Max Media has made a pair of moves to its programming ranks at its Norfolk VA cluster following last week’s exit of cluster Operations Manager Jay West.
Barry McKay will move from middays at Country “97.3 The Eagle” WGH-FM Newport News to Program Director and afternoon host at Yacht Rock “92.9 The Wave” WTWV Suffolk. McKay joined WGH-FM in April 2024 after previously spending 12 years in the market programming Audacy Hot AC “94.9 The Point” WPTE from 2005-17. McKay also spent time on-air and programming in Cumberland MD, Baltimore, Greenvills SC, Houston, Richmond, Seattle, and Wichita. He also currently tracks for multiple stations across the country including Hubbard AC “Warm 106.9” KRWM Seattle.
With McKay’s move to WTWV-FM, Jerry Hoyt has been promoted to APD/midday host at WGH-FM. Hoyt joined the cluster in 2015 as a part-time host and has served as cluster Production Director since 2020. He began his career in the market at Rhythmic CHR “Z104” WNVZ and later hosted nights at Oldies “Kool 95.7” WVKL in the late 90s. He later worked on-air at WWZZ Washington DC, was Production Coordinator for CBS Washington DC, and OM for CBS Hot AC “94.7 Fresh-FM” WIAD Washington.
WGH-FM PD/morning host Steve Waters said, “Barry McKay is one of those rare talents who was born to program and watching him step into his own with a brand new format at 92.9 The Wave is exactly the kind of move that gets you excited for someone’s future. And Jerry Hoyt? Eagle listeners already know and love him—eleven years in the building, and it’s finally his moment to shine on the midday stage. Barry and Jerry, two big wins at once.”
Cluster VP/GM Keith Barton followed, “Barry was the obvious choice to take on Program Director and afternoon host duties for WTWV 92.9 The Wave. With eight years on our team and decades as a well-known voice in the market, he brings both leadership and a strong connection to our listeners. At the same time, Jerry ‘The Hit Man/Swiss Army Knife’ Hoyt has been an invaluable part of our team for more than 15 years. His versatility and commitment are unmatched, as he has contributed across production, engineering, IT, and on-air, always stepping up wherever needed. We’re thrilled to have Jerry step into the midday role and Assistant Program Director responsibilities at 97.3 The Eagle.”
West had been OM since April 2024. He joined the company in January 2020 as afternoon host at then-AC “92.9 The Wave” WTWV-FM and rose to Program Director of the station two months later. He previously spent nine years as APD/MD/afternoon host at WNVZ from 1995-2004 followed by a fourteen year run at Sinclair Communications where he hosted afternoons at Variety Hits “93.7 Bob-FM” WPYA and programmed short-lived CHR “106.1 The Zone” WZNR until his exit in July 2018. Earlier in his career, West worked at WIOQ & WBEB Philadelphia, KNRJ Houston, WKSE Buffalo, WLUM Milwaukee and KIVA Albuquerque.
