WAIO Changes The Station
• Stand by for the “official” announcement, but RAMP has gone ahead and confirmed that, after nearly four decades of manning the dawn patrol on Rochester, NY radio, a new chapter begins Monday on iHeartMedia Hot Talk WAIO (“The New Radio 95.1”) for market legend Brother Wease, who is unplugging from morning drive and moving into a newly created 9am-noon shift — just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of changes happening across the station’s weekday schedule. The syndicated Rover’s Morning Glory, which had been carried in afternoon drive, will move up into the 6-9am spot.
The 76-year-old Wease (left), whose given name is Alan Levin, will be joined on his new show by his wife, Doreen, along with station vets John DiTullio and Dale “Buda” Budziszewski, who had been anchoring the 11am-2pm shift.
The news first broke locally in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, as Wease explained that that it was time to reset his alarm, noting, “I’ve been getting up at 4:30 in the morning for work for 38 years.” Wease said he felt “very badly that people who have woken up with me for many, many years. But at the same time, I have many friends and acquaintances that used to listen to my show after 9am, because I used to go to 11. So, I feel bad for the morning people, but at least I didn’t retire.”
But wait! There’s more! Jeremy Newman, who does afternoons on sister WDVI (Country 100.5) and Bob Lonsberry, who anchors mornings across the hall on WHAM-AM (NewsRadio WHAM1180) will join forces to host a new noon-2pm show, cleverly dubbed… wait for it… Newman & Lonsberry. John DiTullio will have lunch and then circle back at 2pm, joined by Brother Wease’s former co-host Deanna King to bring you DiTullio & Deanna until 6pm. Capping off the new schedule from 6-10pm is The News Junkie, imported from sister WTKS (Real Radio 104.1)/Orlando.
