Detroit’s WDET shakes up lineup, adds new programs, Liz Warner returns

Detroit’s public radio station WDET (101.9-FM) is making changes to the daytime lineup ahead of its diamond anniversary.

The locally hosted shows “Detroit Today” and “Culture Shift” will end, making way for new weekday daytime programs. The new Monday-Friday schedule still features the voices of Tia Graham, Ryan Patrick Hooper and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, but in different formats.

Instead of “Detroit Today,” Henderson will host the one-hour show “Created Equal,” at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays, which aims to discuss “the challenge of inequality and the promise of opportunity.” From 11 a.m. to noon, Nick Austin and Tia Graham host “The Metro,” a one-hour news and culture magazine that repeats at 10 p.m.

Ryan Patrick Hooper takes over weekday afternoons noon-3 p.m. with “In the Groove,” a three-hour music show with independent and non-commercial tunes.

The new schedule debuts Feb. 5, about a week before the station’s 75th anniversary on Feb. 13.

“We take great pride in delivering what our listeners want from WDET,” said station manager Mary Zatina in a news release. “A recent survey overwhelmingly showed that people turn to WDET to discover the vibrant music and stories that make Detroit unique. They are less interested in repeats of national programming that they can access elsewhere. We listened and are delivering an evolution of our entire lineup with incredible Detroit-focused programming that will reward our faithful listeners and attract new audiences.”

In addition to daytime weekday tweaks, the station is adding new music shows to the evening lineup.

A familiar voice returns 8-10 p.m. Thursdays as WDET personality Liz Warner launches “Alternate Take,” a show exploring music that has impacted and continues to influence the city’s creative community. Formerly known as Liz Copeland, Warner was a DJ on WDET 1995-2007.

Additional new evening music programming includes the following:

∎ “Visions” with jazz musician and Kresge artist fellow Kaleigh Wilder, 8-10 p.m. Mondays

∎ “The Detroit Move” with Detroit garage rock drummer Mike Latulippe, 8-9 p.m. Tuesdays

∎ “MI Local,” a hometown music show hosted by veteran music journalist and frequent “Culture Shift” guest Jeff Milo, 9-10 p.m. Tuesdays

∎ “The Blvd with Waajeed,” dance music producer DJ Waajeed spins techno, house and other forms of electronic music, 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays

∎ “The New Music Show with Shigeto,” with Hamtramck-based drummer and electronic music producer Shigeto, 8-10 p.m. Saturdays

∎ “Don Was Motor City Playlist,” with influential music producer and musician Don Was and WDET’s Ann Delisi, 8-10 p.m. Fridays and 10 p.m. Sundays.

Ann Delisi’s Essential Music, Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, Jon Moshier’s Modern Music, Chris Campbell’s the Progressive Underground, Acoustic Café with Rob Reinhart, This Island Earth with Ismael Ahmed, Destination Jazz — the Ed Love Program and Jay’s Place with Jay Butler are all still part of the station’s lineup.

Learn more at wdet.org.

mbaetens@detroitnews.com