iHeartMedia initiated a programming realignment today as it intends to scale its “new tech capabilities over the last several years”.

The realignment which comes with a round of layoffs coinciding with the end of the second quarter. In its Q1 earnings report, iHeartMedia stated that it intended to begin a new cost savings program of $50 million in the second half of 2026 in addition to the $100 million of cost cutting already planned or to have already taken place this year.

A buzz-word filled memo sent to staffers today by iHeartMedia Multi Platform Group CEO Ann Marie Licata and Chief Programming Officer Tom Poleman laid out their plans.

As the number one company in audio, our business model is to build engaged relationships with listeners and then monetize those relationships. Our business success is built on putting our listeners and our communities first – and in support of that mission, we’re now taking an important step that will move us further into the future: Evolving how we program our stations to reward and develop our leading and up-and-coming talent.

What sets us apart as a company is our dedication to creating new opportunities for our top personalities, making sure ‘Guaranteed Human’ is at the core of everything we do. Real voices and real talent strengthen our real connection and commitment to our communities.
We also know that our sellers need faster and easier to use information about our programming, talent and audiences.

Faster is better, and that’s the goal of our changes. With that in mind, we’ve built new tech capabilities over the last several years that have enabled us to both deepen our relationships with the listeners and communities who depend on us and improve the support we provide to our sellers. We’re now moving to scale this approach.

These moves are designed to:
• Expand and deepen our support for our communities, markets and sales teams;
• Fully leverage our technology to deliver an even stronger product for listeners wherever they live;
• Move faster and operate with greater precision across markets; and
• Position us not just to adapt to the future, but to lead it.

While we will be creating new roles to support our future needs, we also recognize that some colleagues and existing positions will be impacted as part of these changes. We have given this a great deal of thought and do not take this step lightly; we are deeply grateful for the contributions of those affected, and we’re committed to supporting them through this transition.

At every step, our commitment remains the same: To build a stronger, more connected audio platform built on the strength of our broadcast radio assets, and combining our commitment to the communities we serve with the scale of our technology and the authenticity and creativity of our people.

Reading between the lines and connecting the dots with recent moves, iHeart appears to be making the move to more centralized content at many of its stations. With the exit of Haze from KSLZ St. Louis, that station will now rely on all out-of-market talent or in the words of Poleman and Licata, “evolving how we program our stations to reward and develop our leading and up-and-coming talent.”

If you have been affected by the ongoing restructuring at iHeartMedia and wish to share your details and/or contact information, let us know at [email protected].

Among the exits known so far:

Birmingham AL

Spencer Graves exits mornings at Country “102.5 The Bull” WDXB and 102.1 WDRM Huntsville after 3+ years. Graves has also hosted mornings at WUBL Atlanta, WARH St. Louis and WSTW Wilmington DE. Graves can be reached at [email protected].

Madison Reeves Williams exits from her multi-market roles including afternoons at Country “102.5 The Bull” WDXB and middays at Country “Whistle 100.5” WSSL Greenville SC and Modern AC “Cities 97.1” KTCZ Minneapolis. Madison co-hosted mornings at WDXB from 2009 to 2022 and was also heard on weekends across multiple formats including AC, Country and Classic Country. She wrote, “25 years with iHeart came to an end today. I have seen so many talented co-workers go through this before and it really is so sad what has happened to radio. I will always have wonderful memories of my career and the amazing things I got to do and people I got to meet, money that was raised for amazing charities. I don’t know what comes next, but I have faith that God has great plans for me!”

Indianapolis

Erica ‘Ms. E-Klass’ Coleman departs afternoons at Hip Hop “Real 98.3” WZRL Indianapolis and “Real 93.1” WTFX Louisville as well as shows in multiple other markets. She wrote, “Welp, today was officially my last day on the air… for now. I was impacted by the latest round of layoffs at iHeartMedia. I’ve been in radio since 2007 and on the air since 2010. In all those years, this is the first time I’ve experienced something like this, and if I’m being honest, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. Whether you listened in Indianapolis, Louisville, Atlanta, Columbus, Detroit, Nashville, Raleigh, Memphis, or anywhere else along this iHeart journey, thank you.” She previously held roles at multiple Cumulus Media stations from 2015 to 2024 including WRWM Indianapolis, WRBO Memphis, WWKX Providence and Westwood One’s Classic Hip Hop network. She also spent seven years at Radio One Indianapolis’s WHHH and WTLC-FM.

Little Rock AR

Bo Dalton is out as afternoon host at the statewide trio of Country 95.7 KSSN Little Rock, “Kix 104.1” KKIX Fayetteville, and 99.1 KMAG Fort Smith after a seven year run with the company.

Phoenix

Country Aircheck reports that Lois ‘Double L’ Lewis is out as APD/MD/midday host at Country 102.5 KNIX. Lewis also hosted middays at KWNR Las Vegas where she previously served as APD/MD. She has also worked as Senior Director of Regional Promotion for Republic Nashville and MD/Night host at KIIM Tucson. She can be reached at [email protected].

Springfield MO

Clint ‘Girlie’ Gerlek exits as cluster VP/Programming after a nineteen year run. Gerlek was currently also heard in middays on Country “100.5 The Wolf” KSWF and afternoons on Hot AC “Alice 95.5” KTOZ. During his tenure he also hosted mornings at KSWF and AC 105.9 KGBX.

St. Louis

BJ Holiday departs middays at Gospel “Hallelujah 1600” KATZ and weekends on Hip Hop “100.3 The Beat” KATZ-FM after 41 years with the company. During his tenure, Holiday was heard on-air on multiple stations, served as Program Director and Community Affairs Director. He also was heard on weekends on the company’s Gospel stations.

Dustin ‘Haze’ Monroe exits as APD/afternoon host on CHR “Z107.7” KSLZ.

This post is being continually updated as more names become known.