Dennis Malloy is coming back. The longtime New Jersey 101.5 midday voice returns July 13, reuniting with co-host Judi Franco at WKXW Trenton.
What We Know: Malloy stepped into a part-time fill-in role last July after a 32-year run at WKXW, mostly paired with Franco. Now, just 11 months later, he slides back into his old midday timeslot. His career began in 1976 at 1580 WRDI Hammonton, NJ, and included stops in Hartford and Philadelphia at WIP, Sunny 104.5 WSNI, and Kiss 100 WKSZ before landing at WKXW.
What’s at Stake: Malloy’s return signals that the Franco-and-Malloy brand still carries serious commercial weight for Townsquare. Meanwhile, his successor Eric “EJ” Johnson steps into an Operations Manager role with broader programming responsibilities across Townsquare New Jersey. Johnson also picks up weekend music shows and a fill-in talk role. Stability at a heritage Talk/Classic Hits station like NJ 101.5 matters greatly to advertisers and long-loyal listeners alike.
What Remains Unclear: No one has publicly explained what prompted Malloy’s relatively quick return after less than a year away. It’s also uncertain whether this new arrangement is long-term or a short-term fix. Additionally, Johnson’s full programming scope across the cluster still needs further definition.
What It Means: This move underscores how difficult it truly is to replace established talent with deep audience roots. Townsquare gets Malloy back in a proven role while simultaneously elevating Johnson into broader leadership. Together, both decisions reflect a confident, strategic bet on strengthening New Jersey 101.5’s long-term position in market.
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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.
