Beasley Media Group has officially moved Mix 99.5 (WJBR) out of Wilmington, DE to a new home in the neighboring market of Philadelphia. WJBR’s programming will now piggyback as the HD2 signal for Beasley’s 95.7 Ben FM (WBEN). The shift occurred on October 5.
Beasley will also continue to keep WJBR’s website and app open, where they will publish local news for Delaware and the Brandywine Valleys as well as offer a station stream.
The change comes after Beasley Media Group sold the WJBR frequency to Christian broadcaster VCY America for $5 million in August. This sale represents a significant drop in the station’s value, which was previously sold for $42 million in 2007.
Former on-air talents, including morning hosts Deanna Marie and Justin Franiak, have exited the station. Marie and Franiak announced their departure on October 4th, signaling that the station would operate without air talent going forward.
“We saw huge audience increases in 2023 and wanted to still be there for our loyal listeners,” said Beasley Media Group Program Director Eric Johnson. “We will continue to keep this brand, that has been loved by the community for the past 66 years, going on these digital platforms. Listeners will be able to enjoy our fun unique feel-good ’80s to now’ mix, and during the holidays with our legendary Christmas music format!”
