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Corey Foley, left, and Mitch Elliott, right, are the new hosts of the 5:30-10 a.m. morning show on KINK-FM radio.

(Courtesy of KINK)

Listeners to Portland's KINK-FM (101.9) radio station heard some changes Sunday night and Monday morning. "The Sunday Night Blues Room," hosted by Steve Pringle, was absent April 30. And Monday, May 1, a new morning hosting team, Corey Foley and Mitch Elliott, took over the 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. timeslot previously held by Sheila Hamilton and Cort Johnson.

Foley is a Florida native, who has previously worked at stations in Minneapolis, San Francisco and Houston. Elliott is an Atlanta native, who moved to the Northwest to work in Seattle, and then moved to Portland, where he spent 10 years at KRSK 105.1 ("The Buzz.")

Sean Demery, who joined KINK as program director about a month ago, says that Hamilton and Johnson are "coming back in a different capacity in the next week, if it all works."

Of Hamilton, who has been a KINK mainstay following an Emmy-winning career in television, Demery says that KINK's parent company, Alpha Media, "is trying to broaden her reach by putting her on multiple stations," giving Hamilton "more loudspeakers at different locations."

Hamilton is still co-hosting the 4-7 p.m. news on KXL-FM (101), which is also owned by Alpha Media.

Demery didn't specify what else Hamilton might be doing, or what negotiations are involved. "We're working on it," he said.

Hamilton is also an author, whose book, "All the Things We Never Knew," recounts her experience with her late husband, who took his own life. Hamilton has become an advocate for mental health awareness.

As for the decision to cancel the "Sunday Night Blues Room" show, Demery says, it's about "just trying to update the station for 2017. This station has a rich history. It's been a rock station, a jazz station -- and those are just the awards I see in the hallway. So, we're just continuing the evolution. Some things make more sense, some things make less sense in 2017."

Demery emphasizes that in today's world, listeners can choose from all sorts of options, at any time, thanks to Spotify, Pandora, and other online services.

"We wanted to focus more on the core values of the radio station," Demery says.

Pringle will also be missing from the KINK midday timeslot. Jared Aman is now doing the 10 a.m.-3 p.m. shift, and Demery is hosting the 3-7 p.m. show on KINK.

"I'm not sure yet" what will take the place of the Sunday night blues show, Demery says. "This is like a website. It's never done. It always changes."

Demery says, "There is no other radio station in the United States that sounds like KINK."

But that doesn't mean KINK is standing still, Demery continues. "The station is focuing on adult album alternative artists, and it will continue to do that. We'll just be re-honing it every couple of years."

On Facebook, fans of Pringle and Hamilton and Johnson in the morning have shared disappointed, angry reactions to the KINK changes.

"I AM BEGGING EVERYONE TO STOP LISTENING TO KINK!!" wrote one listener.

"KINK you've changed," wrote another. "No more my local flavored and favored. This is the last straw. You've lost me. There are so many other choices."

"No more Steve Pringle on my kink.fm?" another wrote. "No more kink.fm on my radio! Sad day at our house."

Demery says he has received emails and phone calls. "People are very nice," he says. "They want to make sure their point is heard. Some have said they won't listen anymore, and I totally get that. When you're disappointed, you make choices," though Demery adds that he hopes people won't stop listening to KINK.

We've requested comments from Hamilton and Pringle and will update if we hear more.

In the meantime, Hamilton has posted on her Facebook page, thanking fans for their support.

"I'm mulling over a couple of really cool, life-changing opportunities," she wrote, and added praise for Pringle. "He is, and will continue to be, the best in the business. I have so much respect for that guy it hurts."

-- Kristi Turnquist



kturnquist@oregonian.com

503-221-8227

@Kristiturnquist