Birmingham Radio Faces Major Shake-Up as Longtime Hosts Depart
Birmingham’s airwaves have been buzzing with change this fall as the city’s beloved radio personalities bid farewell to their longtime gigs. Listeners have expressed their sadness as Summit Media makes sweeping adjustments, moving away from local legends in favor of syndication. The latest news on this front? On October 29, the well-known Kim Moore, affectionately known to her fans as The Night Bird, announced her retirement from her much-loved night show on 98.7 Kiss FM after an impressive 25 years.
The Calm Before the Storm
Moore’s exit is just one part of a larger trend impacting Birmingham’s urban radio scene. Earlier in June, Darryl Johnson from Kiss FM and Young Dil from 95.7 Jamz were both laid off, leaving fans scrambling for answers. And it didn’t stop there. In October, Leo Taylor and Pisani Baldwin from 610 WAGG also found themselves on the chopping block. Baldwin delivered the news on Facebook, sharing, “And just like that the station that has been a staple for our community is no longer as you’ve known it to be.”
A Shift in the Airwaves
Since the changes started, numerous shows on stations like Kiss, Jamz, and WAGG—top performers in Birmingham according to Nielsen Ratings—are no longer featuring local hosts. Instead, they have been replaced by syndicated personalities or just plain music. As of November 20, listeners no longer hear their local favorites on air, leaving many feeling a sense of nostalgia over the lost local flair of these once-vibrant radio programs.
For fans, the shift in format is jarring. Taylor commented, “They changed the format on 95.7 Jamz; it felt almost like they were being paid to play certain records, which raises suspicions of payola.” Meanwhile, Johnson, who had been on air since 1997, is recovering from a recent health condition that led friends to launch a GoFundMe for his medical expenses.
New Beginnings and Community Reactions
In the midst of the changes, former news director Sheila Smoot, who recently left Summit Media, has announced that she’ll now host “The Sheila Smoot Show” weekly on WAGG as well as on Tuscaloosa’s WTUG. Smoot has noted that the media landscape is evolving, explaining, “Twenty years ago, we didn’t have directors of social media or digital content creators. The industry is always changing, and we have to adapt.”
However, not everyone is pleased with these transitions. Social media has erupted with calls for a boycott against Summit Media due to the layoffs and format changes. Comments like “Time to boycott! If we all stop listening, they will get the message!” resonate with frustrated fans. Another listener voiced her outrage, “You can’t fire all our favorites and expect us to keep tuning in! I’m livid!” Such sentiments echo the disappointment felt throughout the community.
The Return of Local Favorites
In the midst of all this upheaval, a familiar face is back! Former Jamz personality Buck Wilde recently announced his return, stepping into a new role from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., filling Young Dil’s former time slot. Plus, in an example of perseverance in the face of adversity, the “Rickey Smiley Morning Show” made its triumphant return to the BJCC Concert Hall as part of the recently held Magic City Classic lineup, supported by the city of Birmingham.
The Future of Birmingham Radio
As Birmingham’s radio scene continues to adapt to these monumental changes, many avid listeners are left wondering what the future holds for their beloved stations. With local hosts disappearing from the airwaves and calls for boycotts emerging from the community, it’s clear that the heart and soul of Birmingham’s radio is undergoing a significant transformation, leaving fans yearning for the old days.
Only time will tell if the stations can navigate this choppy sea and find a way to bring local flavor back to the airwaves.
