iHeartMedia Washington D.C. & Baltimore made it official today. The Fred Show, Premiere Networks’ nationally syndicated morning program, lands on Hot 99.5 and Z104.3 starting April 30. Listeners catch it live on weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m.
The show first launched in 2011. Fred leads a cast that includes Kaelin, Keke, Paulina, Showbiz Shelly, and Jason Brown. The chemistry and unpredictability keep fans loyal. Veteran morning host Rose stays on alongside The Fred Show.
Fred didn’t hold back his excitement: “I still can’t believe the call,” he said. “We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of mornings in DC and Baltimore. These cities and stations are home to a legacy of remarkable voices, and we’re honored for the chance to earn our place among them.”
Jeff Kapugi, Region Senior Vice President of Programming, also weighed in.
“We’re thrilled to welcome The Fred Show to Hot 99.5 and Z104.3,” Kapugi said. “We’ve been fans for years, and we can’t wait for our audience to discover the energy, humor, and connection that make this show so special.”
The move follows iHeartMedia’s recent programming shakeup across both stations. Intern John exited HOT 99.5 and Z104.3 earlier this month amid a broader company-wide round of layoffs.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
