HITS 97.3 Holds Grand Reopening
• Cox Media Group Top 40 WFLC (HITS 97.3)/Miami has formally relaunched with a revised on-air line-up and a new Director of Branding and Programming — Ian Richards.
The relaunch kicks off with the newly forged The SoFlo Morning Show, hosted by Kimmy B, who moves up from afternoon drive. She’s joined by HITS 97.3’s resident DJ and night jock, Al P and weekend warrior Kelbin Live. Cat Haley is handling middays, and afternoons will now be anchored by WFLC Music Director, Dia Ryan, followed by the newest member of the HITS 97.3 on-air team, Carolina Calix, a Miami native who grew up in Little Havana.
“The entire HITS 97.3 on-air team represents the passion, culture and soul of South Florida,” said Jill Strada, Director of Operations, who launched the station in 2014. “HITS 97.3 will continue to serve our community while staying on the cutting edge of everything pop culture. HITS 97.3 had its South Florida facelift and is now ready to show off its new glow!”
Strada now hands off the day-to-day programming of HITS 97.3 to incoming Director of Branding and Programming Ian “Slacker” Richards, who starts in July. Richards was most recently APD/afternoon personality at Entercom AC WDZH (98.7 The Breeze)/Detroit until December. “Ian is a smart, passionate and competitive programmer,” Strada said. “I feel confident he is going to tackle Miami’s competitive Top 40 market and lead HITS 97.3’s talented on-air team to number one!”
Richards remarked, “I’m grateful for this opportunity in Miami and want to thank Ralph Renzi, Jill Strada, Tim Clarke, Steve Smith and Jeremy Rice. “I can’t wait to work with this amazing Cox Media Group team and help take HITS 97.3 to the next level.”
Richards started his career in 2003 in Flint, MI as an intern at Townsquare Classic Rock WQUS; two years later he crossed the hall to Rhythmic WRCL (Club 93.7) as MD and night jock. In 2010, while still working at WRCL, Richards started doing part-time at then CBS Radio Top 40 WDZH (98.7 AMP Radio)/Detroit, and in March of 2012, was hired as AMP Radio’s fulltime MD/afternoon drive host. He was awarded APD stripes in October 2015 and later upped to PD. He stayed on as APD after the station’s Nov. 2018 conversion to Soft AC as 98.7 The Breeze.
