One of Northeast Ohio’s most familiar morning voices is making a high-profile move, setting off a series of programming changes across two of iHeartMedia’s biggest stations.
After 16 years waking up listeners on 98.1 WKDD in Akron, Keith Kennedy is heading north to become the new morning host at Majic 105.7 (WMJI) in Cleveland.
Kennedy won’t be making the move alone. Joining him is longtime co-host Jen Picciano, creating a new morning team that brings years of chemistry and familiarity to one of Cleveland’s heritage Classic Hits stations. In addition to her radio work, Picciano has also been recognized by Northeast Ohio viewers through her reporting role with WOIO-TV.
The changes also bring a new chapter for Mark Nolan, who has anchored mornings at WMJI for more than a decade. Rather than leaving the station, Nolan will transition into afternoon drive, keeping one of the market’s best-known personalities on the air while opening the door for a refreshed morning lineup.
Meanwhile, listeners in Akron won’t lose Keith Kennedy entirely. He will continue hosting afternoons on WKDD, while the station welcomes The Fred Show to mornings beginning next week. Kennedy also remains heard on 99.5 WGAR in Cleveland, where he continues his midday duties.
The lineup changes arrive on the heels of last week’s iHeartMedia restructuring, which included the departure of Kennedy’s longtime morning partner, Tony McGinty. McGinty’s exit marked the end of another familiar chapter at WKDD after years helping build one of Northeast Ohio’s most recognizable morning shows.
Taken together, the moves represent one of the most significant programming realignments in the Cleveland-Akron radio market this year. Heritage stations are refreshing key dayparts, familiar personalities are finding new homes, and listeners across Northeast Ohio will soon be hearing a very different sound when they turn on the radio each morning.
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On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.