New Day Dawns @ WKQX/Chicago

• UPDATED: It’s official — Cumulus Alternative WKQX/Chicago is set to launch a new morning show next Monday, Dec. 10 — The KQX Morning Crew will be hosted by Brian Haddad, Ali Matta and Executive Producer Justin Nettlebeck. For Haddad (center), the move is a radio homecoming — he’s the artist formerly known as “Sludge” during an earlier Windy City radio run that included the old Q101 as well as the former WRCX (Rock 103.5) and WZZN (94.7 The Zone). Since 2012 he’s been working at Entercom Sports-Talk WIP-FM/Philadelphia as Creative Director and on-air host.

Ali Matta (Mattacola, left) most recently co-hosted The Half-Assed Morning Show with Nick, Josh & Ali at Cumulus Active Rock sister KXXR (93X)/Minneapolis until August, and Nettlebeck previously produced the syndicated Free Beer & Hot Wings Morning Show, based at WGRD/Grand Rapids, MI. A fourth full-time contributor is expected to be named in January.

Current WKQX morning host Brian Phillips, who has been flying solo since his co-host Lou Lombardo was downsized earlier this year, will stay on in a part-time, weekend and swing-shift role, and he remains producer and host of ALT_Backspace, which airs Sunday mornings from 10am-noon on WKQX.

Marv Nyren, VP/Market Manager of Cumulus Media Chicago, said, “Because of our belief in on-air talent and building long-term relationships with the audience, we are thrilled to bring Chicago a team of performers who will entertain and excite listeners every day. The unique combination of Brian, Ali and Justin will give Chicagoans a partner when waking up, eating breakfast, driving to work or simply looking for fun in the mornings.”

Troy Hanson, who juggles the multiple roles of PD of WKQX, VP of Operations for Cumulus Chicago, and corporate VP of Rock Programming, commented, “Timing is everything. We’ve been eying Brian, Ali and Justin as individuals for quite a while now and the timing was right to bring their incredible talents together to create a compelling, funny, what people are talking about type of show. The market is ripe for a show that can deliver on those attributes and we plan on doing so every day with The KQX Morning Crew. The time is now.”