The millennials have the keys of the city. A new kid mayor in city hall and Kid Mero in the morning chair at Hot 97. Not yet even half through it, January 2026’s playlist is “What’s Going On. Strange Fruit, and Man I Need.” At least in NYC we have the hopes of better housing, bike lanes, bathrooms and some comedy for the commute.

Like Mamdani, Mero represents a digital-first creator moving into the traditional seat of influence. Jon Caramanica profiled Mero as the face of WGHT’s flagship show and noted

Mero is both a likely candidate and a risk. A flamboyantly foulmouthed podcaster and comedian with a rich vein of political agitation running through his work, he’s a graffiti writer turned Twitter comedian turned podcasting superstar turned radio novice. – Jon Caramanica for New York Times

Mero replaces GenX Ebro Darden after “Ebro in the Mornings” 13 year run. From my sampling of his launch week, “Mero In the Morning” is more than just a changing of generational guard, it is “Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers” opening and “Hot Dog King” closing/ Macy’s closing and “The Brook” opening on Fulton Street. With Mero’s roots in comedy, the mornings on 97.1 feel closer to Elvis Duran’ on Z100. Mero and crew are here for some jokes and viral moments.

My GenX self misses the curmudgeonly appeal of the Ebro crew, and their more traditional take on morning radio. I feel like my favorite corner coffee cart is gone and a nice new brightly lit chain is there. It might be a “Moka & Co” and not a Starbucks but it’s no longer my guy.

I think Mero will have a successful run as host in the ways that Hot 97 and parent company MediaCo count success. Ebro, Rosenberg and Laura are now digital only, on YouTube and Apple podcasts. I still have my coffee cart guy. A small cup is under $2 (for now) and just the right amount of bitter. The right flavor for January.