WKTI on-air staff out with format switch
The Business Journal of Milwaukee - by Rich Kirchen
Journal Broadcast Group’s Milwaukee radio station WKTI-FM (94.5) has dropped its on-air staff and switched to a new format that promises a wider variety of music.
The new format, called “94.5 Lake FM,” debuted at noon Thursday. The announcement was made by Steve Wexler, executive vice-president of television and radio for Journal Broadcast Group and general manager of Journal’s Milwaukee radio stations.
Gone are longtime WKTI disc jockey Lips LaBelle and morning show personalities Mathew Blades, Erin Austin and “AJ.” The morning team started at the station in May 2007, replacing Bob Reitman, who retired in December 2006, and Gene Mueller, who switched to sister station WTMJ-AM (620).
“The former WKTI staff is no longer with the station,” Wexler said. “We sincerely thank them for their work and we appreciate their contributions.”
Wexler said on-air personalities will be part of the station’s new programming “down the road.”
“Right now we’re going to be showing off our music variety,” he said.
The station, which previously played “hot contemporary” music targeting suburban women in their 30s, will play familiar music from many musical styles and eras spanning the 1960s to the present. Wexler said the station will feature a larger playlist with a greater number of songs.
“We’ve listened to what Milwaukee radio listeners have been saying for quite a while ... that most radio stations play the same songs over and over,” Wexler said in a press release.
The radio station will also change its call letters from WKTI to WLWK, once approval is granted, Milwaukee-based Journal Broadcast said.
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