Following last week’s announcement of the return of Dennis Malloy to rejoin Judy Franco in middays at “New Jersey 101.5” WKXW Trenton NJ, Townsquare Media has announced a few other lineup changes across its three New Jersey markets starting Monday, July 13.
The revamped “Dennis and Judi” will air only from 10am to 12pm dropping from its current 10am to 2pm daypart. Joining the station from 12-3pm will be current “94.3 The Point” WJLK Asbury Park and “SoJo 104.9” WSJO Egg Harbor City morning hosts Lou Russo and Michele Pilenza.
Russo has been heard on-air in New Jersey for over four decades and has anchored mornings at WJLK since the late 90s. The show began simulcasting on WSJO in October 2021 with Pilenza joining the show in March 2024. She has been with Townsquare’s New Jersey properties since 2003 where she spent time as a newscaster/reporter, hosting late nights, and co-hosting middays with Malloy at WKXW and hosted middays on WSJO from 2004 to 2006.
Replacing Russo and Pilenza in mornings at WJLK and WSJO will be a simulcast of CHR 94.5 WPST Trenton’s “Chris and the Crew” featuring Chris Rollins and Joe Hyer. Rollins has spent her entire career at WPST and has been part of the morning show since 1995. Hyer joined the show in 2018, joined the morning show the following year, and rose to Brand Manager in 2020. He previously served as Director of Digital Content and hosted at AC 92.7 WOBM-FM Toms River.
WPST, WJLK, and WSJO currently share afternoon host Matt Ryan across all three stations as well as Townsquare and Compass Media Networks’ national “Pop Crush Nights”.
Townsquare New Jersey VP/Content Sam Elliot Gagliardi commented, “These changes are about investing in local talent, local content, and local conversations. No one understands New Jersey better than the people who live here. This lineup brings together some of the strongest personalities in the state and reinforces New Jersey 101.5’s role as the place where New Jersey comes together every day.”
Townsquare Media Chief Content Officer Jared Willig added, “Successful brands engage with audiences wherever they are — on the radio, on an app or smart speaker, live and on-demand video, in a podcast, on social media, or at live events. We have the best local media brands in New Jersey, thanks to incredible local talent and authentic human connections to the communities we serve.”
