Real 106.1 reunites Shila and Chio in the Morning

Real 106.1 has reunited morning show host Chio Acosta with former co-host Shila Nathan, with the pair taking over "Chio in the Morning" on the station effective today.

Parent company iHeartMedia announced the addition of Nathan as a co-host on the show in a press release on Monday, writing that she and Chio will "broadcast a variety of hip hop, R&B, and rhythmic music from the '90s and 2000's." Former co-host Nicole Michalik will move to mid-days, a spokesperson said.

"It's awesome to reconnect with my great friend and mentor Chio," Nathan said of her new gig. Chio, meanwhile, said via a release that the two "are like rice and beans — we go together."

A Scranton native, Nathan previously worked on air with Chio during his run at Wired 96.5, which ended in late 2012 after the host was reportedly told the station was "going in a different direction." Nathan continued the show with co-host Tingle for a short time before moving on to country station WUSN 99.5 in Chicago. Most recently, Nathan was on-air at NASH 94.7, a New York-based country station.

Real 106.1 launched late last month in a format change for the station, which formerly was known as Mix 106.1. Now touting itself as "Philly's Real No. 1 for Throwbacks," the station plays rap and hip hop from the 90s and 2000s, and has moved away from its former hot adult contemporary leanings.

Chio helmed the transition on-air last month, playing songs from Metallica's "Enter Sandman" to Linda Ronstadt's "It's So Easy" for listeners in a a broadcasting stunt targeted at getting listeners.

"We don't want to be the same like all the others. There's 10 stations playing Taylor Swift," Chio said during the format change. "Do we really need another station playing that?"