Programming changes, new hosts & promotions at KEXP

AAA/alternative 90.3 KEXP has announced a number of changes to it’s programming & the promotion of some of it’s programmers into newly created positions at the station.  In a press release issued today the station states:

Today, Seattle-based public radio station and nonprofit arts organization KEXP is announcing several upcoming programming changes that will bring a wider range of DJ voices, experiences, and expertise to its radio programming. Also announced are changes to KEXP’s creative and content teams, including the addition of two new full-time leadership positions in music curation and editorial direction, and the expansion of several production roles. These changes will serve as an initial public step in advancing KEXP’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization, and are aimed at making the station’s music programming stronger overall.

Programming changes go into effect beginning at 12 AM (Pacific) on July 27th, and include:

• An updated radio programming schedule and the addition of KEXP DJs Gabriel Teodros and Larry Mizell, Jr. to weekday daytime slots; 5 – 7 AM for Teodros, 1 – 4 PM for Mizell
• Larry Mizell, Jr. will become Director of Editorial; Gabriel Teodros will become Associate Music Director
• The introduction of Overnight Afrobeats, a new specialty show focused on Afrobeats music, hosted by Seattle DJ and musician Lace Cadence
• The introduction of Mechanical Breakdown, a new show focusing on dark wave and post-punk, hosted by long-time KEXP DJ Sharlese Metcalf
• Albina Cabrera will become co-host of KEXP’s modern Latin music program, El Sonido, beginning in the fall, and will join the station full time as Latin American Content Producer
• KEXP welcomes Reverend Dollars as a host of Overnight
• Street Sounds, KEXP’s weekly rap/hip-hop show, will be hosted by a rotating roster of DJs, to be introduced in the coming weeks

“Music is sacred,” said Larry Mizell, Jr., incoming host of the Afternoon Show, which moves to weekdays, 1 to 4 PM Pacific Monday through Friday. “There’s nothing more exciting to me than sharing music, and I’m beyond excited to get to do that all week with our listeners. Some may know me chiefly from doing Street Sounds—but doing a variety mix, with all the palettes and possibilities for fun and exploration, has always been my favorite kind of challenge.”

                              Gabrielle Teodros (Photo: KEXP)                                  Larry Mizell Jr. (Photo: KEXP)

Along with new daily radio hosting duties, Larry Mizell, Jr. will be elevated to Director of Editorial, a new role that will guide online and social content and organization-wide editorial content strategy. Mizell will also replace John Richards as co-host on Sound & Vision, KEXP’s arts and public affairs podcast and weekly radio program and podcast, and serve as a member of station leadership on KEXP’s Executive Team. “With five mornings a week I’m excited about all the special programming I never had time to do on the overnight show,” said Gabriel Teodros, who will host Early on KEXP weekdays 5 to 7 AM Pacific, Monday through Friday. “I’m excited about having recurring themes focused on voices we don’t hear enough from. Spotlighting different artists, and regions, and using music to respond in real-time to what’s going on in the world. Always bringing it back to connection, healing, and lifting up voices of the underheard. It’s that morning coffee.” Teodros will also join the station full-time as Associate Music Director, where he will bring his wide-ranging experience as an independent artist and DJ to further advance the curation of KEXP’s music catalogue and bring more music from under-invited communities to the forefront of KEXP’s programming. 

Albina Cabrera (Photo: KEXP)                                            Sharlese Metcalf (Photo: KEXP)

Each of KEXP’s current weekday daytime shows will be reduced by one hour to accommodate the new schedule. The Morning Show hosted by KEXP Director of Programming John Richards will move to 7 to 10 AM, the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters moves to 10 AM to 1 PM, and Kevin Cole will move to 4 to 7 PM in a new slot called Drive Time. New roles for established KEXP contributors Sharlese Metcalf and Albina Cabrera are also a key component of this new programming plan. Sharlese Metcalf will host Mechanical Breakdown, a new weekly one-hour program focused on dark wave, post-punk, synth and other styles, airing late Sunday/early Monday, 1 to 2 AM Pacific. Albina Cabrera, a radio host, content producer, and music publicist from Argentina, will become a permanent co-host of El Sonido, KEXP’s weekly modern Latin music program, beginning in the fall. In addition, she will take a full-time role leading strategy and content development for cross-platform Spanish-language and bilingual content and coverage of Ibero-American music as Latin American Content Producer. In this role, Cabrera will help guide the organization’s engagement with an expansive and rapidly growing Spanish-speaking audience. KEXP will also be adding a new show focused on Afrobeats, hosted by Seattle DJ and musician Lace Cadence. In addition, veteran KEXP DJ Riz Rollins will move from Monday late-night to Drive Time, 4 to 7 PM Pacific. Reverend Dollars (AKA Renee Jarreau) will join KEXP as Overnight host, late Wednesday/early Thursday 1 to 5 AM. 

Reverend Dollars (Photo: KEXP)                                          Lace Cadence (Photo: KEXP)

                                                     The new KEXP radio schedule:

All times Pacific, and all shows available on-demand for listening any time in the 2-week streaming archive at KEXP.ORG and the KEXP Apps

• New programming schedule begins on July 27th at at the transition from Sunday night to Monday morning, with Midnight in a Perfect World in its new timeslot.
• New weekday programming lineup:
  • 5 – 7 AM – Early with Gabriel Teodros
  • 7 – 10 AM – The Morning Show with John Richards
  • 10 AM – 1 PM – The Midday Show with Cheryl Waters
  • 1 – 4 PM – The Afternoon Show with Larry Mizell, Jr.
  • 4 – 7 PM – Drive Time with Kevin Cole (Tues-Fri) and Riz (Mon)
• Weekday Specialty Shows El Sonido, Wo’Pop, The Roadhouse, Swingin’ Doors, and Friday Night move one hour later to 7 – 10 PM each weeknight. Street Sounds moves one hour later to 10 PM – 1 AM on Friday nights, and will be hosted by a rotating roster of DJs to be announced soon.
• El Sonido gains a co-host in Latin Content Producer Albina Cabrera, beginning in the fall. Midnight in a Perfect World, KEXP’s weekly one-hour guest mix show, moves to late Sunday/early Monday at midnight.
• The addition of Mechanical Breakdown, a new weekly one-hour mix, spanning decades and exploring the realms of synth, wave, industrial, new beat, EBM and post punk from around the world.
  • 1 – 2 AM late Sunday/early Monday
  • Hosted by Sharlese Metcalf
• The addition of Overnight Afrobeats, a new specialty show focusing on Afrobeats
  • 1 – 3 AM late Friday/early Saturday
  • Hosted by Lace Cadence
• KEXP welcomes Reverend Dollars as weekly host for Overnight, 1 – 5 AM late Wednesday/early Thursday
• Larry Mizell, Jr. will replace John Richards as co-host of Sound & Vision
• Weekday night schedules include a 1-hour reduction for KEXP at Night and Overnight; KEXP at Night now airs 10 PM – 1 AM M-Th, and Overnight is now 1AM – 5 AM M-Th.
• Riz Rollins moves to Monday evening to host Drive Time, 4 – 7 PM
• DJ Miss Ashley becomes the new permanent host on Sunday early afternoons, Noon – 3 PM
• Stevie Zoom will move to KEXP at Night, Thursday, 10 PM – 1 AM
• Sean Morrow moves to KEXP at Night, Monday, 10 PM – 1 AM

More information on hosts in the new KEXP lineup available here.