The ongoing cuts at Cumulus Media show no sign of slowing down. A number of markets were hit on Monday including longtime Operations Manager Steve Smith in Huntsville AL. But among the markets where we’re also hearing of new departures including Bloomington IL, Myrtle Beach SC, and New Orleans as well as cuts from last month that are still leaking out.
If you would like to add your details to the ongoing list, reach out at [email protected].
Updated 12/6 with additional names.
Laura St. James exits as Program Director of Hot AC 104.5 WXLO Worcester/Boston and CHR “Q105” WQGN New London CT. She also hosted middays at WXLO and afternoons on WQGN. She joined WXLO in October 2017. She previously spent her career based in Allentown PA where she programmed Cumulus AC 100.7 WLEV from 2010-16 after sixteen years at iHeartMedia CHR “B104” WAEB-FM rising through the ranks from promotions to on-air and then PD from 2002-09. She also has held weekend shifts at WBEB Philadelphia and WLTW, WNEW, and WNSH New York. St. James can be reached at [email protected].
Steve Davis and Susan Kennedy exit mornings at AC “Star 98” WQLH Green Bay WI. Davis had been with the station since 1999 and hosted mornings for the past sixteen. Kennedy joined WQLH in 2022 as morning co-host and midday host after previously working at Midwest Communications CHR 101.1 WIXX.
Stan Phillips is out as PD/afternoon host at AC “Magic 93” WMGS Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PA after 35 years at the station. Phillips joined WMGS right before graduating college in 1989 and rose through the ranks to Music Director in 1992 and has programmed the station since 1997. Cumulus Allentown OM Jerry Padden has taken on the roles of PD and afternoon host at WMGS.
Mike McGuff reports that Steve Lamb and Nicole Osei have exited the “WBAP Morning News” on News/Talk 820 WBAP Fort Worth/93.3 WBAP-FM Haltom City TX.
Lamb has been Sports Director and part of the “WBAP Morning News” since 1986 and was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2019. Osei began her career as an intern at WBAP in 2002 and has been a producer, reporter and anchor since 2016. She has also spent time as a reporter/anchor for 1080 KRLD and KSWO-TV Lawton OK.
The Colorado Springs cluster got hit pretty hard with many significant names affected. Operations Manager Bobby Irwin departs after 26 years in the building where he also programmed AC “92.9 Peak-FM” KKPK and Classic Rock 98.1 KKFM. Prior to his arrival in 1998, Irwin spent time programming KWRM Seattle, WUSA Tampa, and WISN/WLTQ Milwaukee and had an on-air career in Duluth, Fargo, Omaha, Des Moines, Las Vegas, and Denver.
Also departing in the market are “Cat Country 95.1” KATC Program Director/morning host Mason Stanfield and his recently arrived co-host Stella Girkins. Stanfield joined the station in June 2023 after previously hosting mornings for Cumulus at KRMD-FM Shreveport LA. He also has worked in Austin MN, Las Cruces NM, and Salida CO. Stanfield can be reached at [email protected].
Bobby Adan exits as Promotions Director and morning co-host on AC “92.9 Peak-FM” KKPK. Adan had been with the cluster since 2006 starting in promotions and later serving as receptionist before moving to mornings alongside Woody Powers.
Carolyn Scofield exits weekends at Alternative “Alt 92.3” WZRH New Orleans after eight years. Scofield shared on LinkedIn, “I’m grateful for the almost eight years I spent working at Alt 92.3 in New Orleans. That’s a lifetime in radio! I’ll never forget the year I spent doing my radio shift at home during the pandemic, a towel over my head to reduce the echo in my spare room. Or broadcasting from a cabin in the middle of Alabama while evacuated for Hurricane Ida. I rode in Mardi Gras parades with my radio colleagues, and free tickets to shows were the best job perk. 😁 The radio industry is challenging, and I wish Cumulus New Orleans nothing but the best as they move forward. I learned so much from my talented colleagues, and I’ll forever be thankful that I got to share the airwaves with them.” A former television reporter in Orlando, West Palm Beach, and New Orleans, Scofield is also currently Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for Tulane University School of Medicine.
Jay Whatley exits as afternoon host at Hot AC “Q97.3” KQHN Shreveport LA after three years. Whatley joined KQHN in March 2022 after previously spending 15 years at Townsquare Media CHR “K94.5” KRUF with stints as part of the morning show, overnights, and nights before moving to afternoons in 2015. He has also served as producer for SiriusXM’s and CBS Sports Tim Brando Show and is the longtime in-arena host for Shreveport Mudbugs hockey.
Darren Gauthier exits as afternoon host at “Classic Hits 103.3” WRQQ Baton Rouge LA. Gauthier has held on-air and programming roles at stations including “106.1 The Zephyr” WZRH and “106.7 The End” KKND New Orleans, “Eagle 98.1” WDGL Baton Rouge as PD, and Operations Manager for Townsquare Media Killeen TX.
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Kevin Elkins departs mornings at “Newsradio 1440” WLWI Montgomery AL after 23 years with the station. He wrote on Facebook, “Today was my last day at Cumulus, but to be fair radio is changing and it goes with the landscape. 23 years at one job in one company is a good run I am grateful for the opportunity I was given, I will be coming back in about 2 weeks more info next week…. stay tuned.. “Elkman” is not through yet…
Breck Kinsey has departed her dual role as midday host at Rock “Z93” WKQZ and afternoon host at CHR 102.5 WIOG Saginaw MI after three years. A local native, Kinsey previously hosted nights at Country 98.1 WKCQ Saginaw and worked at AC “Cruise 102.1” WLEW Bad Axe MI.
Alternative “95X” 95.7 WAQX Syracuse NY has broken apart its “Morning Mess” after a decade at the station. The single-named ‘Marty The One Man Party’ and Shannon Wells joined WAQX in 2014 after previously hosting mornings at CHR “Hot 107.9” WWHT from 2004 to 2010. Wells’ disappearance from the show began being noted by local social media groups in late November and was confirmed by Syracuse.com today. Besides WWHT and WAQX, Wells has also worked at iHeartMedia AC “Y94” WYYY Syracuse.
Marty remains in mornings at WAQX.
Daniel Merry departs nights at Alternative “Alt 92.3” WZRH LaPlace/New Orleans. Merry had been with the station since 2018 first hosting middays before moving to nights in September 2021. He shared:
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Also in New Orleans, ‘Kim Che’re’ Hardy departs as midday host at Gospel “Heaven 106.7” KKND Sulphur. Hardy has worked at multiple New Orleans Gospel stations in her career including 750 KKNO and “Praise 94.9” KPRF in her career.
Buck Stevens exits Country “B104” WBWN Bloomington IL after 26 years at the station most recently as Program Director and afternoon host. He can be reached at [email protected].
“Wally B’ Berlingeri is out as afternoon host at Classic Hits “Sunny 103.1” WSYN Surfside Beach/Myrtle Beach SC. Berlingeri has been a staple of the Myrtle Beach market for decades with stints at CHR “Mix 97.7” WWXM, “Hot 100” WSEA, and Rhythmic AC “Movin 94.5” WYEZ.
Country “I92” 92.3 WLWI Montgomery AL has cancelled the Southern Gospel “Grand Old Gospel Time” after a 35 year run with part-time host Bill Roberts exiting the station. Roberts told 1819News.com, “Everything comes to an end sooner or later. I want to thank all that have listened over the years. I want to say a special thanks to Doctor Sam (Sam Faulk), who asked me many, many years ago to be the host of the program.”
