One of Hampton Roads radio’s most familiar voices is no longer part of the morning lineup at Audacy’s Rhythmic CHR station, Z104 (WNVZ).
Brandon “Shaggy” Stokes has exited the station after a 25-year run in mornings. Stokes joined WNVZ in 2001 and became a cornerstone of the station’s morning programming. In early 2024, the station retired its longtime “Z Morning Zoo” branding in favor of “Shaggy & Friends,” a move that placed Stokes at the center of the show alongside co-host Natalia Soniak.
The departure follows legal troubles that stemmed from an incident last year. Earlier this year, Stokes was sentenced after being convicted on charges related to driving while intoxicated and obstruction of justice. The sentence included a period of incarceration to be served over multiple weekends.
Audacy has already shifted its morning strategy, rebranding the program as “Mornings with Natalia.” Soniak is a longtime member of the Norfolk cluster and has held a variety of programming and on-air roles throughout her career. In addition to her work at WNVZ, she currently tracks evenings on AC station 2WD (WWDE).
The move marks the end of an era for WNVZ, where Stokes spent a quarter-century helping wake up listeners across the Hampton Roads region.
On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.