Todd Schnitt
Encyclopedia
Todd Andrew Schnitt is an American radio personality. Schnitt hosts two different shows daily from the Clear Channel
Broadcast complex in Tampa, Florida
. Schnitt, using the radio stage-name “MJ,” hosts the long-time MJ Morning Show and the nationally syndicated Schnitt Show.
(New York City) with his interest in radio broadcasting. As a young boy growing up in Nanuet, New York in the early 1970s, Schnitt became fascinated by WABC and listened as much as possible. In late 1976, Schnitt’s family moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia
.
In 1982, at the age of 16, Schnitt landed his first part-time job at the now defunct WCPK-AM 1600
in Chesapeake, Virginia
. During his high school years he worked at numerous Hampton Roads, Virginia area stations including WVAB
, WNIS
and WNVZ (Z-104)
. Schnitt attended Ithaca College
in New York and worked at the Cornell student-run station, WVBR
.
In 1986, he returned to the Hampton Roads area and scored his first full-time radio job at WRSR-FM (97Star), which soon reverted back to the call letters WGH-FM
. The name MJ Kelli was first used at WGH-FM. The name MJ was created because the 97Star program director was adamant that Todd Schnitt was not a good radio name. In August 1988, Schnitt moved the MJ Kelli 6-10 PM show to cross-town rival WNVZ (Z104)
. In 1989, Schnitt was hired by Scott Shannon
at Pirate Radio, KQLZ in Los Angeles as creative director and assistant program director. Schnitt later rejoined Shannon at the revamping of WPLJ
, New York which had originally signed on as Mojo Radio in April, 1991.
Schnitt left New York City in late 1992 to start The MJ Kelli Morning Show, his first morning-drive program (6-10 am) on WOVV (Star 95.5), West Palm Beach, Florida. He was brought to Tampa, Florida to anchor the new morning show on WFLZ (The Power Pig). Schnitt was teamed up with BJ Harris, the Power Pig’s program director to form the MJ and BJ Morning Show. Harris left the show on February 7, 2001. The show was renamed The MJ Morning Show.
under his “MJ” personality. The show is broadcast Monday through Friday 6-10 am on flagship WFLZ/Tampa, FL and syndicated to KSLZ
/St. Louis (Z107.7), WNWW
/Jacksonville, FL (97.9 RadioNOW) and WFKS
/Melbourne, FL (95.1 KISS-FM). The show focuses on current events, lifestyle news, pop-culture and personal experiences. The program is mostly a talk format but plays about two songs per hour.
and is heard on nearly 50 stations across America and on XM Extreme Talk 165
. The program first launched October 1, 2001 on WIOD
/Miami and later on January 7, 2002 on WFLA
/Tampa.
with his wife, Michelle, and two children.
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
Broadcast complex in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. Schnitt, using the radio stage-name “MJ,” hosts the long-time MJ Morning Show and the nationally syndicated Schnitt Show.
Early life and broadcast career beginnings
Schnitt has credited MusicRadio-77WABCWABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
(New York City) with his interest in radio broadcasting. As a young boy growing up in Nanuet, New York in the early 1970s, Schnitt became fascinated by WABC and listened as much as possible. In late 1976, Schnitt’s family moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
.
In 1982, at the age of 16, Schnitt landed his first part-time job at the now defunct WCPK-AM 1600
WCPK
WCPK is a Gospel formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Chesapeake, Virginia, serving the Southside of Hampton Roads in Virginia. WCPK is owned and operated by Christian Broadcasting of Chesapeake.-History:...
in Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 199,184 people, 69,900 households, and 54,172 families residing in the city. The population density was 584.6 people per square mile . There were 72,672 housing units at an average density of 213.3 per square mile...
. During his high school years he worked at numerous Hampton Roads, Virginia area stations including WVAB
WVAB
WVAB is a broadcast radio station licensed to Virginia Beach, Virginia though is currently silent.When broadcasting, WVAB serves the Southside of Hampton Roads...
, WNIS
WNIS
WNIS is a News/Talk/Sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WNIS is owned and operated by Sinclair Telecable, Inc.-History:...
and WNVZ (Z-104)
WNVZ
WNVZ is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WNVZ is owned and operated by Entercom.-1967 to 1972 , Country as WTID-FM:...
. Schnitt attended Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
in New York and worked at the Cornell student-run station, WVBR
WVBR
WVBR-FM is a college radio station that broadcasts to Ithaca, New York, and surrounding areas. It operates at 3 kilowatts from a transmitter on Hungerford Hill, in Ithaca. A translator on 105.5 FM provides a cleaner signal to certain areas of Ithaca...
.
In 1986, he returned to the Hampton Roads area and scored his first full-time radio job at WRSR-FM (97Star), which soon reverted back to the call letters WGH-FM
WGH-FM
WGH-FM is a Country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Newport News, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WGH-FM is owned and operated by Max Media.-See also:* -External links:*...
. The name MJ Kelli was first used at WGH-FM. The name MJ was created because the 97Star program director was adamant that Todd Schnitt was not a good radio name. In August 1988, Schnitt moved the MJ Kelli 6-10 PM show to cross-town rival WNVZ (Z104)
WNVZ
WNVZ is a Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WNVZ is owned and operated by Entercom.-1967 to 1972 , Country as WTID-FM:...
. In 1989, Schnitt was hired by Scott Shannon
Scott Shannon
Michael Scott Shannon is a radio disc jockey, current co-host of the "Scott and Todd in the Morning" show on WPLJ, host of The True Oldies Channel, and the official voice of The Sean Hannity Show.-Early Radio Career:...
at Pirate Radio, KQLZ in Los Angeles as creative director and assistant program director. Schnitt later rejoined Shannon at the revamping of WPLJ
WPLJ
WPLJ is a radio station in New York City owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media. WPLJ shares studio facilities with sister station WABC inside 2 Penn Plaza in midtown Manhattan, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building. The station currently plays a Hot Adult...
, New York which had originally signed on as Mojo Radio in April, 1991.
Schnitt left New York City in late 1992 to start The MJ Kelli Morning Show, his first morning-drive program (6-10 am) on WOVV (Star 95.5), West Palm Beach, Florida. He was brought to Tampa, Florida to anchor the new morning show on WFLZ (The Power Pig). Schnitt was teamed up with BJ Harris, the Power Pig’s program director to form the MJ and BJ Morning Show. Harris left the show on February 7, 2001. The show was renamed The MJ Morning Show.
The MJ Morning Show
Schnitt hosts The MJ Morning ShowThe MJ Morning Show
"The MJ Morning Show" is a morning radio show that originates from 93.3 FLZ in Tampa, FL and is also broadcast in cities such as St. Louis, Jacksonville, and Melbourne. The show was previously known as "The MJ and BJ Morning Show" until former cohost BJ Harris left the show...
under his “MJ” personality. The show is broadcast Monday through Friday 6-10 am on flagship WFLZ/Tampa, FL and syndicated to KSLZ
KSLZ
KSLZ, "Z107.7", is a Top 40 Mainstream FM radio station in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 107.7 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW. Its transmitter is located in Shrewsbury, a suburb of St...
/St. Louis (Z107.7), WNWW
WNWW
WNWW is a commercial radio station located in Neptune Beach, Florida, broadcasting to the Jacksonville, Florida area on 97.9 FM. WNWW airs a Top 40 music format branded as "Radio NOW" a brand name used on several other sister Clear Channel Top 40 Pop stations....
/Jacksonville, FL (97.9 RadioNOW) and WFKS
WFKS
WFKS is a contemporary hits station serving Florida's Space Coast area. The Clear Channel Communications outlet broadcasts at 95.1 MHz with an ERP of 4.3 kW and is licensed to Melbourne, Florida.-History:...
/Melbourne, FL (95.1 KISS-FM). The show focuses on current events, lifestyle news, pop-culture and personal experiences. The program is mostly a talk format but plays about two songs per hour.
The Schnitt Show
The Schnitt Show is a conservative radio talk show that airs Monday through Friday 3-6 pm ET. Schnitt describes himself as a “fiercely independent conservative with libertarian influence.” The show consists of news, political commentary, lifestyle and pop-culture with sound bites and parody material. The Schnitt Show is syndicated by Compass Media NetworksCompass Media Networks
Compass Media Networks is an American radio network.The company launched in January 2009. It is owned by former Westwood One CEO and former COO of Connoisseur Media, Peter Kosann...
and is heard on nearly 50 stations across America and on XM Extreme Talk 165
Extreme Talk
Extreme Talk is a talk radio channel on XM channel 165, featuring terrestrial show simulcasts from across the United States. It is one of the oldest talk channels on XM, formerly known as Extreme XM...
. The program first launched October 1, 2001 on WIOD
WIOD
WIOD is a news/talk formatted radio station in Miami, Florida. For over 80 years, it has been a major information station in South Florida...
/Miami and later on January 7, 2002 on WFLA
WFLA (AM)
WFLA is an AM radio station in Tampa, Florida, serving the Arbitron Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater market with additional listenership to the east in the adjacent Lakeland-Winter Haven market and to the south in the adjacent Sarasota-Bradenton market...
/Tampa.
Personal life
Schnitt resides in Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
with his wife, Michelle, and two children.