On The Dial | Radio People and Programming
Buffalo radio listeners are waking up to a new combination of personalities, and Audacy’s Kiss 98.5 has decided that one Nick simply wasn’t enough to keep mornings interesting. CHR powerhouse WKSE has introduced Nick & Nikki with Wease in the Morning, bringing Nikki Preston together with Nicholas Picholas and producer Wease in a new lineup designed to give Western New York another reason to start the day with the station. The addition creates a fresh dynamic for the morning program while keeping a familiar voice at the center of the action.
And with Nick, Nikki, and Wease all sharing a studio, I can only imagine how many times somebody is going to answer when the wrong name gets called.
Somebody might want to invest in name tags.
A New Voice and a New Morning Dynamic
Preston’s arrival adds another personality to the morning program alongside Nicholas Picholas, with Wease continuing in the producer’s role.
The new combination gives Kiss 98.5 an opportunity to develop fresh conversations, new recurring features, and the kind of chemistry that can turn an ordinary morning show into something listeners genuinely look forward to hearing.
And that’s where the real work begins.
Morning radio isn’t simply about putting several people in a studio and hoping somebody says something funny before the first commercial break.
It’s about timing, personality, trust, and knowing how to make the audience feel included.
The best morning shows sound like a conversation listeners want to join.
The worst sound like a family argument at Thanksgiving where nobody remembered to turn off the microphones.
Let’s hope Buffalo gets considerably more of the former.
Chemistry Will Determine the Success
Adding a new cohost can change the entire personality of a morning program.
New perspectives create new opportunities, but they also require adjustments.
Everybody has to find their rhythm.
Everybody has to understand when to jump into a conversation and when to let somebody else finish.
And somebody eventually has to figure out who gets blamed when a segment goes completely off the rails.
My money is on the producer.
Sorry, Wease.
That’s usually how this business works.
But beyond the humor, this is an important programming move for WKSE.
A strong morning show can establish the tone for an entire station, creating relationships that extend well beyond the music.
Listeners may discover a station because of the songs, but personalities give them a reason to make it part of their lives.
That’s especially important in CHR, where audiences have countless ways to hear their favorite music.
Buffalo Has a New Morning Combination to Watch
I’ve always believed that the most successful radio partnerships aren’t necessarily built around the biggest individual personalities.
They’re built around people who know how to make each other better.
A good cohost can turn an ordinary observation into a memorable conversation.
A talented producer can recognize the moment that deserves another thirty seconds.
And a great team can make listeners feel as though they’re sitting in the studio with friends.
That’s the opportunity for Nick, Nikki, and Wease.
Congratulations to Nikki Preston on joining Kiss 98.5, and best wishes to Nicholas Picholas, Wease, and the entire Audacy Buffalo team as the new show takes shape.
Now comes the fun part.
Finding the chemistry.
Building the audience.
And surviving those early mornings without accidentally calling each other by the wrong name.
Nick and Nikki may have the matching names, but the real challenge is making sure their personalities create a match listeners won’t want to miss.
And Wease?
Just keep the microphones on, the show moving, and the coffee coming.
Something tells me you’re going to need all three.
At On The Dial, we believe the best morning radio is built on personality, chemistry, and genuine connections with listeners. Congratulations to the new Kiss 98.5 morning team. Buffalo has another morning show to talk about, and we’ll be listening to see how this new combination develops.
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