Denver About To Wake Up Differently
• There has been a dramatic shake-up on the Denver morning radio dial, starting with the news that, after 32 years in the wake-up shift on KSE Radio Hot AC KIMN (Mix 100)/Denver, Mile High morning radio favorite Dom Testa is unplugging and migrating across the hall to anchor mornings on Classic Hits sister KXKL (Kool 105), effective Oct. 7.
Testa’s new Kool 105 co-host will be another popular longtime Denver personality — Melissa Moore, who recently exited middays (and her second tour of duty) at Bonneville AC 101.1 KOSI. Interestingly, Moore previously worked on the KIMN morning show in the mid-’90s. The new Dom in the Morning with Melissa Moore show will replace Winston & Mel (Kris Winston and Melanie Rutledge), who exit after nine years.
In a social media post, Testa said, “Leaving Mix 100 after more than three decades is obviously bittersweet. But hosting the morning show at a heritage station like Kool 105, especially with a radio pro like Melissa, is a remarkable honor and privilege I couldn’t pass up.” Moore remarked, “Dom and I worked together in the 1990s, and the chance to reunite actually has me excited to get up at 4am. I can’t wait for listeners to share that excitement and energy with us.”
No less excited about all this is KSE Radio Denver SVP/GM Dave Fleck, who noted, “Dom is a Denver radio legend. Having the chance to pair him with Melissa is going to revitalize mornings on Kool 105. We believe it will be must-listen radio.”
Boys Will Be Boys In The Morning
• But Wait! There’s More! — Testa’s current Mix 100 co-host Jeremy Padgett and Producer Josh Griesemer will remain in mornings on KIMN, where they will be joined by an oddly familiar new face — yup, Mix 100 PD Steve Marshall, who will set his alarm ungodly earlier after seven years in afternoon drive, joining forces with Padgett and Griesemer to create… wait for it…. The Boys in the Morning, launching Oct. 1.
“I’m beyond excited to join The Boys in the Morning,” said Marshall (left, with Padgett and Griesmer). “I’ve loved every minute of my time at Mix 100. I can’t wait to bring the same energy and passion to the morning show. It’s going to be a great ride!” Padgett remarked, “Having Steve on board is going to bring a fresh and exciting dimension to our show. We’ve got some fantastic plans for The Boys in the Morning, and we can’t wait for our listeners to experience it all.”
Nina Blanco, who had been hosting 2-4pm, will now expand her show to 3-7pm, while Katy Mitchell will continue to anchor Mix 100 middays from 10am-3pm.
“This is a seismic shakeup of our lineups at Mix 100,” said KSE Radio SVP/GM Dave Fleck. “We’re blessed to have so many talented hosts within our station group. We believe that shaking up these lineups will make our music stations stronger and give our Denver listeners some truly revitalized options.”
