Resignations‚ suspensions and quotas. Metro FM has been hit by several big changes over the last few months‚ leaving the station remarkably different.
April is normally the month that radio stations make major changes to their line-ups but Metro FM has in recent weeks had to implement some of the biggest changes in the channel’s recent history‚ following the resignation of some of its most popular DJs.
Phat Joe
Metro FM fans were shocked to learn this week that popular DJ Phat Joe decided to leave the station for a drive time slot at East Coast Radio.
“This is a really exciting opportunity for me. Not only will I get to chill in Durban‚ but I also get to interact with the cool listeners of East Coast Radio on a daily basis. I think we are going to have a lot of fun together‚” Joe said of his move.
Tbo Touch
Less than two months before this bombshell‚ the station was rocked by news that one of its most famous faces‚ Tbo Touch‚ had resigned. In a letter to the SABC‚ the DJ thanked the broadcaster for its support.
As fans speculated who would replace him‚ the DJ dropped small hints at his future plans before finally announcing his next project‚ South Africa’s first ever 24-hour online music channel‚ Touch Central.
Refiloe Mpakanyane
Just as fans were coming to terms with Touch’s resignation‚ his right hand lady‚ Refiloe Mpakanyane‚ announced her own resignation from the station‚ in order to pursue other opportunities around the world.
Suspensions
The station has been hit by several suspensions over the last few months‚ including by two of the DJs who eventually left the station.
Touch and Pearl Thusi have all spent time in the station’s naughty corner over the last few months‚ with Touch and Joe now having left and Pearl’s future at the station still under a cloud after bagging a US TV gig.
Touch’s suspension came after the DJ was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a fellow staff member and refusing to read advertisements on air — allegations that he denied.
The replacements
Metro FM tried to plug the holes after Tbo Touch’s resignation by shuffling their line-up and bringing in several big names.
Mo Flava and Lerato Kganyago were brought in to replace Touch‚ while Somizi‚ Ntombi Mzolo and Khanyi Mbau were brought in to host a mid-morning show on the station.
The jury is still out on whether either of those changes have been a success. Mo and Lerato’s show has received largely positive reviews‚ while social media criticism rocked the first few days of the show hosted by Somizi‚ Ntombi and Khanyi.
90% quota
Perhaps all of these changes have been made under the cloud that is the 90% music quota‚ implemented by SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng in May.
The quota meant that much of the station’s playlists had to be ripped up and redrawn to include more local content.
The quota made headlines and has often been rumoured to be a bone of contention at both the station and the broadcaster.
Mass exodus: The changing face of Metro FM
Resignations‚ suspensions and quotas. Metro FM has been hit by several big changes over the last few months‚ leaving the station remarkably different.
April is normally the month that radio stations make major changes to their line-ups but Metro FM has in recent weeks had to implement some of the biggest changes in the channel’s recent history‚ following the resignation of some of its most popular DJs.
Phat Joe
Metro FM fans were shocked to learn this week that popular DJ Phat Joe decided to leave the station for a drive time slot at East Coast Radio.
“This is a really exciting opportunity for me. Not only will I get to chill in Durban‚ but I also get to interact with the cool listeners of East Coast Radio on a daily basis. I think we are going to have a lot of fun together‚” Joe said of his move.
Tbo Touch
Less than two months before this bombshell‚ the station was rocked by news that one of its most famous faces‚ Tbo Touch‚ had resigned. In a letter to the SABC‚ the DJ thanked the broadcaster for its support.
As fans speculated who would replace him‚ the DJ dropped small hints at his future plans before finally announcing his next project‚ South Africa’s first ever 24-hour online music channel‚ Touch Central.
Refiloe Mpakanyane
Just as fans were coming to terms with Touch’s resignation‚ his right hand lady‚ Refiloe Mpakanyane‚ announced her own resignation from the station‚ in order to pursue other opportunities around the world.
Suspensions
The station has been hit by several suspensions over the last few months‚ including by two of the DJs who eventually left the station.
Touch and Pearl Thusi have all spent time in the station’s naughty corner over the last few months‚ with Touch and Joe now having left and Pearl’s future at the station still under a cloud after bagging a US TV gig.
Touch’s suspension came after the DJ was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with a fellow staff member and refusing to read advertisements on air — allegations that he denied.
The replacements
Metro FM tried to plug the holes after Tbo Touch’s resignation by shuffling their line-up and bringing in several big names.
Mo Flava and Lerato Kganyago were brought in to replace Touch‚ while Somizi‚ Ntombi Mzolo and Khanyi Mbau were brought in to host a mid-morning show on the station.
The jury is still out on whether either of those changes have been a success. Mo and Lerato’s show has received largely positive reviews‚ while social media criticism rocked the first few days of the show hosted by Somizi‚ Ntombi and Khanyi.
90% quota
Perhaps all of these changes have been made under the cloud that is the 90% music quota‚ implemented by SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng in May.
The quota meant that much of the station’s playlists had to be ripped up and redrawn to include more local content.
The quota made headlines and has often been rumoured to be a bone of contention at both the station and the broadcaster.
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