B96 launches yet another morning show, “Moug & Karla”

Low-rated Top 40 station tries again to create a morning franchise

As it continues to get whipped in the ratings, Audacy-owned B96 (WBBM-FM) announced yet another new morning drive radio show, Moug & Karla.

“Moug” is John Moug, late of Hot AC station KPLZ-FM in Salt Lake City, who hosted alongside Angie Parker for two years. He started his career at Audacy’s Las Vegas Top 40 station KLUC-FM and KSSE-FM’s morning drive show in Denver.

Here, Moug’s partner is Karla Hernandez, who was part of B96’s now-disposed of Morning Mess. The new morning show began today.

“We are thrilled to welcome Moug to B96!” said Molly Cruz, who is Brand Manager of B96. “His passion for radio and wealth of experience in strategic morning show execution makes him the perfect addition to our team…not to mention he’s one of the most likable guys in the business!”

“Mornings on B96 has been a dream of mine as long as I can remember, and I cannot believe this is real! Chicago?!” said Moug, who recently became a new dad. “Thank you to Dave Richards and everyone at Audacy who helped make this happen. Most of all, thanks to the amazing Molly Cruz for giving me this incredible opportunity. Working with Molly, Karla, producer Frank and the rest of the B96 team is quite literally a dream come true!”

Jeana Shepard, another former Morning Mess member, now holds down the fort middays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; followed by Dash from 2 p.m.-7 p.m., and national voice Bru from 7-11 p.m.

This is Audacy’s latest attempt to jumpstart the flagging brand. For the last few years, B96 has lagged behind competitor Kiss 103.5 FM (WKSC-FM) for Top 40 supremacy in Chicago. Last year, B96 added more “gold” songs (past hits from the 1990s and 2000s) to its playlist, an ongoing trend with contemporary hit music stations nationwide as they battle streaming services such as Spotify and YouTube Music for younger listeners and trying to retain older ones who grew up with said music.

B96 hasn’t found a reliable morning show franchise since Eddie & JoBo ended in November 2008 after a twenty-year run. Among those names who’ve come and gone since include  JNiice & Julian, Drex (the former Kiss morning host who lasted all of ten months); The Gabe and Nina Show; and the aforementioned Morning Mess. Overall, this is the fourth morning show in the last three years at B96.

In the January PPM survey, B96 finished 23rd overall with a 1.5, down from a 1.7 in October 2023.

[Editor’s Note: An earlier post misidentified the title of Jamar McNeil’s and Julian Nieh’s 2009-12 morning show.]