iHeartMedia has made a significant personnel move in two major East Coast markets. Kelly Ford joins 98.7 WMZQ Washington DC and 93.1 WPOC Baltimore as Music Director and afternoon host.
What We Know: Ford steps into the afternoon daypart on both stations, airing weekdays from 3-7pm. She replaces Ty Bailey at WMZQ and Jeff St. Pierre at WPOC. Previously, Ford served as MD and afternoon host at Connoisseur Media’s 103.1 The Wolf WWWF in Bay Shore, NY. She also tracked afternoons for WFLS Fredericksburg, nights at KUPL Portland, and KBAY San Jose. Her career spans two decades at KYGO Denver and a stint hosting mornings at WNSH New York.
What They Said: Ford wasted no time expressing enthusiasm. “I’m so excited to plant my flag in the DMV and honored to join two iconic brands like WMZQ and WPOC as Music Director and Afternoon Host,” she said. “The cherry on top is getting to work with Jeff Kapugi — great timing in America’s 250th year.” Region SVP/Programming Jeff Kapugi added simply, “She’s special in so many ways.”
What Remains Unclear: No official start date has been announced for Ford’s first on-air appearance. Additionally, no details have emerged about whether her MD responsibilities will be handled independently at each station or jointly from a single market.
What It Means: It’s unclear whether these openings resulted from iHeart’s recent reductions or other departures. Regardless, the company is actively backfilling positions and the search for new talent is clearly underway. This hire suggests iHeart remains committed to staffing heritage country brands at a high level. Either way, expect more moves like this as the network works to restabilize its programming roster.ponsibilities under one voice.
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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.