Philly Radio: 96.5 Rebrands as The New 96.5

Audacy has rebranded Today’s Hits 96.5 WTDY-FM as The New 96.5, and is refocusing the station’s format from Top 40 to hot adult contemporary.

The Philly Inquirer reports the format switch occurs just as the radio giant reported a loss of about $36 million in the most recent fiscal quarter. The company operates 230 radio stations across 46 markets.

The station’s new branding comes following a four-day run in which the station temporarily rebranded as Ninety-Swift-Five T-A-Y in honor of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stopping in Philadelphia, and played only songs by Swift. During that promotion, the station ran prerecorded announcements in between songs indicating that on Monday, 96.5 “begins a new era.”

That new era began at 9 a.m. on Monday, when the station unveiled its new identity as The New 96.5, Radio Insight reports. Under the new branding, it first played tracks including “I’m Good (Blue)” by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha, “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd, and “abcdefu” by Gayle.

In addition to those changes, the station has changed its slogan to “Feel Good Variety” as part of its new format.

WTDY (96.5 FM 9.6 Kw)

Some new hosts will also begin appearing on The New 96.5 as part of the rebrand. But longtime morning host Michael Bennett will continue to helm mornings, albeit without former cohost Raven Brinson, who was laid off last month.

Middays will now feature Vanessa Hale, a San Francisco-based host who currently appears on Audacy’s Bay Area station Alice 97.3. Hale replaces former midday host Julia Lepidi, who is based in Chicago, an Audacy spokesperson said.

Afternoons will be headed up by Mike Adam, who also hosts afternoons at the New York-based New 102.7, Radio Insight reports. And Josh “Bru” Brubaker, who operates out of Los Angeles and airs on dozens of Audacy stations, will take nights.