The list of those affected by last week’s Beasley Media layoffs continues to grow with cuts made at the company’s New Jersey stations not taking place until Friday.
Charlotte
Adrian ‘Vonyetta’ Watson departs middays at Hip Hop “Power 98” WPEG after over ten years. She joined WPEG in September 2013 after previously spending a decade at “Hot 103.9” WHXT Columbia SC. Vonyetta stated, “Thank you to Power 98 for a great run. I’ve been in hip hop radio for 21 years and I promise I wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you to everyone who tuned in live with me weekly. I was able to curate some amazing, yet revolutionary ideas in radio and I’m not stopping with it. The Clubhouse may be closed on Charlotte radio, but it’s not closed permanently. The Clubhouse stream that I created was such a revolutionary concept and I am so proud. WTF They say was the highest viewed content and I’m so proud of how great that show did and will do.”
Detroit
Scott Jameson has accepted a voluntary retirement buyout from his role as cluster Operations Manager and Program Director of Classic Rock 94.7 WCSX. Jameson joined Beasley in July 2020 after previously spending eight years at Cumulus as Operations Manager in Minneapolis, PD of Classic Rock 92.5 KQRS and VP/Classic Rock for the company until his exit in January. He has also programmed AAA “92.9 Dave-FM” WZGC Atlanta and VP/Adult Rock for CBS Radio from 2009-2012, spent fifteen years as OM/PD of Classic Rock “Q95” WFBQ and Rock “103X” WRZX Indianapolis, and PD of “KY102” KYYS Kansas City.
Fayetteville NC
Gregory ‘G-Moniy’ Johnson departs afternoons at Hip Hop “Foxy 99” WZFX after five years in the daypart. Johnson wrote, “Tuesday May 7th was my last day at Foxy 99. I was in Radio for 17 years and I’m thankful for every listener, every call, every interaction, every coworker(well 90% of them) every event. I’m just thankful. I have a WHOLE lot to say. I’ll save it for a podcast or a book or something I dunno. I’m just glad to be able to focus on the my other projects now.”
Las Vegas
Gianni Giancola was Assistant Digital Director since April 2021. Giancola previously spent six years at Audacy Las Vegas including digital content and hosting weekends at CHR 98.5 KLUC.
New Jersey
Maryann Morgan is out as morning co-host at AC “Magic 98.3” WMGQ. Morgan returned to WMGQ in March 2017 after previously hosting nights in the early 1990s.
Ginny Otte exits as Creative Services Director for “Fox Sports 93.5” 1450 WCTC and AC “Magic 98.3” WMGQ. Otte joined the stations in 2006 as a production assistant and rose to her current role in 2018. She also hosted middays on Oldies 1250 WMTR Morristown and overnights on WMGQ. She previously spent seven years at 102.7 WNEW New York including time as producer of the “Ron & Fez Show”.
Glenn Summers exits weekends at Classic Hits 100.1 WJRZ after ten years. Summers previously spent eleven years in the same role at AC 92.7 WOBM-FM.
Original Report 5/8: The names of those affected by the Beasley Media layoffs continues to grow with some of the markets conducting their cuts today.
Among the newly public names affected are:
Las Vegas
Christopher ‘Morty’ Sampaio departs his role as morning show producer and Production Director at Classic Hits 96.3 KKLZ. Morty joined KKLZ in 2019 after previously holding the same roles at Audacy Hot AC “Mix 94.1” KMXB from 2010-19 and also spent twelve years at Clear Channel Honolulu.
Sampaio was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2022 and KKLZ morning hosts Mike O’Brian and Carla Rea have been running a GoFundMe since his diagnosis to help with his medical costs. In an Instagram story, Morty shared, “Finding a job will be al lot harder for someone with stage 4 cancer, but I will prevail. If you know anyone looking for a good audio and video editor, let me know!”
Philadelphia
A number of names have are out in Philadelphia. Pat Egan departs as evening host at Sports “97.5 The Fanatic” WPEN-FM after thirteen years at the station. Egan had just moved into the timeslot in March after serving as a producer and fill-in host.
Steve Vassalotti exits as morning show producer/co-host at Classic Rock 102.9 WMGK. Vassalotti began his career as an intern at WMMR in 2007 and has been in his current role with former host John DeBella and current host Matt Cord since 2017.
93.3 WMMR’s “Preston & Steve Show” loses video producer Kyle McCarty. McCarty held his now former role since November 2022 after a previous stint at the company from 2018-20.
Production Directors Kevin Gunn and Rhonda Hibbler have both retired. Gunn had been with WMMR since 1991. Hibbler joined Greater Media in 1998 after stints as a producer/engineer for 96.5 WWDB and 610 WIP and has led production at WPEN since its flip to Sports. She was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2023.
Chris ‘Pancake’ Ashcraft exits as midday show producer at WMMR after fifteen years.
Greg Monaghan is out as Art Director and graphic designer for the cluster after 24 years.
Todd DiFeo departs as Promotions Director for WPEN-FM and Assistant Promotions Director for WMMR after 24 years with Greater Media/Beasley.
Boston
Roy Barboza exits as Music Director at Rhythmic Hot AC “Hot 96.9” WBQT after eleven years where he also produced three daily mixshows. Prior to WBQT, Barboza worked at “Jam’n 94.5” WJMN From 1997 to 2010.
Detroit
Jonel Jaska exits as morning show producer at Classic Hip Hop “105.1 The Bounce” WMGC and weekend host at Rock 101.1 WRIF. Jaska had been with the company since 2016 after previously spending ten years at iHeartMedia Detroit including time on-air and as Production Director and two years as morning host at WSAQ Port Huron MI. Jaska wrote, “Here’s the thing about working in radio. You’re gonna get fired. Usually not because of performance, but because of “budget”. That’s show biz. Hit me up if ya gotta job to fill.”
Original Report 5/7:Beasley Media Group has initiated a round of layoffs affecting around 7% of their current employee roster.
Beasley shared a statement regarding the cuts commenting, “We are realigning our core business operations to reflect the current economic conditions in order to best serve the needs of our valued audiences, advertisers, and shareholders into the future.”
Among the first people to go public with their exit is Country 102.5 WKLB Boston afternoon host Jackson Blue. Blue wrote, “I just got released from Country 102.5. I’ll miss all of my amazing listeners… but I’ll be ok.” Blue joined Beasley in 2014 first hosting afternoons at “Hot 96.9” WBQT before moving to mornings and then afternoons at WKLB in 2017. Blue spent eight years hosting nights at iHeartMedia CHR “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM, and also served as Music Director at “106.1 Kiss-FM” KHKS Dallas and APD/Morning host at “Z104.3” WZFT Baltimore while at Clear Channel/iHeart. He also hosts syndicated daily show for CHR/Hot AC.
Britney Cherry departs as producer for “Maney & LauRen” on CHR “Kiss 95.1” WNKS Charlotte after just four plus months. Cherry also serves as producer for Rick Party’s syndicated show based at Audacy Classic Hip Hop “104.3 Jams” WBMX Chicago and previously worked at the station.
Tom Calococci is out as Program Director of Soft AC “Sunny 106.3” WJPT and Sports “ESPN SWFL” 770 WBCN. Calococci previously programmed Rhythmic CHR “Power 96” WPOW-FM Miami for the company from 2006-2011 and Adult R&B “Jammin 105.7” KOAS Las Vegas from April to September 2021. He has also programmed KJMZ Dallas, WERQ Baltimore, WILD Boston, KZZP Phoenix, KBXX Houston, KKBT Los Angeles and WFLC Miami during his career.
Phil Harris and Mel Myers exit afternoons at Classic Hits “K104.7” WKQC Charlotte. The duo had been teamed together since 2013, hosting mornings until moving to afternoons in 2021. Harris previously spent 12 years at 102.9 WLYT and has worked on-air and in news and production in Austin and Seattle. He can be reached at philharrisvo@yahoo.com. Myers previously worked in Charlotte at 99.7 WRFX and 106.5 WEND along with 102.3 WMFX and 104.7 WNOK Columbia SC. She can be reached at melanymyers15@gmail.com. The duo have audio and video demos at philharrismedia.com.
Jay Beau Jones exits afternoons at Classic Hits 105.7 WROR Boston after ten years. Jones, who will continue to be heard on SiriusXM’s “70s on 7“, previously programmed WBMX and WODS Boston, WUBT Chicago, WKSS Hartford, and was Director of Operations for Citadel Worcester. He’s also worked on-air at WXKS-FM Boston and WHTZ New York. Jones writes, “After a wonderful 10 year run at WROR in Boston, ranking #2 adults I was part of the 7% and let go.”
Jennifer Scordo exits as producer and update anchor for “97.5 The Fanatic” WPEN-FM Philadelphia’s “Best Afternoon Show Ever?”. Scordo also previously hosted weekends on Country 92.5 WXTU.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Any professor, worth their salt, will show college kids, who are hopeful broadcasters, this article. That quote about here’s the thing, it’s radio, you’re going to get fired, is probably the best quote to come out of it. Props to those of you sticking it out, I honestly don’t know how anyone with a family can anymore. The show is over, the business might still be here, is that something to be proud of? slow, and painful.
You got that right. Worked for a major Philly station for 33 years. So many of us got laid off during Covid like it was nothing.