Ed Lover exits 104.3 Jams
Gives up morning show to do a nationally syndicated project with Audacy
As first reported by Radio Insight Wednesday, Ed Lover is ending his run as morning personality at 104.3 Jams (WBMX-FM) after five years as he prepares to launch a new, nationally syndicated evening show with Audacy, the parent owner of the station.
There were no details readily available on what the new evening show would entail, when it would launch, or even if 104.3 Jams would carry it. Audacy has been leaning toward more and more syndicated content in the last two years.
Replacing Lover in morning drive is co-host and sidekick Jennifer Farina, known on-air as Jen BT, starting immediately. Farina was recently at iHeartMedia Chicago and predecessor Clear Channel, where were worked at the former WNUA-FM as assistant program director, among other roles.
Lover came to 104.3 Jams in April 2018, five months after the station was launched to replace WJMK/104.3 K-Hits. In 2014, numerous radio stations were launching Classic Hip-Hop formats mainly focusing on music from the 1990s and 2000s. While some fell off quickly (notably Radio One’s Dallas and Houston stations), the format has stuck around with Audacy launching a similar station in New York last year, 94.7 The Block (WXBK), with Lover tracking nights. The Block replaced Country outlet WNSH-FM, one in a long line of failed formats in that genre in the Big Apple.
Lover was best known for his work in New York radio in the 1990s and co-hosted Yo! MTV Raps with Doctor Dre (the one not from Compton) around the same time.
In the last ratings report, 104.3 Jams tied for 16th place overall and finished in a tie for ninth in the adult 18-34 demo as the station has shown mixed ratings results since its launch. The move comes as Audacy as a company is struggling, with its stock price in danger of being de-listed. Recently, Audacy Chicago declined to renew rights to carry Chicago Bears games after this season.
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