Jordan Graye out at B98.5 after a long stint

By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, August 24, 2015

Being a veteran radio jock in Atlanta tough nowadays. In recent weeks, Rene Miller, Carol Blackmon and Emperor Searcy have lost their radio jobs.

Last week, Jordan Graye, mid-day host at pop station B98.5 since 2001, declined a new contract offer and left. She had also spent 10 years at the station in other capacities from 1989 to 1999. (She was on maternity leave from 1999 to 2001.)

"She always had a smile in her voice," said Kelly Stevens, a voice-over artist and former B98.5 host who suffered a nasty car accident three years ago today but has recovered. "No matter if she had a bad day or something awful going on, you'd never know. She was the consummate professional."

A replacement has not yet been named.

B98.5 ranked 5th in the market last month with a 5.2 share. It averaged a 6.3 share in 2014, good for third place.

Graye also did a shift for four years on rock station 97.1/The River under the pseudonym Kate McCarthy from 2007 to 2011. She used the fake name there, she said at the time, so there would be no confusion.

B98.5 and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution are both part of Cox Media Group.

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