Update 8/26: Hughley debuted his program today in 37 markets. In addition to the stations listed below, some other stations carrying the program include Radio-One’s “Magic 95.9” WWIN-FM Baltimore, 93.1 WZAK Cleveland, “105.9 Kiss-FM” WDMK Detroit, and Cumulus’ “Soul Classics 103.5” WRBO Memphis, “92Q” 92.1 WQQK Nashville, and “Old School 106.7” KMEZ New Orleans. A full list of stations can be seen here.
Update 8/18: D.L. Hughley will begin to roll-out his new afternoon show on Monday, August 26.
Among the station beginning to announce they will carry Hughley’s program are Crawford Broadcasting’s “Soul 106.3” WSRB Chicago, Radio-One’s “Magic 106.3” WXMG Columbus, “Foxy 104.3/107.1” WFXC/WFXK Raleigh, “99.3/105.7 Kiss-FM” WKJM/WKJS Richmond, Cumulus’ “Hot 107.7” WUHT Birmingham, and Urban Radio’s “Mix 95.7” WIMX Toledo.
The rest of Hughley’s on-air team will include comedian Steve Wilson and Jasmine Sanders, who had been serving as co-host for the Skip Murphy program. Skip Cheatham will serve as Producer and Juan D as Program Director.
With Reach Media removing all references to Murphy from its website, it appears all of his affiliates will be transitioned to Hughley.
Update 8/12: Reach Media has announced that it has finalized a deal with Hughley for a daily afternoon show. No start date has been announced for the program, which will be distributed by Cumulus Media Networks.
It is unknown at this time if the program will replace or compliment the current show hosted by Skip Church that replaced Michael Baisden earlier this year.
The press release follows:
REACH Media Inc. today announced that comedian, author, actor and television personality D.L. Hughley has been signed to host a weekday radio broadcast, with a launch date to be announced in the near future. THE D.L. HUGHLEY SHOW will be a daily themed, music intensive afternoon drive program from 3-7pm ET hosted by one of the brightest comedic minds. The show will be distributed by REACH Media Inc. which currently reaches an audience of over 12 million listeners, predominantly African American, through radio, as well as digital media.
Hughley, ready to take people on a no holds ride of humor and reality in the afternoons, stated, “I’m very excited to get back to radio and it couldn’t have come at a better time. I think radio fits my sensibility. I want to be fast, I want to be funny, I want to be topical. I want to make people laugh a lot and think a little. Some people want to push the envelope – I want to see if I can singe it a little.”
Hughley established himself as a stand-up comedian propelling to stardom with the Original Kings of Comedy Tour and a subsequent movie release. He went on to have a hit television show, The Hughleys, and has followed that up with a successful best-selling book, comedy specials, and television appearances. Known for being astute and politically savvy in true comedian style, D.L. served as host of his own talk show on CNN, D.L. Hughley Breaks the News. In 2013 Hughley was awarded a Peabody Award for his work on The Endangered List, a satirical documentary that sought to get “American black men the same EPA protections afforded snail darters.”
According to REACH Media CEO David Kantor, “D.L. is the right personality to provide a new style of content in afternoon drive time. The D.L. Hughley Show will be engaging and fun, along with great music.”
Cumulus Media Networks will partner with REACH Media Inc. in affiliation and other aspects of the show.
Update 8/5: Urban Radio Nation reports today that Hughley’s show will have a soft launch on Monday, August 12. Hughley will be joined by comedian Steve Wilson and a female co-host still to be determined.
Additionally Humor Mill Magazine states that the program will eventually have a television simulcast on an unnamed cable network. Radio-One’s TV One?
Nice to hear my client @RealDLHughley on @ArtieLangeShow talkin bout his new upcoming radio show!! http://t.co/oUae38nvle
— Tran(g) Hamm (@TrangHamm) August 6, 2013
Original Report 7/25: The syndicated program formerly hosted by Michael Baisden is about to get a new host.
AlwaysAList.com reports Reach Media is finalizing a deal with comedian D.L. Hughley to take over the syndicated afternoon show currently hosted by Skip Murphy.
Hughley has some radio experience. He hosted mornings for 13 months at the now defunct Urban AC “98.7 Kiss-FM” New York in 2009-2010.
AlwaysAList reports the Hughley show is tentatively scheduled to debut in mid to late August, with a date to be finalized once contracts are. They are reportedly in talks with a few potential co-hosts including “K104” KKDA Dallas morning host DeDe McGuire and his former WRKS co-host Jacque Reid.