Earlier today, Scott Shannon announced he will “retire” from Audacy Classic Hits 101.1 WCBS-FM New York on December 16.
While Shannon will no longer be heard in mornings at WCBS-FM, this is starting to sound more like his previous “retirement” in 2014 when he left Cumulus Media’s 95.5 WPLJ only to reappear at WCBS-FM a month later. In his on-air announcement this morning, Shannon made it clear his time on the air is not coming to an end.
Shannon told listeners, “I’ve actually worked here with Patty at CBS-FM for the past eight and a half years. When I signed my contract I thought it would be my last stop on the radio road. Turns out it’s not going to be. My alarm has gone off at 3:15 for eight and a half years now and I believe it’s time to take from morning radio and chill for awhile before I decide what I want to do next in my life and my career. It was a difficult decision for me because I love CBS-FM, it was a dream of mine to work here and I did get to work here. I love the station, I love the people I work with and work for and of course I’ll be honest with ya, I think these are the best listeners we’ve ever had. I love the people. There were a bunch of listeners who were already here and when we first got here and I thought they weren’t going to go for this and little by little we got most of them into the club and of course many people came with us from the other place. We’ve entertained these people and gotten to know them for the past eight and a half years, but its time to take a break so on Friday, December the 16th I will retire from CBS-FM after we finish up the year the way it should be with our live broadcast for the kids at Blythedale Children’s Hospital.”
He continued stating that his syndicated “America’s Greatest Hits” countdown show will continue to be heard the station on Sunday mornings and his “True Oldies Channel” network will continue to be on WCBS-HD3 before turning it over to co-host Patty Steele, who also will be departing the station with Shannon.
Steele said, “Scott your decision to take a break led me to start thinking about what I love to do. My career has been in blocks seemingly to follow you. I was at Z100 with you, then I did news at CBS-AM. I went to WOR. I was at WPLJ with you. I was at WCBS-FM, 1010 WINS. This is just a transition for me to the next block. It also allows me to expand my podcasting as well as a new business venture and as always back on the radio sooner rather than later. I have absolutely loved working here and I have nothing but gratitude to the people here for the opportunity they gave us. For all the challenges in my life; breast cancer, family addiction issues which have famously been explored in podcasting (Shannon then says “and working with me, can you survive that again?”), my kids’ high school and college graduations, there’s lots of good things too. You, our amazing listeners have been my friends and my radio family and I have not for one minute not gotten through it without knowing you’re there and I’ll miss you.”
The announcement can be heard here:
INSTANT INSIGHT:Shannon has also had a knack in his career for knowing when the time to jump to the next project should be and has not been afraid to take risks. He left Z100 at the top, tried something new at KQLZ, evolved WPLJ multiple times during his tenure programming that station, and knew when his relationship with Cumulus and co-host Todd Pettengill was beyond repair. Could he attempt to reinvent himself one last time?
With Shannon stating that he thought WCBS-FM will now not be the end of his radio road, he is making it perfectly clear he is not ready to retire completely. His options to remain on broadcast radio in New York are limited as subtracting Audacy’s cluster leaves only three distinct options in the city itself. MediaCo’s WBLS and WQHT are not fits. He would appear to be round peg in a square hole at one of iHeartMedia’s stations not completely fitting in properly with any of their formats. But would Red Apple Media’s 770 WABC make some sense? WABC recently lost half of its morning show with the passing of Bernard McGuirk earlier this month, Shannon is a known conservative from his long association as the announcer for the Sean Hannity Show, but WABC owner John Catsimatidis has also brought in multiple music radio talents such as Cousin Brucie Morrow to tie into the Top 40 history of that station. Is there a fit for Shannon at WABC?
Or does he see the potential to build something digitally? Shannon has enough of a national following that his name could help shift older listeners to streaming where he can attempt to build one last pillar on the exceptional radio legacy he has already left.
