More names from the cuts at iHeartMedia over the past two weeks have continued to trickle out.
Among the newer names to come out:
Robert ‘Wingnut’ Daniel – Program Director of CHRs “Kiss 95.1” WFKS Melbourne, “97.9 Kiss-FM” WKSL Jacksonville, and “107.1 Kiss-FM” WGMY Tallahassee and night host at “XL 106.7” WXXL Orlando exits after nineteen years in Melbourne where he rose through the ranks from Production Director and Imaging Director until rising to his current roles in 2020. He can be reached at [email protected].
Chadwick ‘AJ’ Hausknecht – Region Senior Vice President of Programming for the Virginia-Carolina region and Program Director of Gold CHR “Hits 96.1” WHQC and Variety Hits “102.9 The Lake” WLKO Charlotte. AJ joined iHeartMedia in 2012 as SVP/Programming overseeing the company’s Norfolk and Richmond VA stations and programming CHR “Q94” WRVQ and AC “Mix 98.1” WTVR-FM Richmond. He then transferred to St. Louis in July 2016 where he oversaw all programming for St. Louis and programmed CHR “Z107.7” KSLZ and Gospel “Hallelujah 1600” KATZ. He joined the Charlotte cluster in January 2018 and rose to the Region SVP/P role in March 2019. AJ has also programmed CHRs 97.1 WBHT Wilkes-Barre, “Kiss 106.7” WKGS Rochester, and “Hot 107.9” WWHT Syracuse during his career.
Sara Jean – Assistant Program Director of Variety Hits “95.5 The Mountain” KYOT and AC “99.9 KEZ” KESZ Phoenix since October 2019. She previously spent five years at the company’s Spokane WA cluster after previously on-air and in promotions for Citadel and Mapleton’s clusters in Spokane.
Jim Moore – Midday co-host at Sports 93.3 KJR-FM Seattle since October 2021 after previously spending eleven years co-hosting afternoons at Bonneville’s “710 ESPN” KIRO and serving as a writer for their SeattleSports.com. He also spent 26 years as a Sports columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Moore’s firing led co-host Jason ‘Puck’ Puckett to end his negotiations for a new contract and depart the station as well.
Josh Nagy – Program Director of Classic Hits “Sunny 101.7” WHOF and Country “Canton’s New Country 99.7” WHOF-HD2 Canton and News/Talk 640 WHLO Akron since 2019. Nagy joined iHeart in 2017 as PD of AC “Mix 98.1” WDFM Defiance OH after spending four years as a board operator and promotions coordinator for CBS Radio Detroit.
Carlos Navarro – Departs as co-host of “Monsters In The Morning” on Hot Talk “Real Radio 104.1” WTKS-FM Orlando after 20 years. In a message on his website Navarro wrote, ” It was a decision from way up the iHeartMedia ladder, and while it’s not about performance, it still stings. I’m still processing this, but I’m not about to sit still. I’ve got plans and some exciting next steps to share with you — more on that soon, I promise. Your support means everything, and together, there’s so much we can do.”
Rauce Padgett – Exits as co-host of The Jim Colbert Show on Hot Talk “Real Radio 104.1” WTKS-FM Orlando. A touring stand-up, Padgett’s departure was announced at the start of Colbert’s show on Monday, March 25. A report from Bungalower.com also stated that an all-hands staff meeting was held on Monday discussing further changes coming to the station.
Kyle Presley – APD/Afternoon host at “Real Rock 105.7” WVBZ and APD of Conservative Talk 94.5 WPTI Greensboro NC. Presley rose to his current position in January 2023 after three years as a programming assistant.
Update 3/20: The round of layoffs that began last week at iHeartMedia have yet to show signs of being done as more names have been let go this week.
Reggie Brown – Program Director/afternoon host of Hip Hop “V100” WKKV Milwaukee. Brown was on his second stint at the station spending 21 years at the station until being part of the company’s January 2020 layoffs. He would return three months later returning to his former afternoon drive position while adding Program Director duties.
John E Kage – Program Director of CHR “Hits 95.7” KDHT and Country “106.7 The Bull” KWBL Denver. Kage joined iHeart in January 2019 to program then “95.7 The Party” KPTT and would oversee its rebrand in July 2021, while adding the KWBL duties in August 2019. Kage has previously programmed Country 98.5 KYGO and Rhythmic CHR “KS 107.5” KQKS Denver and CHR “Hot 101.5” WPOI Tampa.
Brian Moote & Kimmie Caruba – 2/3 of the morning show at “94.9 The Bull” WUBL Atlanta exited following their show today. Both joined the station in May 2022 with Moote previously spending time in mornings at KPLX Dallas, KAMP Los Angeles, KLCK Seattle, and the syndicated Bert Show based at WWWQ Atlanta. Caruba has worked at WUSN Chicago, KDDB Honolulu, and KALV-FM/KMLE Phoenix. Co-host Otis Maher remains with the station.
Drake Webb – Left his role as co-host of CHR 101.3 KDWB Minneapolis’ “Dave Ryan Show” on Monday after 2+ years at the station. Webb joined the Dave Ryan Show in November 2021 after previously serving as evening host and Social Media Manager for Woodward Communications CHR “95.9 Kiss-FM” WKSZ Green Bay WI.
Update 3/18: The restructuring on the programming department at iHeartMedia continues as more names have become known as being affected. The cuts continue to be targeting many of those on the Country format side including many cluster or regional SVP’s of Programming with long tenures in the company. It is still not yet known how many names are affected and the company has yet to comment on the moves. There are other names we have heard that have not yet become public.
Among the recently known exits confirmed by RadioInsight and Country Aircheck are:
Don Cristi – SVP/Programming for Oklahoma City and Tulsa and PD/afternoon host at Rock 97.5 KMOD Tulsa. Cristi wrote on Facebook, “Yesterday, after a 20-year love affair, I was separated from iHeartRadio. I literally loved every minute of overseeing our stations in Tulsa and four years ago adding the awesome group in Oklahoma City. But everyone who knows me knows this — my love for the legendary 97.5 KMOD was head over heels and unbridled.”
‘Uncle Sam’ Eulenfield – Spent nearly sixteen years with the company most recently in the roles of Production Director for Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley, Program Director of News/Talk 1360 KKTX, and afternoon host at Country “K99” KRYS. He wrote on Instagram, “I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the finest people in radio (and yes I will include sales in that bunch). I’m not sure what my next chapter in my life will look like, but for the time being I shall content being just Uncle Sam to my niece and nephews.”
Matt Gilcheck – Morning host and Creative Services Director at Country “B93” WBCT Grand Rapids MI since 2014. Gilcheck previously programmed Classic Rock “101.3 The Fox” WBFX from 2012-14 after starting his career in the market as Production/Imaging Assistant and afternoon host at 94.5 WKLQ from 1996-99, Imaging Director/midday host at 104.5 WSNX from 1999-2004 and Production Director/afternoon host at 94.5 WTNR from 2004-07. He also has hosted mornings at WKFR Kalamazoo, was MD/morning host at 99.9 WKIS Miami, and midday host at 96.9 WKKT Charlotte. The Austin TX based Gilcheck has a voice-over business at MattGilcheck.com. Co-host Aly Mac continues in mornings.
Austin James – APD/MD/afternooon host at Country 101.5 WYNK. James had been with WYNK since starting as a part-time host in 1988 after previously working as a television engineer.
Chelsey Steinhauer – Program Director/midday host of Country “96.3 Star Country” WMAD-FM Madison WI. Steinhauer spent nine years at iHeart rising from an intern to promotions assistant then Music Director and Social Media Coordinator before taking on the programming duties in January 2021.
Original Report 3/15
Among those exiting the company in this round of cuts are:
‘Amber Miller’ Bouchard, APD/midday host at Alternative “Alt 104.5” WRFF Philadelphia. She joined then “Radio 104.5” in August 2016 and was promoted to Program Director in May 2020 when the station rebranded. She slid back to APD when Mike Kaplan joined the station as Program Director last September. Miller had just moved from nights back to middays earlier this week. She previously served as National Director of Promotion for Caroline Records, spent six years as APD/MD and PD/Afternoon host at Alternative 102.7 WEQX Manchester VT/Albany NY and has also worked on-air at 96.3 WDVD Detroit, 98.1 WQSM Fayetteville, and “G105” WDCG Raleigh. Happens.vip notes that WBIG-FM Washington DC morning host Jaxon will now be heard from 10am-2pm as opposed to just the 12pm hour.
Zack Owen, PD/morning host at Country “WACO 100” WACO-FM Waco TX since 1992 and Regional SVP/Programming. Owen co-hosted mornings at WACO-FM with Jim Cody from 1992 until Cody’s death from Liver Cancer last October.
LJ Smith had been Regional SVP/Programming for five markets based in Columbia SC. Smith joined the company in 2002 as Program Director of Country 97.5 WCOS after previously serving as SVP/Programming for Ocean City MD based Benchmark Communications and serving as Senior Consultant for Broadcast Programming.
Steve Wazz – Wazz exited as APD/morning host at Country 99.5 WGAR Cleveland after
Erich West, SVP/Programming for iHeartMedia Huntsville AL. West also hosted middays at Country 102.1 WDRM and afternoons on Classic Hits “100.3 The River” WQRV. He came to Huntsville in 2006 after four years as Operations Manager for the company in Macon GA. West also spent six years as Program Director for Tiger Communications in Auburn AL.
