Mic drop: Tom Power to replace Shad as host of CBC's q

Shad is being replaced as the host of q​.

​The radio show will have its third host in three years, with Tom Power taking over for rapper Shadrach Kabango.

Kabango hosts his final episode of q on Tuesday, the CBC announced Monday.

The show, previously hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, saw ratings drop following his high-profile departure and hasn't been able to recover.

Kabango was tapped as Ghomeshi's replacement despite a lack of radio experience, but couldn't attract the same sort of audience as he struggled to find his voice.

Power, who served as a regular guest host for several years, will officially take over the mic in October.

The flagship music, arts and cultural affairs show is also replacing two senior executives, further signalling a change in direction. Jennifer Moroz, fomerly of The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos and The Current, will now lead the weekday program. She takes over from current executive producer Nick McCabe Lokos and senior producer Lisa Godfrey.

Juno-winning rapper Kabango was named host of a revamped version of q — carried by more than 120 U.S. public radio stations as well as the CBC — in March 2015. He took to the airwaves a month later.

Though he was introduced with much fanfare, the soft-spoken Kabango — new to broadcasting before q — has received criticism for his interviewing style, which has been knocked as unengaging and "rudderless" after some time with the show.

The program has also seen a drop in listenership: 220,400 in June 2015 to 168,000 in June 2016.

It had its highest audience (282,000) in September 2014.

Kabango was hired to replace Ghomeshi, who was dismissed from the public broadcaster in October 2014 amid allegations of sexual assault, but was acquitted of all charges in one trial involving three complainants. Ghomeshi saw another case dropped in May after he agreed to sign a peace bond and publicly apologize.

Shad: q experience 'an honour and a joy' 

Kabango and the CBC are discussing the possibility of developing a new program.

"It's been an honour and a joy to serve in this role," he said in a statement.

"Countless fascinating guests and don't even get me started on my colleagues: smart, funny, and dedicated is just the beginning. The show will continue and is in great hands with Tom Power — an excellent host and a great guy. My relationship with the CBC remains strong... I'm grateful for an amazing experience."

This shuffling of hosts will see 29-year-old Power leave his current gig as presenter of the weekday show Radio 2 Morning, a gig he's had since 2011. A new host will be announced at a later time.

Newfoundland-raised, Toronto-based Power — CBC's youngest host of a national radio program since Peter Jennings — started with the public broadcaster at the age of 21 as host of the contemporary folk music program Deep Roots. He is also seen in a weekly music segment on CBC-TV's Our Centres program and has hosted other CBC events, including during the Canadian Country Music Association Awards.

 "Tom is a great fit for q," Susan Marjetti, executive director of CBC Radio English Services, said in a statement.

"We look forward to exploring a new show with Shad that plays to his strengths and passion for music. Shad remains part of our CBC family."

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Mic drop: Tom Power to replace Shad as host of CBC's q