Change is coming to Hot AC 97.3 WMEE in Fort Wayne. Federated Media is reshuffling its on-air lineup starting Monday, July 20.
What We Know: WMEE will add Compass Media Networks’ syndicated morning show Anna & Raven to the 5-10am slot. As a result, current morning host Brooklyne Beatty moves to middays, covering 10am to 2pm. Beatty joined WMEE in February 2022, bringing experience from News/Talk WTRC-FM in South Bend and Hot AC WAOR in Ligonier, IN. Boomer remains in afternoons, providing continuity in that daypart.
What’s at Stake: The shift to a syndicated morning show reflects a broader industry trend toward cost management. Local morning talent is expensive, and syndicated options offer stations a proven product at reduced cost. For Beatty, the move to middays keeps her on the air and preserves her presence with Fort Wayne listeners. The station’s overall brand continuity depends heavily on how smoothly the transition lands with the audience.
What Remains Unclear: It’s unknown whether additional daypart changes are planned beyond what’s been announced. Furthermore, no details have emerged about how WMEE will position Anna & Raven locally in Fort Wayne. The long-term strategy for the station’s local identity also remains an open question following recent departures.
What It Means: This lineup shift follows the late May departures of OM/PD Jimmy Knight and midday host Dan, signaling a period of significant transition at WMEE. Replacing local morning talent with syndication is a meaningful philosophical choice. However, retaining Beatty in middays suggests Federated Media still values local voices on the air. How Fort Wayne listeners respond will ultimately determine whether this strategy pays off.
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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.