Shawn Tempesta is back in Las Vegas mornings. The veteran personality officially launched “The Shawn Show” today on Audacy CHR 98.5 KLUC.
What We Know: Tempesta brings deep Las Vegas roots to his new role. He spent a decade at Audacy sister station Mix 94.1 KMXB as APD and afternoon host before leaving in late 2021. He then moved to Beasley Hot AC 102.7 VGS, hosting mornings from June 2022 until the station’s frequency swap last November. Most recently, he co-hosted mornings at Beasley Classic Hits 96.3 KKLZ before exiting in February.
What’s at Stake: KLUC is betting on a familiar face to stabilize a morning show in transition. Chet Buchanan held the morning chair for 25 years before departing in February. Former co-host Mikalah Gordon then carried mornings solo before shifting to middays just last month. Continuity and ratings momentum are both on the line.
What Remains Unclear: No details have surfaced yet about Tempesta’s supporting cast or show format. It’s also unknown whether KLUC plans to expand the show’s footprint across other Audacy properties. Additionally, how quickly the new show builds an audience in a competitive Las Vegas market remains to be seen.
What It Means: Las Vegas is a tough market, and morning radio there demands a personality with real local credibility. Tempesta has that. His ties to KMXB, KVGS, KKLZ, and even television via KTNV-TV’s “The Morning Blend” give him unusual cross-platform name recognition. Audacy is clearly prioritizing market familiarity over outside talent — and in this case, that’s a smart play.
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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.