Bridges Marks Career Milestone with 30 Years in Radio

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, March 10, 2023

Robby Bridges

Robby Bridges, currently VP of Programming and morning co-host at Press Communications' WWZY-WBHX in New Jersey, has reached a career milestone: 30 years in commercial radio. He began his career while in grade school as a programming assistant and self-described "production dub monkey" in March, 1993 at Oldies WWBB (B101) in Providence, then owned by Wilks Schwartz Broadcasting, now iHeartMedia. While working at B101, he honed his skills first doing Alternative and then Jazz at crosstown WELH and the first of three stints at CHR WQGN (Q105) in New London, CT.

At age 18, Bridges headed to CBS Radio Oldies WODS/Boston, then to CHR WFHN (Fun 107) New Bedford, MA, did nights at CHR WPRO (92 PRO FM) Providence for a year and then overnights and weekends simultaneously for then Clear Channel CHR WIOQ (Q102) in Philadelphia and WHTZ (Z100) in New York. In 2003, Bridges returned to Providence for a 5-year run at country WCTK (Cat Country 98.1) while also appearing on Hot AC WBMX (Mix 98.5) in Boston and WEBE in Bridgeport, CT.

Bridges moved to WEBE fulltime in 2008, beginning a 10-year relationship with Cumulus Media. He'd eventually program the station and, over the decade, would serve as APD/air talent at WPLJ in New York, Director of FM Programming for Detroit, PD of WFAS in Westchester, NY, afternoons at Country WFMS in Indianapolis, nights on Westwood One's Today's Hits format, guest host for "Backtrax USA" and a slot on the national programming "SWOT" team for Hot AC and Country. While on Detroit AC WDVD, Bridges began working with his longtime co-host and future wife Rochelle Gagnon, where "Robby & Rochelle" first debuted in PM drive.

After leaving Cumulus for a stint as OM/Townsquare Media Northern New England and a return to Boston for Audacy, Bridges went to Northern Michigan as VP of Programming at MacDonald Garber Broadcasting, where he and Rochelle first did a morning show based at CHR WKHQ in Traverse City, before arriving in New Jersey in fall 2021.

Additionally, Bridges has been a part of Scott Shannon's "True Oldies Channel," heard nationally (on affiliates that have included WLS-FM/Chicago) since 2006, mostly as an exclusive guest host.

"I still love it. I've never lost the passion for radio, only thing that's changed is I was always the young kid in the room and now, not so often," said Bridges. "I've been blessed to work with and be both mentored and coached by many of the most incredible people in our business and I couldn't be more grateful and humbled at my run. The best part today is working with Rochelle each and laughing all morning."