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Published on Thursday, 02 June 2011 09:09
A big change has happened to a pair of Chicago Hispanic radio stations this week. Jose Luis Marquez, also known by the nickname "El Pitufo" (which translates in English as "The Smurf"), has resigned from Clear Channel Radio's WNUA-FM/Mega 95.5, where he was the station's Assistant Program Director, Production/Imaging Director and former afternoon on-air personality. He did so because he has accepted the position as Program Director and afternoon host at Spanish Broadcasting System's WLEY-FM/La Ley 107.9.
Jose Luiz Marquez joined WNUA-FM in July 2009, very soon after the station flipped formats from Smooth Jazz to Hispanic CHR less than two months prior. In addition to being Mega 95.5's Production and Imaging Director, he worked as APD and was co-host of the station's afternoon show, working alongside Omar Romero, who was the station's PD & afternoon host. When Romero
surprisingly exited the station in August 2010, Marquez took over as afternoon host until the new Program Director
brought in Ysaac Alvarez from California to take over afternoons at the beginning of December.
Starting Monday June 6th, Marquez takes over programming duties and overseeing imaging at the SBS-owned Regional Mexican station. Starting Monday, June 13th, "El Pitufo" takes over the live afternoon air shift (3:00pm-7:00pm) on La Ley.
The hiring of Marquez comes at the right time for WLEY-FM, as the station has seen itself slip in the ratings, since losing its last afternoon host many weeks ago and being programmed remotely from out of state. This is especially true with the afternoon shift ratings. In the most recent Arbitron ratings (April period) the station had fallen down to a 2.3 share and a #23 ranking in afternoons in the Persons 25-54 demographic. The station had a 2.5 share and a tie for 20th place in the overall ratings in the same demographic. Bringing on this exciting young talent may be just what the station needs to get back toward the top of the ratings.
Marquez, 30, is originally from Sante Fe, NM. He has been in love with radio since he was a child and working in radio in one capacity or another since he was only 12 years old.
