A pair of longtime Tampa program managers are out in much different operations.
John Larson has departed his position as Director of Branding and Programming for Cox Media Group AC “Magic 94.9” WWRM and Classic Rock “107.3 The Eagle” WXGL. Larson has worked for Cox Tampa since 2003 and also served as Classic Hits format leader for the company. He has previously programmed in Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Washington DC in his career.
Rick Thomas, Operations Manager for Cox Media Tampa and Program Director of Top 40 “Hot 101.5” WPOI and Soft AC 105.5 WDUV, will add programming duties for WWRM and WXGL.
After 40 years at Community 88.5 WMNF, which he was one of the co-founders of, Rob Lorei has exited his position as News Director and host of the midday “Radioactivity” that aired from 11am-12pm weekdays.
Lorei told FloridaPolitics.com that his firing by General Manager Craig Kopp was due to low ratings, “He said I wasn’t posting on Facebook enough, which probably is true. But we were also working with half the staff we had before and I was trying to organize the shows. I’m essentially being fired for low ratings, which is part of (Kopp’s) responsibility.”
After a decade in middays at Entercom CHR “B96” 96.3 WBBM-FM Chicago, Nikki has exited. Nikki had been with WBBM-FM since 2009 after previously hosting middays and afternoons at iHeartMedia CHR “103.5 Kiss-FM” WKSC.
Nikki is the second staffer to exit WBBM-FM this month following the departure of morning host Drex.
Entercom News/Talk 830 WCCO Minneapolis has cut ties with 11pm-2am host Al Malmberg. Malmberg completes his second tour at the station where he previously worked from 1996-2008 before returning in 2013.