Following the exits of morning hosts Zeke Montana and Codie Allen and afternoon host Jeff ‘Shotgun’ Jaxon last week, Audacy Country “106.5 The Wolf” WDAF-FM Liberty/Kansas City MO will debut “Jenny & Jagger” featuring Jenny Matthews and Mike ‘Jagger’ Thomas on Tuesday, September 9.
Matthews previously hosted mornings on Steel City Media Country “Q104” KBEQ until departing in February. She had joined KBEQ in October 2019 after fifteen years at CHR “Mix 93.3” KMXV where she spent time as a weekend host, News Director and midday host.
Jagger most recently has been filling-in afternoons on Audacy’s Hot AC “99.7 The Point” KZPT and stations in Houston and St. Louis after exiting as Program Director and afternoon host at Cumulus Media CHR “107.3 The Vibe” KMJK last August. Jagger joined then “95.7 The Vibe” KCHZ and Alternative “X105.1” KCJK in May 2021. He previously programmed “Kiss 95.7” WKSS Hartford from 2016 to 2020 and held the dual role of Music Director of “Z100” WHTZ and night host at 103.5 WKTU New York from 2006 to 2016, while also hosting weekends at WHTZ in 2004-06 and 2017-20. Jagger has also served as MD at 97.1 KZHT Salt Lake City, APD/MD of 102.3 WCKZ Fort Wayne, MD of “KC 101” WKCI New Haven, “Star 104.1” WYOK Mobile, “Hot 97.3” WEDA Birmingham and “Hot 101” WHOT-FM Youngstown. He has also hosted the syndicated “Weekend Throwdown with Jagger” since 2001.
Matthews and Jagger will be joined by Matt Gapske as Executive Producer. Gapske also currently serves as APD of Hot AC “99.7 The Point” KZPT. He began his career at at KZPT where he eventually rose to Imaging Director/night host and later spent time programming iHeartMedia CHR “Now 105.7” WBNW-FM Binghamton NY and as APD/Imaging Director/midday host at Country 96.3 WMAD Madison WI.
“US 99.5” WUSN Chicago afternoon host Scotty Kay will add afternoons at WDAF-FM. Kay also tracks afternoons at KMNB Minneapolis and WLKK Buffalo NY.
Matthews wrote, “Six months ago, I quit my job without any sort of plan in place. All I knew is that my dad was sick and I needed to be with him. My radio co-host was pulled and I was left to start from scratch and I’ll be totally honest, I didn’t have it in me.” She continued, “Radio has changed so much over the years. There are more cuts than hires these days. So I had no clue if I’d ever even get back on the air. I thought about a podcast. I thought about a lot of things! I had a lot of meetings and coffees. But, radio is my passion. Big. Radio. Nerd. So, when my old friend JR Ammons from Audacy called and asked if I wanted to have lunch a) I said yes because he’s the best and it’s always fun catching up, b) he promised me a Prosecco AND food because, ya know, ya girl was unemployed 🤣. One conversation led to the next and the next and boom. Here we are.”
