Update 9/29: More names have been revealed as being affected by last week’s round of layoffs at Cox Media Group.
Athens GA
Alichia Cruz departs the dual role of morning host at AC “Magic 102.1” WGMG and midday host at CHR “Power 100.1” WPUP. Prior to joining Cox in 2018, Cruz served as a producer/co-host at “92Q” WERQ Baltimore and hosted middays at “Magic 98.9” WSBY Salisbury MD.
Natalie Rae exits nights at Country “Your Georgia Country” 106.1 WNGC. Rae started with the station in January.
Jacksonville
Clarence Natto departs as Program Director at Adult R&B “Hot 99.5” W258CN/WOKV-HD2 and Hip Hop “Power 106.1” W291CI/WJGL-HD2. Natto joined then “Hot 106.5” WHJX in 2014 after spending fifteen years as Promotions Director at Cox’s “Kiss 104.1” WALR Atlanta.
Orlando
Hildy Brooks is out as Program Director/afternoon host at Classic Rock 98.9 WMMO. Brooks had been with Cox since 2001 hosting afternoons at Classic Rock 96.5 WHTQ until 2011 when she moved over to WMMO. She added Program Director duties in November 2012. Brooks also spent eight years in middays at CHR “XL 106.7” WXXL. Melissa Quinones, midday host at Country “K92.3” WWKA, is now also hosting afternoons at WMMO.
Dawn Campbell exits as Program Director of Adult R&B “Star 94.5” WCFB after a decade at Cox. Campbell served as Music Director for WCFB and then Rhythmic CHR “Power 95.3” WPYO from 2011 to 2016 before rising to Program Director of WCFB in 2016. Campbell has also spent fifteen years at “102 Jamz” WJHM Orlando starting as a promotions/research assistant in high school before rising to APD and later MD and Promotions Director.
Tony Marino departs as anchor of “Orlando’s Evening News” from 6-7pm on News/Talk 580 WDBO/107.3 W297BB. Marino joined WDBO in 2013 after stints at KRLD Dallas, WEAT West Palm Beach, Business Talk Radio Network, and Total Traffic/Weather.
Darrell Moody exits as a reporter at WDBO. Moody joined the station in 2013 from 540 WFLF Orlando and Metro Networks.
Ray Caputo exits as an anchor and reporter at WDBO after eleven years at the station. Caputo previously spent thirteen years as a traffic reporter for WSYR Syracuse and other Clear Channel stations in Albany and Rochester NY. He also is a professor at Bethune-Cookman University.
Updated 9/24: Cox Media Group has made a significant number of layoffs across their radio properties.
The layoffs stretched from corporate executives down to part-time staffers at local market stations. The cuts come as Cox Media Group owner Apollo Global Management seeks to acquire another large television group operator in TEGNA.
An inquiry for comment to Cox management has gone unanswered so far.
Among the names who have gone public with their departures are:
Houston
Morning hosts Dan Gallo and Chuck Akers depart Classic Country “Country Legends 97.1” KTHT Houston. Gallo’s 50+ year career has been spent mostly in Houston with stations including 1070 KENR, 101.1 KLOL, 100.3 KILT-FM, 107.5 KHTC, and KTHT.
Jason Skaggs departs as Production/Creative Services Director.
Long Island
Jeremy Rice exits as Program Director of CHR 106.1 WBLI Long Island NY after 22 years at the station. Rice also served as corporate CHR Format Leader for the company since 2000. Prior to coming to WBLI, Rice worked at WPXY and WDKX Rochester and WWHT Syracuse NY.
CHR 106.1 WBLI Long Island NY morning co-host Dana ‘MJ’ Parisi. Parisi joined WBLI as night host in 2014 after previously serving as APD/afternoon host at Dance “Party 105.3” WPTY. She then joined Syke in afternoons before the duo moved to mornings in 2018. Syke and producer Ally Ali remain in mornings.
Ted Lindner exits as News Director and Traffic reporter for the cluster. Lindner had been part of the cluster since 2003 and was also part of WBAB’s Roger & JP morning show.
Miami
Jill Strada departs as Director of Operations for Cox Miami. Strada joined Cox in 2014 as Program Director of CHR “Hits 97.3” WFLC and added oversight of Hip Hop “99 Jamz” WEDR in 2015 before rising to her current role in February 2018. Strada has previously programmed “Hot 97” WQHT New York and “Power 96” WPOW Miami.
Rappers Trina and Trick Daddy have exited Hip Hop “99 Jamz” WEDR Miami just shy of two years at the station. The duo joined the station in January 2020.
Ahead of the relaunch of CHR “Hits 97.3” WFLC, morning hosts Kimmy B. and Al P. have exited. Kimmy had been with the cluster since 2004 working at Urban “99 Jamz” WEDR before moving to WFLC in August 2014. She also tracked nights at CHR “Hot 101.5” WPOI Tampa. Al previously hosted nights before joining Kimmy in mornings in 2016.
Orlando
Matt Holiday exits as Music Director/afternoon host at CHR “Power 95.3” WPYO after five months. Holiday moved to Orlando in April from weekends at 106.1 WBLI Long Island and has also worked at WNFN Nashville.
San Antonio
Randy Bonillas exits as APD/MD and afternoon host at Rock 99.5 KISS-FM San Antonio TX. To replace Bonillas, Chris Sifuentes moves from middays to 3-8pm, while Jill Munroe from nights to middays.
Jared Dey departs as producer of the syndicated Billy Madison Show based at KISS-FM. Dey joined BMS in 2019 after stints at WNNX Atlanta, WPOI Tampa, KLUC Las Vegas, and XETRA-FM San Diego.
Chris Cardenas departs as morning show producer and night host at Country “Y100” KCYY.
Tampa
The “Soul Brother Kevin Show” is out at Hot Talk “102.5 The Bone” WHPT. Soul Brother Kevin joined WHPT as co-host of the Drew Garabo Show in afternoons in 2015 and moved to the 6-9pm slot in May 2018. He previously worked at WBTT Fort Myers and two stints at 104.1 WTKS-FM Orlando including five years hosting nights.
Tulsa
Ken ‘Gus’ August departs mornings at Classic Rock “103.3 The Eagle” KJSR Tulsa after three years. August previously co-hosted mornings at KKBZ Fresno.
