Buck & Coop Ride Again, Separately
• Entercom Hot AC KRSK (105.1 The Buzz)/Portland, OR welcomes major market Buck Wise to the team as morning host. The Buzz wake-up shift has been vacant since Cruze left in late May. “Buck brings a magnetic personality and passion to Buzz mornings,” said Bill Ashenden, SVP/Market Manager, Entercom Portland. “We’re excited to add him to the Portland team.”
Wise, the artist formerly known as “Buck Head,” is no stranger to the Portland market, having previously done mornings at iHeartMedia rival KKRZ (Z100) a few years ago. As the story goes, Buck got his radio start as a 17-year-old intern at WFLZ/Tampa under the tutelage of Dom Theodore, who later used him at the launch of KFMS (101.9 Kiss FM)/Las Vegas. After a stint at KYSR (Star 98.7)/Los Angeles, Theodore brought Buck to Detroit when WKQI (Channel 955)/Detroit launched. Buck went on to do mornings at KKRZ and B94/Pittsburgh until early 2010 when Theodore came calling — for the 4th time — and brought him back to Detroit to do afternoons on CBS Radio’s 98.7 AMP Radio. He later moved up to mornings as co-host of the Buck and Coop show (with Sean “Coop” Tabler) until 2013.
“I’m honored to be joining the talented Entercom Portland family,” said Wise. “I’ve admired Bill Ashenden and [PD] Brian Bridgman‘s approach to local entertaining radio and I’m excited to work with them as a member of the KRSK team.”
• And in a weirdly related story — RAMP has confirmed that the very same Sean “Coop” Tabler will be leaving his morning gig at Max Media Country WGH-FM (93.7 The Eagle)/Norfolk-Virginia Beach, VA at the end of October for a new gig TBA. Tabler (left) joined WGH-FM in January 2016, two months after leaving mornings on CBS Radio Top 40 WDZH (98.7 AMP Radio)/Detroit. He was initially paired with Eagle vet Karen West, who moved to middays about 18 months ago.
Coop’s impending departure naturally opens up a plum wake-up gig in a Top 50 market. Following his exit, PD Mark McKay has graciously volunteered to royally screw up his body chemistry as he temporarily moves from afternoons to cover morning drive while the search is conducted. Interested/qualified morning show candidates are urged to rush their packages to Max Media VP/Programming Rusty James at rjames@maxmediava.com.
