St. Louis Radio: Entire Air Staff At Hot 104.1 Fired, KMOX Simulcast Soon

On Thursday, Hot 104.1 (WHHL), a popular hip-hop and R&B radio station in St. Louis, laid off its entire on-air staff as part of broader cutbacks by its parent company, Audacy. 

The affected staff included midday host Shae Bae, afternoon host Princess Stormm, evening host DJ Raymond, and weekend hosts Kenny Mo, KMJ the DJ, and DJ Krisstyle. Shae Bae confirmed her departure on Instagram, expressing gratitude for her time at the station and indicating she was seeking new opportunities in media.

The layoffs are reportedly tied to Audacy’s plan to shift Hot 104.1’s programming. Sources indicate the station will soon simulcast KMOX (1120 AM), a news/talk station also owned by Audacy, ahead of the 2025 MLB season, during which KMOX broadcasts St. Louis Cardinals games. 

As of the latest reports, Hot 104.1 continues to play hip-hop music but without live hosts. In the January 2025 Nielsen ratings, the station held a 2.3 share, ranking 15th in the St. Louis market and leading its hip-hop rival, KATZ (100.3 The Beat), which had a 2.1 share.

This move reflects ongoing financial and strategic adjustments at Audacy, the second-largest radio company in the U.S., which operates seven stations in the St. Louis area. The decision has sparked discussion about the future of local radio and its impact on the community, particularly given Hot 104.1’s role as a key outlet for hip-hop and R&B in the region.