Hot 97 is ushering in a new era of New York City radio.
According to Billboard, the radio station announced that The Kid Mero will host its new morning show, replacing Ebro Darden’s Ebro in the Morning following the show’s December cancellation.
‘Hot 97 Mornings With Mero’ debuted on Tuesday and will air weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET
Hot 97 Mornings With Mero debuted on Tuesday and will air Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET. The station announced the show on Monday, sharing a clip that revealed the Desus & Mero alum as its new morning host.
“I will be with y’all faithfully every Monday through Friday from 6 to 10, you know what I mean. The most consistent voice in your life,” The Kid Mero said in the announcement clip. “More consistent than your parents, which is crazy to say as a radio host because you might have good parents, but if you got bad parents, I’m your daddy now. Mornings With Mero, baby, lock in.”
In a recent news release, The Kid Mero, who also co-hosts the 7PM in Brooklyn show with NBA icon Carmelo Anthony and Kazeem Famuyide, described Hot 97 as “the voice of NYC hip-hop and culture for decades,” and the station is close to his heart.
“I grew up listening to Hot 97, so to get the morning slot here isn’t just a job—it’s a responsibility to continue that legacy while bringing it into this next era of media,” he said. “We’re gonna laugh, we’re gonna get into it, but it’s always gonna be real, and a real good time!”
Kudjo Sogadzi, executive vice president of content and growth at MediaCo, deemed Mero the perfect host to lead Hot 97’s new morning show, as he embodies New York.
“He’s authentic, hilarious, fearless, and deeply connected to the community,” he said in the release. “Hot 97 Mornings with Mero is going to set the tone for the city every morning and create must-listen moments for our audience.”
The Kid Mero will also replace Funkmaster Flex, who has spearheaded Hot 97’s morning programming since Ebro’s departure, Radio Ink reported.
“This is a new era for Hot 97, one that reflects both where the culture is and where it’s going,” MediaCo CEO Albert Rodriguez said in a statement. “As the most listened-to station in hip-hop, we’re proud to announce The Kid Mero, Bronx-born comedian and cultural voice who’s captured a generation with his sharp wit and authenticity, as our new morning show host. With the continued growth of the Hot 97 brand alongside Hot TV, this is an integral moment for us to expand our reach and deepen our impact across platforms.”