Cumulus Alternative “101 WKQX” Chicago is launching a new morning show featuring Brian ‘Sludge’ Haddad, Ali Mattacola and executive producer Justin Nettlebeck.
Robert Feder reports that The “WKQX Morning Crew” will debut on Monday, December 9 replacing Brian Phillips in the daypart. Phillips will remain with the station in a swing role hosting weekends and fill-ins on WKQX, voicetracking other Cumulus Alternative stations, and hosting the weekend “Alt-Backspace”.
Haddad, a veteran a Chicago radio with time at “Rock 103.5” WRCX, the previous “Q101” incarnation of WKQX, and mornings at Rock “94.7 The Zone” WZZN, also worked in Detroit, Phoenix and Toledo earlier in his career. Since 2012 he has been at Entercom Sports 94.1 WIP Philadelphia where he previously hosted evenings and most recently served as Creative Director.
Ali Mattacola spent nine years as part of the morning show at Cumulus’ “93X” 93.7 KXXR Minneapolis until leaving in August to “pursue other interests”. She began her career at 92.9 KJEE Santa Barbara and has also worked in the record industry.
Nettlebeck previously served as producer of the syndicated Free Beer & Hot Wings morning show and has also produced the morning show at “Click 98.9” KLCK Seattle during his career.
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that it is launching a new morning show on Chicago Alternative Rock radio station 101 WKQX. “The KQX Morning Crew” will debut on Monday, December 10, 2018, and will air weekdays from 6am-10am. The new morning show will feature Co-Hosts Brian Haddad, Ali Matta and Justin Nettlebeck.
Brian Haddad returns to Chicago radio after a stop in Philadelphia at legendary Sports station WIP-FM, where he was On-Air Host, Evenings. Haddad was known by Chicagoland radio listeners as “Sludge” while previously on-air at WKQX (Q101), WZZN and WRCX. Ali Matta (Mattacola) joins WKQX mornings from CUMULUS MEDIA-Minneapolis’ KXXR/93X, where she was part of the successful “Half-Assed Morning Show with Nick, Josh & Ali”. In addition to his role as Co-Host, Justin Nettlebeck is the Executive Producer of “The KQX Morning Crew”. He was previously Producer of the syndicated “The Free Beer & Hot Wings Show”, which broadcasts from WGRD-FM in Grand Rapids, MI.
Former WKQX Morning Host Brian Phillips will segue to a weekend and swing shift role on-air at WKQX, and as Producer and Host of “ALT_Backspace”, which airs Sunday mornings from 10am-12 Noon on WKQX.
Marv Nyren, Vice President/Market Manager, CUMULUS MEDIA-Chicago, said: “Because of our belief in on-air talent and building long-term relationships with the audience, we are thrilled to bring Chicago a team of performers who will entertain and excite listeners every day. The unique combination of Brian, Ali and Justin will give Chicagoans a partner when waking up, eating breakfast, driving to work or simply looking for fun in the mornings.”Troy Hanson, 101 WKQX Program Director, Vice President/Operations, CUMULUS MEDIA-Chicago, and Vice President/Programming-Rock, CUMULUS MEDIA, said: “Timing is everything. We’ve been eying Brian, Ali and Justin as individuals for quite a while now and the timing was right to bring their incredible talents together to create a compelling, funny, what people are talking about type of show. The market is ripe for a show that can deliver on those attributes and we plan on doing so every day with The KQX Morning Crew. The time is now.”
