Radio One Houston is reshuffling its programming leadership. Yonni Rude now oversees operations in both Houston and Dallas.
What We Know: Radio One promoted Yonni Rude to operations manager for Houston and Dallas. Named Dallas operations manager in late September, he previously served as program director of Houston’s KBXX and KMJQ. Meanwhile, afternoon host Benjamin “Madd Hatta” Thompson succeeds him as program director of Houston’s Adult R&B “Majic 102.1” KMJQ. India “Queen Indy Bee” Brewton adds assistant program director and music director duties there. She already holds those roles at Dallas’ “105.7 R&B” KRNB.
At Houston’s Hip Hop “97.9 The Box” KBXX, morning host DJ J-Que becomes program director. Likewise, Theodore “Big Bink” Turner moves from program director of Dallas’ “97.9 The Beat” KBFB to assistant program director of KBFB and KBXX. Additionally, Hollyhood Bay Bay, who hosts afternoons at Dallas’ K104 KKDA, will also air on The Box in Houston. The Bay Bay Show will run weekdays from 2 to 7 p.m., starting Oct. 19.
What They Said: “I’m excited about the opportunity to lead the programming efforts across both Houston and Dallas, working alongside the talented teams in each market to showcase the best voices, personalities, and content our cities have to offer.” – Yonni Rude
“Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes our vision, our talent, and the way we think about radio! These changes reflect our commitment to delivering fresh, relevant, and engaging content that speaks to the unique spirit of the communities we serve while continuing to push our brands forward.” –Doug Abernethy, Regional Vice President for Radio One
What Remains Unclear: Radio One’s announcement doesn’t say whether J-Que will keep hosting Good Morning H-Town as program director. Likewise, it doesn’t explain whether Bay Bay’s show will be simulcast from Dallas or tailored for Houston. Additionally, the company hasn’t detailed how Rude will split his time between both markets.
What It Means: Radio One is tightening programming oversight across its two biggest Texas markets. Promoting on-air veterans also signals a talent-first approach. Furthermore, Bay Bay’s arrival in Houston shows the company will move talent between clusters when it sees a fit. As a result, listeners in both cities could hear more coordinated branding and shared music strategies.
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