Standard General’s MediaCo Holding and Emmis have announced multiple changes at their New York operation.
MediaCo had purchased Hip Hop “Hot 97” WQHT and Adult R&B 107.5 WBLS in July 2019. Emmis received $91.5 million in cash, a $5 million note, and a 23.72% stake in the new holding company. As part of that deal, Emmis continued to manage the two stations under a Shared Services Agreement with all employees remaining on their payroll. That part is now coming to an end as Emmis will move management of their remaining New York stations back to Indianapolis.
With the change Gospel 1190 WLIB has dropped all remaining local staffers and will rely on syndicated programming from American Urban Radio Networks and Reach Mediar. Emmis also owns 98.7 WEPN-FM, which continues to be leased to ESPN.
The changes have also led to personnel shifts as Skip Dillard’s Vice President of Programming position for WBLS/WLIB has been eliminated. Dillard joined the stations as Program Director in 2008 when owned by Inner City Broadcasting and rose to VP/Programming this past January. Prior to WBLS/WLIB, Dillard programmed WPGC Washington DC, KBTB San Francisco, WBLK Buffalo, and was OM for Radio One Detroit. He will move into a sales position with MediaCo as VP of National Community Partnershipsr
Replacing Dillard as WBLS Program Director will be longtime Assistant Program Director Cynthia Smith.
