WIXX's new morning show host is out after less than a month in former 'Murphy in the Morning' slot
Chris Carson took over the morning slot at WIXX in mid-December, after Jim Murphy retired and co-hosts Katie Schurk and Nick Vitrano left the station.
Kendra Meinert
GREEN BAY - The morning show host seat at WIXX-FM is once again open.
Chris Carson, who was introduced as the new host of the 5 to 9 a.m. weekday slot last month after the retirement of Jim Murphy of the "Murphy in the Morning" show, is no longer with the station. Wednesday was his last day on the air, WIXX brand manager Corey Carter confirmed.
Carter provided this statement:
"After careful consideration, we have decided to move in a different direction with WIXX mornings. We thank Chris Carson for his contribution during his time here and wish him the best. At this point we have no comment on the future of the show, but we'll have more information soon!"
Carson was introduced to listeners of the popular Green Bay station on Dec. 14, roughly two weeks after Murphy's emotional last "Murphy in the Morning" show with co-hosts Katie Schurk and Nick Vitrano on Nov. 28. Murphy had anchored mornings at WIXX for 32 years.
The "Carson in the Morning Show" was to usher in a "new era in WIXX morning radio," as stated in a news release from station owner Midwest Communications announcing Carson's hiring.
His sudden departure is the latest in a series of morning radio moves in the market in the past two months.
Ten days after Murphy's retirement, Schurk and Vitrano announced in a social media post they had made the difficult decision to leave the station and asked for privacy as they navigated their futures. Dec. 8 was their last day on the air.
On Jan. 2, Appleton Top 40 station 95.9 KISS-FM (WKSZ) shared the news that Schurk and Vitrano were joining their new morning host and former WIXX air personality Otis Day for its “KISS-FM Mornings with Otis, Katie and Nick” show.
KISS ended its previous morning program, "The Jake and Tanner Show," in mid-November. Day took over on Dec. 18. Schurk and Vitrano will be on the air with him once their noncompete agreement with their former employer has been resolved or expires.
Carson's previous radio experience included work at country radio stations WDEZ-FM in Wausau and 99.5 Nash FM in Oshkosh. The same week he made his debut on WIXX, Midwest Communications announced the search was on for a co-host to join the morning program.
Carter was on the air Thursday morning on WIXX following Carson's departure. He also filled in during the same time slot after Schurk and Vitrano departed.
Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 orkmeinert@greenbay.gannett.com. Follow her on X@KendraMeinert.