Entercom has begun another round of programming cuts today.
These cuts will be focused primarily on Program Directors and on-air talent at Alternative and Country formats with the beginning of a move towards regionalizing their operations. We’re told that midday and evening on-air shifts will be either regionalized or made national.
In a memo release, Entercom CEO David Field noted these changes would:
- Putting the Listener First – Deliver the most compelling and engaging audio content, regardless of where it originates
- Continue to Deliver the Best Local Programming – Quality local content remains at the heart of our business and we remain committed to delivering the best local programming with the best and most popular local personalities and deep local community engagement
- Exclusive, New, Curated Content – Tap into our leading radio, podcasting, and digital platforms to generate additional outstanding, unique content to better serve our listeners
- Unique, Exclusive Artist and Superstar Content – Capitalize on our format leadership to create regular exclusive listener content with labels, artists, and influencers, such as superstar artist features, behind-the-scenes access, and other special, must-listen elements.
- Elevate Our Best Programmers and Personalities into Larger Roles – Give our most talented programmers greater responsibilities to reimagine and elevate our content while amplifying some of our top shows across larger regional and national audiences.
Field later states that “Entercom will remain local, first and foremost” and they will “continue these large investments in our local product and talent, as well as new local features across our brands. In addition, every station will continue to have its own unique playlist driven by a continued commitment to heavy local research.”
The company will also be restructuring their national sales teams “to make it easier for clients to do business with us while creating more flexibility for national client integration with our brands”.
One of the first talents to go public with their exits was “102.9 The Wolf” KMNB Minneapolis morning co-host Mandy James. James joined KMNB in October 2018 from the morning co-host position at Townsquare Media CHR 97.5 WZOK Rockford IL.
It was a good run. Effective immediately, I am no longer employed with Entercom and 102.9 the Wolf. Thank you for all of your love and support & I can at least say that I made all my radio dreams come true. From playing polka in the cornfields all the way home. Can’t ask for more
— Mandy James (@MandyJOnAir) September 10, 2020
Instead of duplicating already existing lists full of names of cuts, see the lists at AllAccess and Country Aircheck.
