Spring doesn’t officially start until next week. But we couldn’t wait that long to officially announce something we’ve been eagerly anticipating like leaves on the trees, blooms on the flowers and that first drink on the patio with friends.
Today, we’re revealing an explosion of growth at 88Nine and HYFIN — new faces, new shows and new places for some of your favorite familiar faces (and voices). To continue the springtime metaphor, we’ve spent a lot of time in the dirt preparing for this moment and are proud to share the fruits of our labor with you right now.
Going national (while staying local)
This may come as a surprise to a lot of listeners, but Radio Milwaukee is and always has been a proud member of the public-radio community. For years, we’ve been an NPR member station and had just about every person on our team contribute to NPR in some way, from Tarik Moody appearing regularly on All Songs Considered to Kenny Perez producing an episode of Alt.Latino.
Today, we take another step in that relationship. Starting this Sunday, both of those shows — along with World Cafe and Jazz Night in America — are joining the program schedules for 88Nine and HYFIN. We’re creating an entire day devoted to music discovery that also includes our existing locally fueled shows: What’s All This with Erin Wolf, Sound Travels with Marcus Doucette and Rhythm Lab with Tarik Moody. On top of that, you’ll hear two newcomers in La Alternativa with Kenny Perez and Mic Drop Moments with Element Everest-Blanks.
88Nine Sunday schedule
- Noon — Conversations from the World Cafe
- 1 p.m. — Sheroes
- 2 p.m. — What’s All This with Erin Wolf
- 3 p.m. — Sound Opinions
- 4 p.m. — All Songs Considered
- 4:30 p.m. — Alt.Latino
- 5 p.m. — La Alternativa with Kenny Perez
- 6 p.m. — Sound Travels with Marcus Doucette
- 8 p.m. — Mic Drop Moments with Element
- 9 p.m. — Rhythm Lab with Tarik Moody
- 11 p.m. — Jazz Night in America
HYFIN Sunday schedule
- 5 p.m. — Jazz Night in America
- 6 p.m. — Rhythm Lab
- 8 p.m. — Mic Drop Moments
- 9 p.m. — Sound Travels
- 10 p.m. — La Alternativa
- 11 p.m. — Alt.Latino
“For the past decade, NPR Music has set the standard for new-music discovery,” 88Nine senior program director Jordan Lee said. “From their widely popular Tiny Desk Concerts to nationally syndicated programs like All Songs Considered, NPR Music defines new-music discovery in the 21st century.
“We've been excited to contribute to NPR Music for years, but our new Sunday programming is solidifying an even deeper relationship with the brand and bringing NPR Music excellence to Milwaukee. “
A bigger Radio Milwaukee family
We’re getting stronger inside our Walker’s Point studios as well thanks to the newest members of the on-air staff.
For starters, you may have heard a couple of the “new” folks in other places around Radio Milwaukee. Longtime Uniquely Milwaukee host Salam Fatayer and production manager Kim Shine have been two of the biggest contributors on the digital side of things, and now they’ll be on the air for 88Nine and HYFIN, respectively.
Joining them are Carolann Grzybowski, Britt Gottschalk and Mallorey Wallace on the 88Nine side, and Megan Mathews for HYFIN. All four of those additions have already spent a lot of time in the building getting ready, and you’ll have the chance to get to know them as they slide into the program schedule starting Monday, March 18.
Here’s when you can find them on the air:
88Nine’s new on-air hosts
- Salam Fatayer: Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m.
- Carolann Grzybowski: Weekdays from 9 p.m. to midnight
- Britt Gottschalk: Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m.
- Mallorey Wallace: Weekends from 6 to 9 a.m.
HYFIN’s new on-air hosts
- Kim Shine: Weekdays from 8 p.m. to midnight
- Megan Mathews: Weekends from noon to 5 p.m.
“Growing HYFIN’s on-air staff and programming in ways that reflect HYFIN’s listenership is exciting and rewarding,” said Tarik Moody, who will spend a little less time behind the mic and much more time in his role as Radio Milwaukee digital director. “Megan Mathews and Kim Shine will both bring on-air shows that resonate with our next generation of listeners, and I look forward to supporting and leading HYFIN behind the scenes.”
The best part about all of this is that when you tune into 88Nine and HYFIN, both stations will still be powered by the sounds you’ve come to know and love as part of your day-to-day. So, whether you’re a longtime listener or discovering us for the first time, enjoy everything we’re doing at Radio Milwaukee as we move forward to the next generation of public media.
