Cumulus announced this morning that 107.3 WRQX Washington DC will revert to its former “Mix 107.3” identity on Friday, November 13.
The relaunch will take place with a shift to Christmas music for the holiday season and the return of former morning host Jack Diamond. Diamond hosted mornings at WRQX during its previous “Mix” run from 1990 until 2013 when the station made its move to CHR. He will be joined in mornings by former co-hosts Jimmy Alexander and Erica Hilary.
Sarah Fraser, who had been leading the “Sarah, Ty, & Mel” morning show most recently heard on the station will move to middays and debut a new daily podcast. Co-host Ty Bentli will remain with Cumulus as anchor of award show backstage coverage for Westwood One, while Melony Torres will shift to a role to be announced at sister 95.5 WPLJ New York.
Cumulus Media announces that WRQX-FM is bringing back the popular MIX 107.3 radio brand and programming in Washington, D.C.
The station, currently branded as “D.C.’s 107.3”, will re-launch as MIX 107.3 on Friday, November 13, by kicking off the holiday season with 100% Christmas music. Legendary morning radio personality, Jack Diamond, returns to MIX 107.3’s new morning show, and former on-air partners Jimmy Alexander and Erica Hilary return.
Current morning talent Sarah Fraser launches a new Midday show on MIX 107.3 and announces the creation of a new daily podcast. Former morning co-host Ty Bentli will continue to anchor special award show Backstage broadcasts for Westwood One. Current Midday talent, Melony Torres, transfers to Cumulus’ WPLJ in New York City. Earlier this week, Cumulus announced the appointment of programming professional, Louie Diaz, to Program Director of WRQX.
Diaz said: “We’re happy that we are picking up where we left off. Welcome back, MIX”
Diamond said: “Washington, D.C. is my hometown. To have been able to build an amazing brand like Mix 107.3 and the Jack Diamond Morning Show and ride that wave for 24 years was an absolute gift from you to all of us who contributed to that project. Yes, you can go home again and if you’re lucky enough, you have a chance to make it even better the second time. Remember: “Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.” (I just wanted to include a quote from game of thrones) Thrilled to be with Jimmy Alexander and Erica Hilary. I am so excited to be working with longtime friend and partner Mike McVay, Gary Pizzati and Louie Diaz. This is going to be fun!”
Hilary said: “It feels great to be coming home to MIX….home in time for the holidays! There is nothing better than enjoying being with your family.”
Alexander said: “Thomas Wolfe was wrong, you CAN go home again.”
SVP/Content & Programming Mike McVay added: “107.3 in D.C. is Mix. You can’t have Mix 107.3 without having Jack Diamond. And being able to add Jimmy and Erica to the show made this a trifecta.”
Update 8:00pm: In addition to bringing Cruz in as Program Director, most of the WRQX airstaff was let go today. Morning host Sarah Fraser wrote a blog entry confirming that the morning show featuring her, Ty Bentli, Melanie Glazener, Samy K, Flounder, and Luis ended today. Also disappearing from the station’s website were APD/MD/Midday host Melony Torres and afternoon host Marco.
Remaining in place is night host Ashley Nickels and the syndicated Zach Sang & The Gang.
Original Report 11/9 12:30pm: Cumulus Media has named Louie Diaz as new Program Director at 107.3 WRQX Washington DC replacing Jan Jeffries.
Diaz transfers to Washington from Dallas where he has programmed CHR “Hot 93.3” KLIF-FM since August 2014. He has also previously programmed Alpha Media CHR “Live 95.5” KBFF and Country “98.7 The Bull” KUPL Portland.
Since the dismissal of Jeffries, WRQX has begun to revert from CHR back to Hot AC and expectations of a rebranding of the station perhaps back to its prior “Mix” identity.
Cumulus is now searching for a new PD for KLIF-FM and says interested parties should e-mail Jeff Catlin.
Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Louie Diaz as Program Director of WRQX-FM 107.3 in Washington, D.C. Diaz moves to WRQX from Cumulus sister station KLIF-FM in Dallas. Cumulus is currently conducting a search for the Program Director position at KLIF-FM.
Prior to joining Cumulus last year, Diaz was Program Director of Alpha Broadcasting’s KBFF and KUPL in Portland, OR. A native of Queens, NY, he started his radio career at the age of 16 at WPLJ-FM in New York City, where he ultimately rose to Assistant Program Director of the station.
Diaz said: “An election year ahead– What an exciting time to head to Washington, D.C.! Wewill quickly work on getting more listeners to ‘vote’ on WRQX more often. Thank you, Gary Pizzati, Jake McCann, Beth Cohen, Mike McVay, and Cumulus for the chance to join the team at WRQX.”
Lance indicted on the Radio Insight Twitter feed that the airstaff of WRQX-107.3 has apparently been let go and that a format change was imminent.
Perhaps it will be several weeks of Christmas music (which would force WASH-97.1, which has long been all-Christmas over the Holidays, to follow suit even if they have to do it several days or a week or two ahead of the time they wanted to) before the “official” new format is launched.
If WRQX wants to jump ahead of WASH in the Christmas music scene, this week would be the best time to do so.
Facebook page currently says Mix 107.3, if that’s any indication towards their digressing into their previous branding.