Three years ago, Q100's the Bert Show entered syndication by going to Nashville.

It has since expanded to Indianapolis, Birmingham, Fort Wayne, Ind., Lubbock, Tex., Amarillo, Tex. and Brunswick, Ga.

But the show this month has nabbed its biggest market to date: Washington D.C.

He starts at Mix 107.3 on May 16, taking over for his former boss Jack Diamond.

Diamond had been at the station 24 years. Weiss worked as Diamond's producer for five years, then his sidekick for three before coming to Atlanta in 2001 to launch Q100 with his own show.

"It's an honor," Weiss said in an interview. "He built that radio station." Weiss, as of the interview, had not spoken to Diamond about the change.

However awkward this may be for Diamond, he publicly praised Weiss in a press release:

It has been an amazing privilege and honor to have spent over two decades back in my hometown. In every performer's career, there comes a time when a new stage or fresh piece of canvas with a new palette of colors calls your name. That time has come for me. I am very excited about the future! I'm also excited to see one of my protégés and partners, Bert Weiss, continue what I started here given Bert joined me on a couple occasions over those 24 years."

Diamond's ratings had fallen over time and had lagged behind the rest of the station, which precipitated the change.

Sean Ross, vice president of music and programming at Edison Research, said Diamond's departure is a lot like Steve & Vikki leaving Star 94 five years ago: a true changing of the guard.

The move also shows that even in top 10 markets, syndication is becoming the norm.

For Weiss, D.C. is special because that's where he met his wife Stacey and Diamond, he noted, "helped launch my career. I owe him a great debt professionally and personally."

Weiss said he knows how brutal radio can be, that every morning host has an end date. "It will happen to me someday," he said. "It's the nature of the business."

Locally, Weiss said he's relieved that the Power 96.1 onslaught has not adversely affected the show on Q100 after six months. "You can't knee jerk," he said. "At the same time, competition makes everyone sharper."

And he's taking his time looking for a fourth member after Jenn Hobby left last fall. He is even more reluctant to just add someone willy nilly now that he's entering D.C.