The Industry Dot Biz:
Radio One DC Makes Big Moves To Grow Listenership
WKYS, MAJIC and WOL Get Face Lifts in 2016
(Silver Spring, MD…December 16, 2015) – On Tuesday, January 19, 2016 Radio One DC, the powerhouse urban music cluster, won’t quite sound the same. It is expanding its airwaves and streams by shifting anchor morning shows to new frequencies to make room for new talent (and listeners) in Washington, DC. The following announcements were made today:
The FAM with Lil Mo and DJ QuickSilva moves from afternoons on Radio One Baltimore’s WERQ 92.3 FM to mornings on DC’s WKYS 93.9 FM from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday.
The Russ Parr Morning Show, a long time mainstay in the DC community, will move from WKYS and now broadcast on WMMJ MAJIC 102.3 FM at the same time, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Russ’s weekend show, On the Air will continue on WKYS on Saturdays, 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.
The Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) , that continues to be the top syndicated show in urban radio, moves from MAJIC to heritage station WOL 1450 AM, in addition to WPRS 104.1 HD2, WKYS 93.9 HD2 and WMMJ 102.3 HD2. The show will maintain its timeslot, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. WOL’s acclaimed Carl Nelson will move to the afternoon drive show from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tom’s we
ekend show, Right Back Atcha, will continue to air on MAJIC Saturdays, 6 a.m. – 8 a.m.
“To get what you’ve never had, you have to do what you’ve never done,” said Jeff Wilson, Senior Regional Vice President and General Manager of Radio One DC. “We are excited for the unique opportunity to expand our audience and promote fresh new talent on WKYS with The FAM with Lil Mo and DJ QuickSilva while serving our loyal listeners and keeping the momentum we have with Russ Parr, Tom Joyner and Carl Nelson in the market.”
The FAM with Lil Mo and DJ QuickSilva has a proven track record of success in Baltimore, but their relationship dates back to 2002 before they both became radio personalities. Lil Mo is a well-known R&B singer and co-star of TV One’s R & B Divas of Hollywood. DJ QuickSilva is an internationally known celebrity DJ known as “The Party Kingpin” who started his career at 14 years old. Their authentic relationship and chemistry are evident as they captivate their audience with the music they love and entertainment news they know firsthand from their connections with the biggest artists and athletes in the industry.
Their commitment to family and community resonate over the airwaves and will now be available to the mainstream morning listeners of WKYS 93.9 FM. Vernon Kelson, Program Director Radio One Baltimore will now also host the new afternoon show on WERQ 92.3 FM from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Radio One DC Makes Big Moves, 2
The Russ Parr Morning Show will be heard on WMMJ, MAJIC 102.3 FM. Though a top syndicated program, Russ provides a strong local relationship with the DC audience that is unmatched. Russ Parr and cohosts – Alfredas, Albert and Vic Jagger, provide a fast-moving show with edgy adult conversation coupled with the music that people want to hear. From the best films, to music, fashion and news impacting the African-American community, Russ always delivers with a style and format like no other. Now the MAJIC listener will know what it means to Get UP to Parr!
The Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) that has been on the air for over 20 years in DC will continue to empower listeners with information and entertainment. Broadcasting on nearly 100 stations nationally and reaching 7.4M listeners, Tom Joyner remains the top urban radio personality. The Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) will continue to be the morning show DC listeners awaken to, but now on the heritage station WOL1450 AM in addition to a number of HD2 stations. Celebrated radio host and Peabody award-winning journalist, Carl Nelson, will continue on WOL during the afternoon drive from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Show Today January 19th The Fam’ with Lil Mo and QuickSilva M-F: 2p – 6p on Baltimore’s Q92.3FM M-F: 6a-10a on DC’s WKYS 93.9 FM The Russ Parr Show M-F: 6a-10a on WKYS 93.9 FM M-F: 6a-10a on MAJIC 102.3 FM Sat: 6a -9a on WKYS 93.9 FM The Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) M-F: 6a-9a on MAJIC 102.3 FM M-F: 6a-10a on WOL 1450 AM, HD2 Channels of 104.1, 93.9 and 102.3 Sat: 6a-8a on MAJIC 102.3 FM The Carl Nelson Show M-F: 6a-10a on WOL 1450 AM M-F: 4p-7p on WOL 1450 AM
SEE HOW’S DONNIE SIMPSON DOING AT MAGIC 102.3?
Russ Par is a Ding Dong. If I hear “screw you guys” well, I won’t hear it. I won’t listen.
This so crazy moving all these stations around and I even check the am station don’t even come in clear…Please leave it alone Thank you
It is tragedy that TJMS has gone to AM. You will lose thousands of listeners.
This sucks. Poor frequency to bad judgment. Next TJMS is going to satellite radio. Who’s drunk decision this was. Russ Parr can’t reach out to all generations.
This is a big Mistake. I will miss listening to this station… but will follow Tom and the crew to 1450 – If I can even get reception on AM??!!! Tom plays music for all ages and has a following to reflect various interest in the African American community. Whether sharing about Black history facts, or HBCUs, he is about so much more than music and the format and knowledge fits my needs. I think this is a petty and mean thing to do to someone that has really brought recognition to the station… is this a result of some petty fight with Kathy Hughes? WPFW is good for talk.. but I want to hear a mix of music and they play nothing in the daytime. Even the White House listens to TOM? If you want to do what is good for radio… don’t move Tom Joyner.
I stopped listening when Tim Watts was fired. Poor move to alienate mature listeners in search of Generation X.
I would like to know the reason behind this move. why are you sending the tom Joyner morning show to a am station ‘ maybe Iam missing something. Could this be a brilliant move without and explanation only time will tell. Still have love for ya
Tom will be missed. I will not listen to magic if Tom is not there. WOL has poor reception. Another listener is gone.
Bad bad bad move!!
as a listener who prefers the “younger” talk shows and youthful music I too am not happy. I liked the format of Russ Parr on WKYS- it fits the music. Now I have to switch to Majic and listen to older “grown” music in between goofy Russ Parr. the whole thing is ridiculous basically. I was never a TJMS – its a bit much for me anyway so not bothered about its disappearance. quick and Mo- I luv quick. Mo is a bit too loud and obnoxious for me- not sure I wanna hear her voice on my way to work. So today I flipped between the two channels to kinda get a feel of it all. Personally I will just listen to Fresh FM- the pop station. These Black talks shows are now a hot mess if you ask me.
What a stupid jester. You can’t imagine how many people this change is disappointing. The TJMS is an icon in the DMV. Each morning it helps commuters start they’re day with laugher in a world where each day there’s less to laugh about. I read a statement that the powers to be want a show during the TJMS’s time slot that caters to a younger group. How dare you discriminate like that. What we listeners over the age of 50 are hearing is that “we don’t matter.” We’ll just be stuck listening to “what the young folk like.” Well, be sure, if it’s not Tom Joyner, it’ll be nobody. What a stupid…..stupid…..stupid….move.
I am very disappointed
This is not a favorable decision for Tom’s avid listeners! Move Russ Parr’s show. Your article said that Tom’s show had the largest listener base
Please reconsider your decision. The poor reception of the AM station this morning was unbearable
Unhappy
Moving Russ to an contemporary music station like Manic 102.3 and moving Tom to an am station??? Bad business!! You just lost millions of listeners!! Good job dummies!! Smh
Well, unfortunately I can’t get 1450AM out here in Ashburn, VA! You really think I’m going to tune into those other urban stations while driving my kids to school, or for the matter, on my way to work!?
I guess I will tune into NPR until I can afford HD or streaming in my car.
Ridiculous!
Is there a petition for this?
I have been a Tom Joyner Morning Show listener for years. I plan to follow him to the AM station. Bad business decision on the part of radio one.
Not feeling this move of the TJMS to AM Radio. My reception is not strong enough to get the station. I think I am ready to fork over the money for XM Satellite Radio at this point.
This is the worst professional move by a radio station that I have seen. Will be listening to 95.9 in Baltimore for TJMS.
I love the TJMS. Unfortunately, the reception for WOL is terrible. I can’t pick up the station until I’m almost at work. I usually tune in from 6:30-8:00 (when I get to work). It’s about 7:45 before I can pick it up now . . . so I don’t bother. I don’t listen to Steve Harvey, have never like the RPMS, so that leaves WPGC. However, the music is not geared toward us older folk.
As a result, I have now subscribed to Sirius/XM and in the evenings I listen to WHUR. I refuse to listen to any Radio One station. They have done a disservice to Tom’s many listeners and have disrepected him by putting him on a station that one can’t pick up.
I will no longer listen to 102.3 FM. No disrespect to Russ (I wish him well), but NOBODY ASKED ME!! I have been listening/enjoying the Tom Joyner Morning Show for over 20 yrs. I started listening while driving to work. While sitting for hours in the “Rush Hour Traffic”, I would always have a smile on my face because of J.A. Brown’s antics. Then when I retired in 2005, I continued to wake up at 6am and listen to the TJMS six days-a-week. Of course, we can’t get AM in the part of Maryland where I live, so that’s it for me. I’ll miss you TJMS, but, “MONEY TALKS”.
As soon as I heard Russ Parr I changed the channel. And I am not listening to Lil Mobile in the mornings either. I could BARELY tolerate her in the evenings !
I wish they move Russ back to kys and take the Fam off – The Fam is annoying as hell. Lil Mo can sing but host of radio in the mornings NO. Tjms back to 102.3 and Russ 93.9
By moving the TJMS to AM will cost majic a lot of listeners. I for one enjoyed the morning commute while listening to the best in radio. And nobody’s funnier than J Anthony Brown. I can’t access 1450 am on the new HD radios. Please reconsider your decision and bring back the TJMS.
I still can’t it over Tom not being on FM
I’m not listening to 102.3 I now listen to 96.3 and when I can I still try and listen to Mr Joyner on 1450 but its
not enjoyable
This sucks! We can’t get a.m. in our area. No!! to the Russ Parr morning show.
Can’t believe they’re moving Russ Parr morning show. 102.3? Maybe it’s rebranding but that doesn’t speak to me. Lil Mo and DJ Quick Silva is better suited for the ride home not the wake up.
Cathy Hughes and Radio One, you’ve made a big mistake. Do you really think Russ Parr and his silly crew is better than the Tom Joyner morning show? The am station is not available in DC. I watch Steve Harvey!!
Somebody make this make sense to me!!!!, why would you move TJMS to AM? This is crazy; Russ Parr is no TJ. Your TJ listeners will not listen to Russ Parr. BIG MISTAKE.
I agree
Haven’t listened to Majic 102.3 since the change. I now listen to TJMS on 100.9 in Georgia.
Radio One messed up big time!!! Take the Fam back to Bmore.
I miss the Tom Joyner morning show as well. I don’t listen to MAJIC anymore since they’ve moved. How do move a top rated syndicated show to A.M. station. That’s disrespectful, and disgraceful.
Please take Quicksilver and Lil Mo off put Russ Parr back to that station. No one takes Lil mo seriously and I can’t even get tom Joyner on the am station. I tried this morning. And old dude that’s on 95.5 is not funny with that gigitty gigitty bull I’m completely irritated in the morning now
I’m a tjms fan for life! Sky shows at Tennessee State University !!!!! Love you Tom, Sybil and JAB!!!
I hate the Joe Claire morning show,he’s not funny and the music sucks now the “gidty gidty” mess is annoying. I can’t take Lil Mo seriously and she’s annoying for my morning zen. Wtf would y’all our tom Joyner on ????? Radio one ruined my morning commute
I can’t listen to Quick and Lil Mo without cringing. Lil Mo is irritating in my opinion in the way she speaks and just over does it. Quick is cool, but maybe they should look for another personality for Lil Mo. It’s too much for a morning show.
Radio one, admit that you made a mistake moving Tom and his crew. Russ is rude, Alfredas talks fast and Huggy Low down use to be great, however his humor let when Tom left… I tried listening to Tom on AM, I only heard static…need a solution? All those who made this change need to be removed immediately. They put a weak link in the radio chain.
107.7 plays old school music in the fayettville nc market. Russ parr does not fit here on this station. Foxy 104.3 does not reach this far down I-95. Bad mistake Radio one