iHeartMedia CHR “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM Medford/Boston is extending the “V-Bros”, Mikey and Frankie Vinci to afternoons from 2-7pm, while longtime midday host Neil ‘Romeo’ Paris has departed the station.
Mikey V has been APD/MD/afternoon host at WXKS-FM with his brother Frankie previously appearing from 5-7pm from his base in San Diego, where he hosts mornings at CHR “Channel 93.3” KHTS-FM and is APD of Rhythmic CHR “Jam’n 95.7” KSSX. They will now be joined by newcomer Gianna Gravalese on the expanded afternoon show. Both brothers will continue with their other on-air duties on iHeartMedia stations across the country, while Frankie will continue to be based in San Diego and with his morning show and APD duties there.
Romeo had been with WXKS-FM since 2002 in multiple roles after previous stints at “Jam’n 94.5” WJMN and the syndicated Open House Party. He wrote on Friday that it was his last day as his position was eliminated. The station has yet to announce plans for the midday show.
iHeartMedia Boston’s Kiss 108, “Boston’s #1 Hit Music Station”, announced today that long-time Kiss 108 on-air host and Assistant Program Director/Music Director Mikey V will join forces with his brother Frankie V and newcomer, Gianna Gravalese for an appropriately named multiplatform show, “Mikey V & Frankie V, The VBros.” The new show will broadcast on Kiss 108 weekdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. In addition, the show can be streamed as a podcast on iHeartRadio, the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are available, with new episodes airing every weekday.
“Mikey V & Frankie V, The VBros” is a natural progression of the show that Mikey V had been doing. In recent months, his brother Frankie, former Kiss 108 on-air talent and currently on multiple iHeartRadio stations, has joined Mikey to develop an exciting new program that has received overwhelmingly positive feedback since the experiment began. This move is the recognition of the show that has been in development for months.
Mikey and Frankie were born and raised in the MetroWest city of Framingham, MA. Both have been on-air on Kiss 108 during their careers. Frankie, the older brother, has since spread his wings to the west coast with shows on Channel 93.3 in San Diego, KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, Kiss 107.9 in Sacramento and many other iHeartRadio stations across the country. Frankie will continue to co-host his successful morning show in San Diego. Mikey has made career stops in Ithaca, Indianapolis, and Detroit before coming home. He has been on-air on Kiss 108 since 2013, hosting nights, now PM Drive, and can be heard on other iHeartRadio stations across the country. Mikey is also the Assistant Program Director and Music Director of Kiss 108.
Newcomer Gianna Gravalese adds the female perspective and produces the program; Gianna is another local talent born and raised in Revere, MA. In addition to her role with The VBros, Gianna is an on-camera reporter for “Dirty Water TV,” a Boston-based nightlife cable program on NESN.
“This team has found the perfect combination of entertaining conversation and great music that resonates with the Kiss 108 listeners,” said Dylan Sprague, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Boston. “We’re excited to hear what lies ahead for this show.”
Mikey V added, “This is the type of show that I’ve wanted to host since I first started working in radio. It’s fun, it’s exciting, and it’s unpredictable. It’s like a morning show in the afternoon. Best of all, I get to do it with my big bro and remind him daily that he is the older brother!”
“If Mikey tells you this was his idea, don’t believe him,” said Frankie V. “This was my idea from the start. He’s been stealing my game since he was born. I love my brother, but even though I am the older one, I look younger and if you call us twins, he will get mad. So please do it! Haha!”
“Mikey V & Frankie V, The VBros.” can be heard worldwide on the iHeartRadio app, Kiss108.com, and every weekday in Boston on Kiss 108.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com