B96 rejects DreX as morning host

Gabe Ramirez, Nina Hajian and Kevin “DreX” Buchar

It’s over and out for Kevin Buchar, the radio veteran known as DreX, after 10 months as morning personality at Entercom Top 40 WBBM 96.3-FM.

Friday turned out to be the last day on the air for DreX, whose brief run on B96 never approached the ratings popularity he commanded on iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC 103.5-FM from 2003 to 2010. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, B96 tied for 18th in mornings with a 1.8 percent share.

B96 Chicago

Todd Cavanah, vice president of programming at B96, announced the move in an email to staff, saying of DreX: “He will remain a friend to many of us and I want to thank him for being a great teammate and true professional in every sense of the word.”

Gabe Ramirez and Nina Hajian, who co-hosted mornings with DreX, will stay on as the station’s permanent morning team, according to Cavanah.

"During the past 10 months, Gabe and Nina have developed not only a friendship off the air but a great deal of chemistry with each other and the audience on air, at our bashes, their appearances and their social media platforms," Cavanah said.

"We see an enormous potential with both of these rising stars to achieve our goals on B96 for mornings. Gabe and Nina will take over mornings immediately, and we are confident that their engagement with each other and the listeners will be a huge success."

Before joining B96, Hajian worked for stations in New York, Sacramento and Seattle. Ramirez was a holdover from the previous morning show, hosted by Jamar “J Niice” McNeil and Michelle “Showbiz Shelly” Menaker.