Tim Watts was an on-air personality at Magic 95.9 for 17 years. (Facebook photo)
Tim Watts and Lorraine ‘Lolo’ Milliner, both long-time radio personalities for Magic Baltimore 95.9 FM, have been suddenly let go by the station according to statements posted on their respective Facebook pages. Watts’ statement suggested that his age was behind his having been let go, as the station seemed to be moving towards attracting a younger audience.
“Well family, I just got back from vacation only to find that I am now on permanent vacation,” read Watts’s Facebook statement, in part. “Nojoke, I was called into the conference room and told this was my last day at Radio one. So this brings to an end 17 years at 95.9 . . . I guess the age of the listener they need to attract stayed the same. But my age kept going up. . . . I’ve got nothing bad to say about Radio One. They’ve always been very good to me. I would have liked to been able to say good bye on the air.”
Similarly, Milliner wrote, in part, “Radio One let me go today after 22 years on the air. . . . I thank Radio One for the opportunity. It has truly been a blessing. I know God has a plan.”
The AFRO has reached out to both Watts and Milliner, but both indicated that they were not prepared to comment publicly at this time. Watts’ Facebook statement suggested he might retire and joked he might be “sold for stud.” Milliner’s Facebook statement indicated she would now turn her focus to serving her community, the U.S. Virgin Islands, from which she hails.
Online, fans expressed support for the radio personalities, thanking and encouraging them through comments on their respective Facebook posts. Valarie M. Jackson-Saunders commented on Watts’ page that she wished the radio station had handled the situation differently, while Michael-Alan Goodwin responded to Watts post, saying “ salute you for handling this situation with the utmost of class. You ARE a real class act.”
Sandra Levin Setorie commented on Milliner’s post, saying, “Sorry to hear this LoLo. It’s not just Radio One’s loss, it a huge loss to the B’more community and diaspora. The wonderful thing is, there’s more to life post Radio One.”
The AFRO reached out to Magic 95.9 for comment, but received no response prior to publication.