Matt Weitzel to Join WFRE Staff November 2
The veteran radio professional will serve as the station's assistant program director and afternoon host.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in People
Beginning Monday, November 2, Matt Weitzel will take on the role of assistant program director and afternoon host at WFRE in Frederick. He moves into the position recently vacated by Drew Phelps, who left the station to accept a new role as media relations specialist for Washington County.
Why it matters
The staffing change marks a significant transition for WFRE as it fills a key programming and on-air role. Weitzel joins the Frederick station following an extensive tenure in the Baltimore radio market.
Weitzel arrives at WFRE following a five-year tenure at WZBA, where he served as an assistant program director and afternoon host until the station was sold to K-Love in August 2026. His predecessor, Drew Phelps, concluded a tenure that included fifteen years at SiriusXM.
The players
Matt Weitzel
He is an experienced radio professional who previously worked as a morning show producer and production director in the Baltimore market.
Drew Phelps
He is a radio veteran who previously worked at SiriusXM and now serves as the media relations specialist for Washington County.
WFRE
This is a Frederick-based radio station that operates on the 99.9 frequency.
The details
Weitzel brings experience from previous roles as a morning show producer and production director at WZBA, alongside prior work at WIYY and WJZ-FM. Phelps, who had been with WFRE and WFMD since March 2023, previously held on-air roles at WMZQ, WGH-FM, and WPTE.
Timeline
March 2023: Drew Phelps joined the staff at WFRE and WFMD.
February 2023: Matt Weitzel began his tenure as an assistant program director at WZBA.
August 2026: WZBA was sold to K-Love, concluding Weitzel's time there.
November 2, 2026: Matt Weitzel begins his new duties at WFRE.
Market Landscape
The hiring of Matt Weitzel reflects the ongoing mobility of radio talent following the sale of WZBA to K-Love. This shift highlights how station acquisitions continue to reshape the local competitive environment for experienced production and programming staff.
Listeners of WFRE can expect a change in the afternoon programming lineup beginning November 2. The transition ensures that the station maintains its established leadership structure for both its FM frequency and its related AM outlet, WFMD.
The takeaway
Staffing transitions in local media often follow larger shifts in the broader radio landscape such as corporate station sales. Listeners should look for updates in station programming guides as new hosts settle into their roles.
Further reading
For more on industry personnel trends, visit Frederick People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RadioInsight.
