Pillar Media revamps lineups at three Christian AC stations. Skip Mahaffey exits as Creative Director and morning host.
What We Know Mahaffey’s departure triggers major format shifts across 93.3 WAKW (Cincinnati), 99.1 WAWZ (New Jersey), and 101.5 KSRC (Denver). Kristen James transitions to middays across all three outlets. The Brant Hanson Show returns to morning drive from its previous midday slot. Chad Mitchell continues afternoons (3–7 p.m.), while the Kevin & Amy Show anchors evenings. James started as an intern at WAWZ and climbed through promotions, weekends, and weekend hosting before co-hosting mornings in April 2020. Mahaffey spent seven years in mornings at K-Love, building a deep country radio pedigree across Dallas, Tampa, Columbus, and markets nationwide.
What’s at Stake The morning show restructure risks disrupting audience loyalty built since September 2024. Mahaffey told HisAir he took pride in “an incredible staff.” James’s move to middays positions her as a key afternoon voice. The Christian AC format increasingly depends on syndication, and reshuffling on-air talent creates temporary instability. Ratings continuity becomes critical as Brant Hanson’s return competes for listeners accustomed to Mahaffey’s approach.
What Remains Unclear The reason for Mahaffey’s exit remains unconfirmed. Whether Pillar will promote internally or recruit external talent for future leadership roles stays unknown. James’s Music Director responsibilities transition unanswered. Audience reaction to syndicated programming replacing locally-created content remains to be measured.
What It Means Pillar Media signals confidence in established syndicated content over unproven morning partnerships. Market stability depends on whether listeners follow James to middays. This shift reflects broader Christian radio’s reliance on proven talent and format consistency over experimental programming strategies.
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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.