After several weeks of staggered cuts at clusters across the country, Alpha Media has cut a number of talents at stations in markets previously unaffected.
Alpha’s cuts have seen the purges of the majority of their local on-air talent at the company’s stations in Iowa, Missouri followed by Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, and the Sherman/Denison TX market along with a number of staffers in Anchorage AK last week.
Among the known departures in this round of cuts:
Tom Michaels exits middays at “98 Rocks” KTAL-FM Texarkana AR/Shreveport LA after 39 years at the station.
Michaels joined KTAL-FM in 1985 and was previously Program Director of the station. Michaels was given the opportunity to pen a farewell message on the station’s Facebook page writing, “It’s been a good run on 98Rocks, but the supervisor called me yesterday and said that corporate is making some cuts, and I’m one of them. I know that was tough for him to let me know that, as we’ve worked together for some decades and are good friends that have seen the worst, and best, of each other. I told him to not lose sleep over it and that it was okay, and just to keep rockin’. At this moment, I’m grateful for having the time to, sincerely, thank you, and so many others all around the ArkLaTex, for your support and rockin’ w/ me… for many years since we, all, started rockin’ together on 98Rocks almost 4 decades ago. I can’t thank you enough for listening. And, thanks to the local businesses that supported the effort and my part of it, and I’ve always encouraged & appreciated the local workers. We’re all just trying to make it in this world. I believe in you. Thanks for believing in me, and listening. I’ve been in this business for 45 years, which is as long as I’ve been married. It’s always great being out there w/ you and so many wonderful people in the communities throughout the ArkLaTex.”
Erik Fox departs as Bakersfield cluster Operations Manager and afternoon host at CHR “Energy 95.3” KLLY.
Outside of two year stint programming KMXY Grand Junction CO, Fox had been with KLLY since 1998 rising to PD in 2020 and Operations Manager last September. During his tenure Fox has spent time in every daypart at the station, cluster Production Director, morning host on the former Smooth Jazz 97.7 KSMJ and midday host on Rhythmic AC “Groove 99.3” KKBB.
Tiffany Kay is out as morning co-host at Country 93.3 WFLS Fredericksburg VA.
Kay joined WFLS alongside Steve Waters in December 2020 following three years in the same role at Townsquare Media’s “K98.5” KOEL-FM Waterloo IA. She also served as GM and PD at Otterbein University’s 97.5 WOBN Westerville OH while in college.
She shared, “When I woke up this morning, I can honestly say that I did not know it would be my last time on “Steve & Tiffany in the Morning” on WFLS… But here we are. I regret to inform all of the amazing listeners, family and friends that I was let go today by Alpha Media Fredericksburg due to budget cuts. This was not my decision at all but it is what it is. I know I was not the only one in the entire company to be cut lately or in the radio industry in general, so my condolences go out to others going through this tough time. It’s unfortunately the industry we are in. All I can say is I had a blast here in Fredericksburg on WFLS. I got to laugh every day, interact with listeners and hear your stories, lose my voice at concerts and build a huge loving and supporting WFLS family that I am blessed to have been a part of the last 3.5 years.”
Jenn West exits as morning host at CHR 106.3 KFRX Lincoln NE.
West joined KFRX in August 2021 after nine years at Cumulus Colorado Springs over two stints.
