Cumulus Media hit a little hiccup with its move and rebranding of KMEZ New Orleans.
The station relocated on Thursday from 106.7 back to its original 102.9 frequency that the station called home from 1992 until 2008. The move came with a rebranding from “Old School 106.7” to “Z102.9“. By Friday, the “Z” moniker was gone with the station’s logo adjusted to “KMEZ 102.9” as seen below with most imaging identifying the station simply by its new frequency.
Why the quick shift? Perhaps because the “Z” brand is already utilized in the New Orleans market by M.A.C. Broadcasting’s rimshot 1980s hits “Z104.5” KWMZ-FM Empire LA? Cumulus did file to register the “Z102.9” brand with the State of Louisiana in November (concurrently with a filing for “106.7 The Krewe” for 106.7 which will debut its new format in January)
Original Report 12/5: Cumulus Urban AC “Old School 106.7” KMEZ Port Sulpher/New Orleans LA will relocate back to its original frequency on Thursday, December 6 as “Z102.9“.
That will mean the end of the Urban “Power 102.9” format of KKND Belle Chase as the two frequencies will simulcast for 30 days prior to debuting a new format on 106.7 on Monday, January 7. KMEZ had been on 102.9 from its sign-on in 1992 until its move to 106.7 in 2008.
The current lineup of middayer Papa Smurf, evening host Downtown Lesli Brown, and syndicated afternoon show DL Hughley will move with KMEZ back to 102.9. The station did not mention who would host mornings, which is currently held by the syndicated Tom Joyner on 106.7 and Rickey Smiley on KKND.
CUMULUS MEDIA announces that KMEZ, its Urban Adult Contemporary-formatted radio station in New Orleans, will move from its current 106.7 frequency back to its original home at 102.9 FM on Thursday, December 6, 2018. The station replaces Power 102.9, and will be known as “Z 102.9”. Z 102.9 will retain its Urban AC format, with great national and local personalities including: Papa Smurf, D.L. Hughley, and Downtown Lesli Brown.
Pat Galloway, Regional Vice President and Market Manager, Cumulus New Orleans, said: “102.9 FM is where KMEZ had its most successful ratings and we are looking forward to making KMEZ bigger and better than ever. At Z 102.9, we will be all about New Orleans and continuing to provide New Orleanians with incredible music and entertainment, and timely local News, Sports, Weather and Traffic that they can rely on. KMEZ is a very strong brand in the New Orleans market and our goal is to simply make it better!”
J’Michael Francois, Program Director, KMEZ, said: “During the first 30 days, Z 102.9 will be heard both on Z 102.9 and on 106.7 FM so that all our current listeners will know that KMEZ will now be heard on 102.9 FM. The goal at Cumulus New Orleans is to provide our listeners with great products and make our stations as strong as possible for both our listeners and our advertisers. The combination of our four radio stations and our digital platforms leads to great success for both our listeners and our sponsors.”
