The Buzz switches from gospel to talk

story by CincyMobile
by John Kieswette

November 15, 2010

"The Buzz of Cincinnati" was buzzing with talk again Monday.

Radio One's WDBZ-AM (1230) dropped gospel music after two years, and returned to the African-American talk format that launched the station 10 years ago.

"We're back!" proclaimed on-air promotions Monday, when the syndicated Tom Joyner, Bev Smith and the Rev. Al Sharpton shows resumed.

"Everybody loves it, and I'm as happy as a lark," said Lincoln Ware, who had been hosting a 10 a.m.-2 p.m. talk show surrounded by syndicated gospel music shows since September 2008.

The station ranked No. 24 in October (of 37 stations here) with a 0.7 percent audience share while competing with a half-dozen Christian music stations here.

"We thought we'd be better to go with African-American talk, since no one else is doing it," said Steve Harris, the Radio One executive named operations manager in June. "Going back to our roots is good for us, and good for the community."

The station dropped shows hosted by Dennis McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Co Co Brother and P. Ann Everson Price.

The new lineup:

6-10 a.m.: Tom Joyner (simulcast with sister station WMOJ-FM 100.3).
10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Lincoln Ware
2-4 p.m.: Al Sharpton (will be expanded to 5 p.m. soon)
4-7 p.m.: "Best of Lincoln Ware" reruns until finding a permanent drive-time show.
7-10 p.m.: Bev Smith
10 p.m.-1 a.m.: Warren Ballentine.

Nathan Ivie, Ken Anderson, Michelle Graves and Christopher Smitherman will continue to host Saturday shows, says Jeri Tolliver, program director.