ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — One of the most recognized morning show hosts in Tampa Bay’s modern radio history will shift to afternoon drive on Monday, Oct. 5.
Why in the world would Mason Dixon acquiesce his long-standing role as a “morning Mayor” in a city that’s heard his voice since the days of the “Q-Zoo”?
It has everything to do with another well-known morning host who owes his career to Tampa, and who later went on to a successful career as a conservative Talk show host.
Todd Schnitt, who many recall for his time in Top 40 radio as “MJ Kelli,” will take over the morning show on Beasley Media Group‘s Classic Hits WRBQ-FM “Q105” in Tampa-St. Petersburg, with Dixon shifting to the 2pm-7pm slot.
It all takes place a week from Monday, and brings an all-new MJ Morning Show to local airwaves.
As MJ Kelli, Schnitt enjoyed morning show duties at WOVV-FM “Star 95.5” in West Palm Beach until being “promoted” to similar duties at WFLZ-FM 93.3 in Tampa, then “The Power Pig.” He was teamed with B.J. Harris until February 2001; in February 2012 MJ Kelli’s career in music radio came to a close.
That’s because The Schnitt Show — a Talk show hosted by Schnitt as Schnitt — had found an audience in Tampa since its January 2002 debut. That spoken word success led Schnitt to the morning shift at iHeart Talker WOR-AM in New York.
Today, The Schnitt Show continues, and will still air each day through a syndication agreement with Compass Media Networks.
“The MJ Morning show was the highest rated morning show for 25 years and we’re thrilled to continue the legacy on Q105,” said Beasley Media Group Chief Content Officer Justin Chase. “He’ll be bringing back some of the classic benchmarks that listeners will remember as well as adding new content that will build upon the already huge MJ Morning Show fan base.”
Beasley Media Group/Tampa VP/Market Manager Steve Triplett added, “For nearly two decades, the people of Tampa Bay welcomed this show into their lives and made it one of the most successful content franchises in the history of the market. I can’t think of a better time to return this first-class entertainment experience back to the people of Tampa Bay.”
Meanwhile, Mason Dixon is returning to his roots at Q105: From 1978 through the 1980s, Dixon was in afternoon drive. It is only in recent incarnations of WRBQ that he is remembered for mornings — once the home of Scott Shannon and Cleveland Wheeler.
Dixon’s move to afternoon results in the shift of Geno Knight to middays.
Current midday host Roxanne Wilder will be taking on a new role as part of the New MJ Morning Show lineup, with “Froggy” and “Fester” returning to roles they had in the show’s previous incarnation at WFLZ.
