Entercom Classic Hits “94.7 The Drive” WIAD Bethesda MD/Washington DC has announced the addition of Jason Kidd for mornings starting Tuesday, February 18.
Kidd joins WIAD from Cumulus Hot AC “Mix 107.3” WRQX where he hosted afternoons for the past three years until his exit at the end of January. Kidd has also also programmed Rhythmic CHR 95.5 WPGC in the Washington market as well as “102.7 Jack-FM” WQSR Baltimore, “104.3 The Beat” KQBT Austin, “96.1 Kiss-FM” WKST Pittsburgh and “Hot 107.9” WWHT Syracuse as well as on-air at “B102.7” WXYV “Mix 106.5” WWMX Baltimore and SiriusXM. He also runs the New Generation Radio consultancy.
Wonder if they’ll flip the station back to hot AC as Mix 94.7? Would make sense given this development.
Entercom probably planned to hire Jason before news of WRQX’s sale came out. Given that he and Albie Dee are the only two on-air staffers on 94.7, those two can easily reacquaint themselves onto the transplanted IP of “Mix 107.3.”
You’re over and underthinking it. The Drive has marketing money behind it and it is showing growth with a format hole they did recent research to show exists.
They didn’t hire either of those talents with the intent to move them to a relocated Mix. They’ll bring over most of the existing WRQX staff if they acquire the IP.
Yeah that’s true. As no one knew about the deal until it actually came down, it was total coincidence on Entercom and Jason’s part.
Now I can’t help but think about Entercom potentially owning not only the classic hits format in the DC metro, but the AC format simultaneously (if they actually do acquire Mix’s IP for another signal).
Rod Hendrix has been doing the 10-3 shift for awhile now. The property known as “Mix” will be spun off elsewhere according to on-air staff. Wait and see where.
To be blunt, they probably know as much as we do about the fate of WRQX’s IP. Cumulus may not even agree to a deal if the terms are not right.
Jason Kidd, imho, should be given the programming reigns. Not to say he isn’t decent on-air. But his strengths are in programming. The Drive, although sounding better, is still a dud when it comes to the limited playlist and overall on-air sound.
That could have been the plan all along. Set up the infrastructure and give Jason all the tools to get the format to really succeed.