They will be on the new 100.5 rock station. Cumulus is moving Q100 to the stronger 99.7 signal.

This morning, Cumulus canned 99X's morning show, including original 99X morning host Leslie Fram and Jenners. They also ousted Steve Craig, the midday guy who has been there since 1992 as well. Axel and Matt C and Lewis appear to have survived.

99X has seen a steady decline in ratings and revenue since 2002, a victim of competition and the faltering fortunes of the alternative rock genre, plus an inability to put together a successful revamped morning show.

The Powers That Be at Cumulus haven't returned calls.

The Regular Guys on 96rock were the biggest male-oriented morning show in town until 2004, when a backward porn stunt went awry and they were fired. Clear Channel brought them back in 2005, but the ratings never quite got back to the levels pre-2004. Then they were fired a second time after Wachs aired a tape of the morning show at Viva 105.7 in the bathroom.

Ironically, both times after they were fired, Larry and Eric said they wouldn't work together ever again. But the pair are obviously more valuable together than separate.

Fram was instrumental in developing the sound of 99X and was part of the successful Morning X with Jimmy Baron and Steve Barnes in the '90s. Just this past November, she was rewarded a lifetime Achievement in Radio award at the March of Dimes annual radio banquet.

99X's departure will benefit Project 9-6-1 and Dave FM, for sure.

And just for fun, what I did for the parties involved, from my resume:

WKLS, Atlanta, Georgia

Morning Show Producer  10/99 - 02/01

·         Produced and performed rock morning show, Atlanta's "Regular Guys"          

·         Conducted exhaustive research for interesting topics for on-air use, booked guests, recorded field audio and maintained public service files among a host of other duties

·         Performed weekend shifts and numerous fill-ins, using Prophet Systems extensively

·         Endured systemic, ritualistic psychological abuse from egomaniacal morning drive team from KLSX-Los Angeles

WNNX (99X) Atlanta, Georgia

Morning Show Producer/Air Personality  07/03 – 07/05

·         Actively involved in conceptualization and creation of The Don Miller Morning Show with Fred Toucher, Jimmy Baron, and Leslie Fram

·         Full-time associate producer, for which duties included call screening, tertiary character casting, guest research/procurement, and stunting

·         Produced and performed benchmark segments, including Homeless Restaurant Review, and Calandro Gump

·         Coordinated logistics for remote broadcasts and live appearances

·         Anchored all Best of broadcasts, operated board for any and all remote broadcasts

·         Regularly-scheduled weekend airshift(s) with full commercial production load

·         Frequent promotional appearances/live broadcasts on behalf of station and its clients

WNNX/WWWQ, Atlanta, Georgia

Swing-shift/fill-in  07/01 – 07/03

·         Two regularly-scheduled weekend evening airshifts on 99X

·         Fill-in associate producer for The Morning X with Barnes, Leslie & Jimmy, for which duties included call screening, guest hospitality, and light  audio production

·         Primary back-up traffic reporter for both stations

·         Numerous airshift fill-ins, primarily evening shifts, occasionally midday and PM drive

·         Morning drive fills, in various capacities for The Best of the Morning X as board operator, news anchor, sports anchor, and traffic reporter

·         Occasional public appearance on behalf of station and its clients

So yeah.

Wait!  This just handed to me:

I just got punk'ed by Larry Wachs. He called me at 5:45 p.m. telling me he was resurrecting the Regular Guys at 100.5 with Eric Von Haessler. "It's astonishing," he said. "I'm feeling very good about it." I posted it at 6:15 p.m.

Then Cumulus executive VP John Dickey at 7:10 p.m. told me it was all a big joke that Larry was pulling. And yes, Larry confirmed it moments later. "I got to get a job. I need publicity!" Wachs said at 7:15 p.m. "I got nothing to lose." Wachs owes me on this one!

Anyway, here's what Dickey teased me about: that he likes former Star 94 morning hosts Steve & Vikki and is possibly going to bring them back once their noncompete is over in June to place them on 100.5, which will probably take the soft rock banner left by Lite in late 2006.

So, Rodney, got any verifiable news?

99X is going away. The more popular Q100 is going to move to the stronger 99.7 signal. The Bert Show, Q100's franchise, will simulcast on both signals the week of January 21 before 100.5 changes format. Dickey wouldn't say what the format is but my bet based on my conversation with him is it will be something like what Lite 94.9 used to be to grab older females.

The bottom line is they want Bert on a stronger signal to take on Star 94.

This morning, Cumulus canned 99X's morning show, including original 99X morning host Leslie Fram and Jenners. They also ousted Steve Craig, the midday guy who has been there since 1992 as well. I'm not sure what will happen to Axel and Matt C and Lewis. Craig, who wrote his 99X email account was shut down before he got home, said fans and friends can reach him at radioflyer99@yahoo.com.

Sooper.