Hubbard KPNW/Seattle has hired former KUAD/Fort Collins, CO morning co-host Tanner Chambers to host the new Tanner & Friends morning show, which debuted today (1/5). He succeeds Fitz, who stepped down from the role at the end of the year (CAT 12/16/25). "Tanner brings heart, relatability and a genuine love for this region," says OM/Brand Content Dir. Scott Mahalick. "He sounds like the PNW because he is born here, raised here and now works here.” Chambers departed KUAD in November (CAT 11/24/25) after two years. Before that, he spent four years in mornings at KFGY/Santa Rosa, CA.

Seattle Shift: Hubbard KPNW/Seattle morning host Fitz will discontinue tracking that shift effective Dec. 31. He has been heard on the station since its relaunch as a Country outlet last year (CAT 4/1/24), and previously did mornings from 2019-2021 when the station was known as KNUC. OM Scott Mahalick will reveal plans for the daypart early in the new year. KPNW will continue to carry The Country Top 40 With Fitz on weekends.

Kik It Up: Hubbard multi-format personality Tricia “TJ” Jenkins has added middays on KIKV/Alexandria, MN. Trent Layne moves from middays to afternoons in turn, replacing Jesse Tack, who had been handling the shift remotely. The Minneapolis-based Jenkins also handles afternoons on KPNW/Seattle, as well as middays on Hot AC KSTP/Minneapolis and Adult Hits WARH/St. Louis.

Contact Updates: Former PickleJar Up All Night host Patrick Thomas is out of contract with the company and looking for his next opportunity. Prior to hosting the show for two years (CAT 12/10/24), Thomas was Silverfish Media Pres. and nationally syndicated Big D & Bubba Exec. Prod./co-host; reach him here.

Former Hubbard KPNW/Seattle part-timer and events host Jonathan West is looking for his next opportunity. His previous stops include WKTI/Milwaukee and WUSN/Chicago; he can be reached here.
 

Sea To Shining SEA: Newly relaunched Hubbard KPNW/Seattle (CAT 4/1) has rounded out its weekday lineup. Sister WIRK/West Palm Beach morning co-host Chelsea Taylor is remotely handling middays, reprising the role she had on the station's previous KNUC incarnation, while sister WUBE/Cincinnati afternoon co-host Jesse Tack is covering nights. They join the on-air roster that already includes Fitz in mornings and B-Dub Radio in afternoons (CAT 4/9).

Dub Jà Vu: A custom version of Skyview Network's B-Dub Radio has been added to afternoon drive on the newly relaunched KPNW/Seattle (CAT 4/1), effectively returning Bryan "B-Dub" Washington to the same daypart he held on the station's previous incarnation as KNUC from 2020 to 2023. "We are bringing back all the pieces and parts that resulted in 98.9 The Bull earning a 'love' mark amongst the audience," says Hubbard/Seattle OM Scott Mahalick. In addition to afternoons, B-Dub Radio will also air on Saturday nights. The station posted video of morning host Fitz inviting B-Dub to join the station here. Reach Washington here.

Get the full story on how Seattle wound up with two new Country stations in one day from Mahalick and Lotus' James Kalmenson, read how WOGK/Gainesville been so successful for 30 years and go Off The Record with Chayce Beckham in Monday's (4/8) Country Aircheck Weekly.

Just four hours after Hubbard returned Country to KPNW/Seattle, Lotus Hot AC KPLZ will flip to gold-based Country at 2pm PT as "Hank FM" with Alan Jackson's "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" as the first song. Lotus owns 34 stations in Western states. This is just its second Country outlet following Classic Country KXZZ/Reno, NV, which just adopted the format last week (CAT 3/26). No word yet on staff for KPLZ.

Sleepless In Seattle: As reported via Breaking News, just four hours after Hubbard returned Country to KPNW/Seattle, crosstown Lotus Hot AC KPLZ flipped to gold-based Country at 2pm PT as "Hank FM." Pres. James Kalmenson says, “My father Howard Kalmenson, who founded Lotus in 1962, and I are thrilled to introduce a customized version of Hank FM specifically programmed to serve the vibrant Seattle-Tacoma community."

KPNW's flip to Country this morning at 10am PT, which was reported via Breaking News, and which OM/PD Scott Mahalick assured was not an April Fool's joke, returned "98.9 The Bull" to the market after just 14 months as Adult Alternative (CAT 2/14/23). The station will retain the KPNW call letters. Fitz, who hosted mornings in the market for 14 years, including on then-KNUC from 2019-2021, returns to that role. Says Hubbard/Seattle VP/MM Trip Reeb, "We understand the disappointment that our listeners felt when we made the switch from 98.9 The Bull to Adult Alternative. We want to make things right." Stream here.

Audacy KKWF, which started the day as Seattle's sole Country outlet, has led the market in seven of the last eight months, often notching record high shares in the process. It was the top commercial outlet with a 7.1 share in the February survey (PPM 3/19) and suddenly finds itself in a three-way battle. KPLZ had a 2.1 share last month, while KPNW had a 0.8. Seattle supported three Country FMs from 1994 to 1996 when KMPS, KRPM and KYCW were locked in a format battle until KMPS and KRPM came under common ownership.

Hubbard Adult Alternative KPNW/Seattle flipped to Country as "98.9 The Bull" at 10am PT today (4/1), returning the station to Country 14 months after flipping out of the format (CAT 2/14/23). The station will retain the KPNW call letters. Fitz, who hosted mornings on the station (then-KNUC) from 2019-2021, will return to that shift. “No, it’s not an April fool’s joke, 98.9 The Bull is back,” says OM Scott Mahalick. “With Fitz at the helm, we are excited to bring back the music that Seattle loves.” Stream here.