The husband and wife duo of Chris O’Brien and Janeen Coyle will retire from mornings at Cumulus Media Classic Hits 103.5 WGRR Cincinnati on Friday, December 22.
The couple have been married for 38 years and have co-hosted mornings at WGRR together for the past 28 years. O’Brien first arrived in Cincinnati in 1974 and outside of a brief stint at WMET Chicago in 1977-78, has been in the market since then. He spent thirteen years at “Q102” 101.9 WKRQ and joined WGRR in 1991. Prior to Cincinnati, O’Brien had stints at WHK and WIXY Cleveland, Chattanooga, and his native South Carolina. Janeen began her career at WKRQ in 1979 spending time in overnights, middays, and afternoons through 1988. After stints hosting “Chick Talk” and co-hosting mornings at 550 WKRC, she would join her husband in mornings at WGRR in 1995.
Cumulus Media (NASDAQ: CMLS) announces that Chris O’Brien and Janeen Coyle, Cincinnati radio fixtures and longtime On-Air Hosts of the Married with Microphones morning show on 103.5 WGRR-FM, will retire from radio at year-end. The dynamic on-air duo shared their news on-air this morning with listeners. O’Brien and Coyle were honored by the National Association of Broadcasters with a 2022 Marconi Radio Award for Large Market Personality of the Year. Their last day on-air will be Friday, December 22, 2023.
Married for 38 years, Chris O’Brien has been with WGRR since 1991 and Janeen Coyle joined him in 1995 to do the morning show. O’Brien and Coyle met in 1979 while both worked at WKRQ. Chris has been named Best Radio Voice by Cincinnati Magazine and was a Billboard Personality of the Year nominee. Janeen joined WKRQ in 1979 while attending the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music, and hosted overnights and middays, later moving to afternoon drive where she remained until 1988. Janeen went on to host the popular Chick Talk show on talk radio, and co-hosted morning drive on WKRC until she joined Chris on WGRR mornings in 1995, forming a unique husband and wife on-air team. The successful pairing led to a daily live morning radio segment on WCPO-TV for several years.
Throughout their brilliant careers, Chris and Janeen have remained deeply involved in the Cincinnati community, appearing at fundraising events and supporting the Arthritis Foundation, SPCA, Diabetes Association, Breast Cancer Awareness, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Cincinnati Association for the Blind, School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Cincinnati Arts Association and Kindervelt, among others in the tri-state area.
Jon Laing, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Cincinnati, said: “If there were ever a playbook on how to make great radio, Chris and Janeen would have their own chapter. Aside from their obvious chemistry, they are both incredibly talented professionals and I’m honored to have had the opportunity to work with them. The Married with Microphones morning show is a radio tradition known and loved by many in this town, and it’s one of the unique things that makes Cincinnati the hometown of all hometowns. Congrats to you both on a job well done!”
Keith Mitchell, Program Director, WGRR-FM, and Operations Manager, Cumulus Cincinnati, noted: “Chris and Janeen and Married With Microphones are part of the fabric of Cincinnati, waking us up with laughter every morning. But their reach goes beyond the radio with their charity efforts and work in the community. SPCA Cincinnati, Disabled American Veterans and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are just three of the numerous charities they have worked with to draw attention and much needed funding. It’s been my privilege to work with them for 17 years. They will always be remembered for their impact on Cincinnati radio.”
Chris O’Brien commented: “2024 will mark 60 years since I first went on the air in my South Carolina hometown. I have had one amazing career, specifically since arriving in Cincinnati in 1974. My nearly 50 years in Cincinnati radio – 32 years at WGRR and the last 28 with Janeen as cohost – have been phenomenal. It’s all due mainly to our loyal listeners. The greatest compliment we have continually received is “you sound just like us!” Thank you for letting us tell our stories and for making us a part of your family.”
Janeen Coyle remarked: “For 45 years, I have been fortunate to work right here in my hometown. It has always been about one thing for me: the listener. Whether I’m talking to them on the phone, out in public or in my mind’s eye. I focus on that one person as they drive to work or fix a cup of coffee in their kitchen, to bring a laugh, a smile, or a memory. I thank those people for allowing Chris and me to be their friends for our 28 years together on WGRR. I will miss you.”
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com