Entercom is swapping morning shows at Classic Hits 94.5 KOOL-FM and Country 107.9 KMLE Phoenix.
Maria Knight and Chad Mitchell will move from KOOL to KMLE on Monday, February 25, while Niko Petrou will make the reverse move. Alana Lynn, who had been co-hosting mornings with Petrou since last August, announced her impending exit from the station last week.
Mitchell and Knight had been teaming in mornings on KOOL since 2016 when he joined the station after time at KESZ Phoenix, WRMF West Palm Beach, and WKQI and WDRQ Detroit. Knight has been with KOOL since 2005 after time at KZON and KSLX Phoenix.
Petrou joined KMLE in May 2018 after previously serving as APD/MD/midday host at “92.3 Amp Radio” WBMP New York and on-air at “Z100” WHTZ in New York.
Entercom, a leading media and entertainment company and one of the two largest radio broadcasters in the U.S., today announced a shift in morning show programming in Phoenix. Former 94.5 KOOL FM (KOOL-FM) morning hosts Maria Knight and Chad Mitchell will co-host the morning drive for KMLE Country@107.9 (KMLE-FM). Subsequently, Niko Petrou, previously on KMLE Country@107.9, will host 94.5 KOOL FM’s morning drive. Both shows will begin on February 25, airing live weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PT.
“This transition will allow us to maximize the content we deliver daily to this market,” said Dave Pugh, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Phoenix. “Maria and Chad are market veterans who know and love the country format and we are excited for KMLE listeners to get to know them. Niko has a great connection to Phoenix and we are confident that his passion and energy will enable him to connect with KOOL’s listeners.”
“I am a country girl at heart and have been part of the ‘KMLE Nation’ for over a decade,” said Knight. “I am really excited about the move across the hall.”
Knight joined Entercom in 2005 as an on-air personality for 94.5 KOOL FM. Prior to that, she held on-air roles for KZON and KSLX in Phoenix and KJFX in Fresno, CA.
“I’m excited to transition back to country mornings on KMLE, a truly iconic brand,” said Mitchell. “Maria and I cannot wait to celebrate many successes for years to come.”
Mitchell joined the station as an on-air personality in 2016. Prior to joining Entercom, he served as morning show host for KESZ in Phoenix, WRMF in West Palm Beach, FL, and WKQI and WDRQ in Detroit, MI.
“I had such a blast hanging out with our listeners every morning for the past year on KMLE, and being able to continue to host my own show on a legendary station like KOOL is a dream come true,” said Petrou. “I’d like to extend a big thanks to Pat Paxton [President of Programming, Entercom], Jeff Sottolano [Senior Vice President, Radio and RADIO.COM Programming, Entercom], Dave Pugh, Tim Richards [Program Director, Entercom Phoenix] and the KOOL staff for welcoming me. I can’t wait to party with the Valley every morning on KOOL.”
Petrou has been with the station since February 2018. His previous roles include Assistant Program Director, Music Director and midday on-air personality for sister station ALT 92.3 (WNYL-FM, then WBMP-FM) and night drive personality for WHTZ-FM in New York.
