social media announcement before thanking Beasley Philadelphia Market Manager Joe Bell and WMGK Program Director Bill Weston.

So excited to let you know I have just signed a multiyear contract extension to continue being your afternoon host on 102.9 @WMGK. What an honor it is to play you this music we love so much!

Many thanks to Market Manager Joe Bell (L) and Program Director Bill Weston (R)!! pic.twitter.com/YKtmx4ejKD

— Andre Gardner (@andregardner) April 19, 2023

Save for a stint at New York’s 92.3 K-Rock from 1993 to 2002, Gardner has been a staple in the Philadelphia-area radio and rock music scene since the late 1970s. According to his LinkedIn page, Gardner started in 1977 as a high school student working weekend shifts at Trenton’s WPST before moving on to WIFI-92, Sunny 104.5, and Z-106 mixed in with very short stints at stations in Atlanta, Dallas and Fort Pierce, Florida.

Gardner was hired as music director and nighttime disc jockey at 94.1 WYSP when the rock station was at the height of its popularity with Howard Stern working morning drive. After five years in that role, he left for K-Rock but returned to Philadelphia after being hired by Buzz Knight to handle afternoon drive for WMGK, where his show has consistently been among the top-rated in his time slot among the key adults 25 to 54 demographic. Up until last year, Gardner spent 20 years as host of the station’s Sunday morning "Breakfast with the Beatles" syndicated program.

“It’s exciting to know that Andre will be with WMGK for the foreseeable future," Bell said via email. "He’s a huge part of the fabric and success of the station."

The Philadelphia Business Journal reports WMGK finished second in the overall ratings among Philadelphia radio stations in March, behind iHeartMedia’s urban adult contemporary formatted 105.3 WDAS-FM. John DeBella hosts the station’s morning drive show and Matt Cord holds down middays.