List Of Those Affected By The iHeartMedia Cuts Continues To Grow

Original Report 11/4: In what may be its biggest round of layoffs since January 2020, massive cuts are underway today at iHeartMedia.

The cuts include significant names across all levels of the company as it begins to implement a new operating structure following recent corporate restructurings. iHeart has been moving towards more regionalized operations at the market management level, which we’re told are also affecting promotions and sales teams. Most day-to-day programming of stations are moving to the national programming teams.

We have already heard of many significant names affected by the cuts, but will only be publishing those who have gone public with their exits:

Update 11/5: In additions to the names below, we have been told that a number of sales teams were dissolved in the cuts. There are still many names out there that have not gone public.

Update 11/8: Another round of significant cuts took place on Friday with many News/Talk names affected. We continue to update the list below. If you were affected by the cuts and would like to be added to the list please email us at news@radioinsight.com.

National

Dan Stark has exited Premiere Networks after 25 years as Director of their syndicated imaging production services — Plug & Play Imaging, NT Ammo, Launch Control and Brown Bag Imaging. Stark has also produced a number of Premiere’s guest booking radio tours and programmed the former all-female artist HD Radio channel Sirens. He can be reached at danstark@gmail.com.

Mitch Evans departs has News & Sports Anchor for 24/7 News, Florida News Network, Georgia News Network, and Virginia News Network.

Akron OH

Michelle Todd departs as finance specialist for Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Dayton and Chillicothe OH with 38 years experience.

Albany NY

Baltimore

Leah Dickinson departs as Marketing and Promotions Director after five years with the cluster. Dickinson served as Promotions Event Support before rising to Promotions Director in 2023. She can be reached at LeahDickinson@gmail.com.

Birmingham

Rob Conrad exits mornings at AC “Magic 96.5” WMJJ after 31 years. Conrad shared, “What a great career this radio ride has been. Thanks to all pictured for a lifetime of memories. Today was my last day on Magic 96.5 Birmingham. It began by submitting an audition tape to KXLY Spokane in 1967”

Boston

The Rich Shertenlieb Show exits Classic Rock 100.7 WZLX after less than six months.

Alan Chartrand is out as Boston Region President. With a radio career in the market dating back to 1984, Chartrand was the General Manager of 94.5 WZOU responsible for its flip to “Jam’n 94.5” WJMN in 1993. He would leave Clear Channel in 2001 to join Greater Media first as Station Manager of WKLB and WTKK and then VP/Director of Sales until 2006. He would also spend two years at Entercom’s “93.7 Mike-FM” WMKK as General Sales Manager and running his own marketing company before returning to iHeart as VP/Sales in 2011 and his now former role in 2014.

Chicago

Angi Taylor is out as morning host at “Rock 95.5” WCHI-FM. Taylor joined the station after its flip to Rock in September 2020 from co-hosting mornings at CHR “103.5 Kiss-FM” WKSC-FM from 2008. Taylor also has served as morning co-host at KDWB Minneapolis from 1997-2002 and WIOQ Philadelphia from 2002-2008.

Matt Scarano exits as Chicago Region President after a decade in the position. Scarano also spent two years as Atlanta Market President and three years as Director of Sales in Chicago. He has also held sales roles at multiple Atlanta stations including eleven years as General Sales Manager for WKHX/WYAY.

Chillicothe OH

Christina Wolford exits as cluster Program Director and afternoon host on “94 Country” WKKJ. Wolford also was heard on air at  Hot AC “Mix 106.5” WQLX Chillicothe and “Buckeye Country 105.5” WCHO-FM Washington Court House OH. She had been with the stations for 35 years previously spending 17 as news anchor and later hosted mornings at WKKJ.

Cleveland

Bill Squire departs as co-host of the “Alan Cox Show” on Hot Talk/Rock 100.7 WMMS. A stand-up comedian, Squire has been with the station since 2013.

Mary Santora also will depart the Alan Cox Show. Santora, a touring comedian, had planned to depart the show at the end of the year to focus on stand-up. She wrote, “Yes, I too was let go from iheart this morning due to “restructuring.” They say it came down from a corporate level and had nothing to do with our ratings, performance, etc. and that hundreds of others lost jobs across the country today as well. I have no answers. Idk what is happening with ACS, all I know is that as of today, I am no longer a part of it.”

Dallas

Patrick Davis exits as SVP/Programming and PD of CHR “106.1 Kiss-FM” KHKS-FM after 20 years as PD. He came to Dallas in 2002 as Operations Manager for the Kidd Kraddick Morning Show after spending time in Waco and Baton Rouge. He rose to VP/Programming 2011 and SVP in 2015.

Cruz departs afternoons at Hot AC “Mix 102.9” KDMX. Best known for his decade-long run in nights at sister CHR “106.1 Kiss-FM” KHKS, Cruz has spent the past few years in mornings and afternoons at KDMX. He has also worked at KQIZ and KPRF Amarillo and then KHFI Austin from 2005-10.

Domininc ‘Zakk’ Zaccagnini is out as Program Director of Classic Rock “Lone Star 92.5” KZPS and Rock “97.1 The Eagle” KEGL. Zakk came to Dallas in June 2023 after programming the company’s Talk stations in Rochester and Syracuse NY. He has held on-air and programming roles at stations including KSAN San Francisco, WLUP Chicago, WZGC Atlanta, and Fox Sports Radio’s “Zakk & Jack” morning show.

Dayton

Marty Bannister is out as afternoon host on “Fox Sports 980” WONE.

Denver

Alfred ‘Big Al’ Williams exits afternoons at News/Talk 850/94.1 KOA. Williams, a former University of Colorado and Denver Broncos linebacker, joined KOA in August 2019 after previously co-hosting afternoons for 15 years at Bonneville’s “104.3 The Fan” KKFN-FM. Williams wrote, “As I step away from iHeart, I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to everyone I’ve had the privilege of working alongside over the years. To my colleagues at iHeart, thank you for your unwavering support, dedication, and camaraderie. Together, we’ve shared countless moments—moments that I will carry with me always. The spirit and energy of our team have been a source of inspiration, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it.”

Michael Coover exits as Executive Producer for the “KOA Sports Zone” afternoon show. He has been with the station since 2018 after previously spending fifteen years at Fox Sports Radio and a brief stint as afternoon producer at KKFN.

Also departing KOA is “Denver Broncos Insider” Brandon Krisztal. Krisztal has been with KOA since 2015 as a host, morning sports anchor and lead sports reporter. He previously held roles in the market at KKFN-FM and “Mile High Sports Radio”.

Des Moines

Ross Peterson exits as morning co-host at Sports 1460 KXNO/106.3 KXNO-FM after 20 years at the station.

Greg Chance departs as Senior VP/Programming for Des Moines, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and North Dakota. Chance had returned to iHeart in March 2023 after departing in 2020 to help run his family’s Diamond Oil business. Chance previously spent two decades with the company first as OM/PD of “107.5 Kiss-FM” KKDM Des Moines from 1999-2008 before rising to cluster OM and then SVP/Programming for Iowa region in 2012 and Regional SVP in 2016.

Justin Miller departs as morning show producer at Sports 1460 KXNO/106.3 KXNO-FM. Miller had been with iHeart Des Moines since 2019 holding multiple roles at KXNO and News/Talk 1040 WHO.

Margaret Kispert exits as morning show producer at News/Talk 1040 WHO.

Fayetteville AR

Clyde Bass departs as Texas/Arkansas Area President overseeing Beaumont, Bryan, Corpus Christi, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Little Rock, McAllen, Springfield, Waco and Wichita. He had been with the company since 2012 after previously serving as Market Manager for Cumulus in Jonesboro AR, Lexington KY, and Youngstown OH and VP/Media for Duke Broadcasting.

Fort Collins CO

Jimmy Lakey exits mornings at News/Talk 600 KCOL after ten years. Lakey has previously hosted shows for KNUS/KNRC Denver, KLIF Dallas, WBT Charlotte, KXNT Las Vegas, WOAI San Antonio, and KVOR Colorado Springs.

Mark Lillie departs as a producer at KCOL. He joined the station in August 2022 after a long on-air, programming and sales career that includes Director of Programming for Appaloosa Broadcasting Cheyenne WY, PD of KUUS Fresno, and Clear Channel Farmington NM, a later stint as Digital Program Director for that cluster,

Honolulu

Becky Mits has departed mornings at Rhythmic CHR “93.9 The Beat” KUBT and 12-6pm K-Pop “Pop 101.9” KUCD after five years. She had been teamed in mornings with ‘Sam The Man’ Ambrose and ‘Hawaiian Ryan’ Matsumoto until their exits in March’s cuts. Mits can be reached at beckymitsue@gmail.com.

KC exits mornings at K-Pop “Pop 101.9” KUCD and afternoons at Rhythmic CHR “93.9 The Beat” KUBT.

Houston

Karah Leigh exits Rock/Alternative “94.5 The Buzz” KTBZ-FM after nineteen years where she was hosting nights. Leigh also tracked middays on Rock 102.7 WEBN Cincinnati, weekends on WEND Charlotte, KIOZ San Diego, WXTB Tampa and iHeart’s national Rock and Alternative feeds. She tells us, “Thank you to KTBZ program director, Elliott Wood. He’s an amazing boss and I was very lucky to work for him.” She can be reached at Kara.L.McIntyre@gmail.com.

Stan Norfleet exits middays at “Sports Talk 790” KBME where he was co-hosting 10am-12pm with Chris Gordy. Norfleet joined KBME in February 2023 after two stints at WFNZ Charlotte from 2014-16 and 2020-23 and. WZGC Atlanta from 2017-19. He has also served as an analyst for ACC Network.

Little Rock

David ‘DJ’ Taylor exits afternoons at Classic Country “105.1 The Wolf” KMJX after 24 years with the cluster.

Manchester NH

Justin McIsaac exits as APD of 610 WGIR Manchester/96.7 WCSO Portsmouth, producer of “New Hampshire Today” and weekend host at “Rock 101” WGIR-FM.  He is also play-by-play voice for University of New Hampshire football

Miami

Gina Ulmos departs as co-host of the syndicated “Enrique Santos Morning Show” after eight years. She previously spent 16 years as a producer for Univision Miami.

‘Frankie P’ Pagliaro exits nights at CHR “Y100” WHYI after eight years. During his tenure he also hosted mornings at CHR “Wild 95.5” WLDI West Palm Beach in 2019/20. He previously hosted nights at CHR “Hits 97.3” WFLC from 2014-16, served as morning show producer for 99.9 WKIS-FM and 97.3 WFLC, and was a mixer for “99 Jamz” WEDR.

Armando Lapido departs as VP/Sales overseeing Bilingual AC “Magic 93.9” WMIA-FM and Spanish CHR “Tu 94.9” WZTU after 24 years.

Mark Mackenzie exits as VP/Sales for Hip Hop “103.5 The Beat” WMIB after 24 years.

Milwaukee

John Kuhn exits as host of “Nine 2 Noon” on Sports “97.3 The Game” WRNW-FM and its statewide Sports network. The former Green Bay Packers fullback joined the station in April 2020.

Minneapolis

Kia Becht is out as Music Director and co-host of Chris Carr & Company on Country “K102” KEEY after fifteen years with the station. Becht served as Promotions Director prior to becoming MD in 2014.

New York

Len Berman and Michael Riedel exit mornings at Conservative Talk 710 WOR.

Terry Trahim is out as morning news editor and producer at WOR after 20 years.

Orlando

Glory Langston exits as Senior Promotions Manager after 19 years with the cluster. She shares, “After 24 years in radio, my time has come to an end. I was part of iHeartMedia’s company wide layoffs today. I’ve had a great run working with some of the best in the industry. So many great memories I’ll never forget! Until next time, see ya. Thanks for all the calls, texts and emails.”

Alan Spector is out as morning co-host and news anchor on “Good Morning Orlando” on “WFLA Orlando” WFLF after ten years. Spector can be reached at 407-920-4323 or alanspector1@gmail.com.

Philadelphia

Mike Kaplan departs as Program Director of “Alt 104.5” WRFF after just fourteen months. Kaplan had also recently inherited those duties at CHR “Q102” WIOQ. Kaplan is best known for his runs as SVP/Alternative Programming for Audacy from 2018-22 and PD of iHeart’s “Alt 98.7” KYSR Los Angeles from 2013-17 as well as time programming KRBZ Kansas City, WEZB/WKBU New Orleans, and KNDD Seattle.

Sam ‘Nugget’ Dababneh exits as evening host at CHR “Q102” WIOQ. Nugget joined the station in July 2021 after previously hosting mornings at KTFM San Antonio, WHBQ-FM Memphis and in Dubai. He has also worked at WKQI and WDZH Detroit, WNOW-FM New York, and WJFX and WHPP Fort Wayne.

Phoenix

Jody Oehler is out as APD and morning host at “Fox Sports 910” KGME after 11 years.

Kelly Manders departs as Senior Director of Entertainment Marketing after eleven years with the cluster. She previously spent five years at Fisher Communications in Portland in digital sales and marketing roles.

Portland

Justin Myers exits mornings at Sports “Rip City Radio” 620 KPOJ. Myers joined KPOJ in 2015 after a decade at Cumulus Eugene OR.

Also out at KPOJ is afternoon co-host Dwight Jaynes, who has quickly launched a Substack blog. Co-host Chad Doing remains as the only local host on the station.

Raleigh

Nick Jordan departs as APD/afternoon host at Country “B93.9” WNCB. Jordan joined WNCB in July 2022 after stints at CHRs WDJQ Canton OH and KNDE College Station TX and Country WQMX Akron OH. Jordan tells RadioInsight, “I Had a lot of fun getting to entertain the triangle on the way home from work everyday and I’m going to miss the listeners that made my job fun. Layoffs are a part of the business unfortunately but it happens. Since we’re talking about the business, if you’re reading this and need an entertaining personality that’s big on community feel free to reach out. Nicktjordan9@gmail.com. I’m open to relocating.”

Michael Burger exits as Raleigh Market President. He joined the Raleigh cluster in August 2021 as Senior VP of Sales before being promoted in August 2022. He previously held roles for iHeart St. Louis including General Sales Manager and VP/Sales between 2016 and 2021 and worked as an account executive for KTVI-TV and CBS Radio St. Louis.

Salt Lake City

Eric ‘E. White’ exits mornings at CHR 97.1 KZHT. He had spent his entire career with the company starting as an intern in Philadelphia in 2017 before joining KKDM Des Moines as MD/afternoon host and then 3+ years in nights at KDWB Minneapolis before joining KZHT in July 2023. White said, “I love this. I believe in this medium. I will continue to fight to make this business better, regardless of where I work. And as always, WE OUT HERE 🤘” He can be reached at ewhiteonthemic.com and ewhiteonthemic@gmail.com

Also out in mornings at KZHT is Erica Shea. She joined the station with White after previously serving as morning show producer for KHTS-FM San Diego and spending time at KIIS-FM Los Angeles as a producer for multiple shows including “On Air With Ryan Seacrest” and the “Vibe with EJ & Tanya Rad. She can be reached at ericasheasul@gmail.com.

San Antonio

‘Joe Pags’ Pagliarulo exits late afternoons at News/Talk 1200 WOAI after nineteen years. His show remains in syndication through Compass Media Networks.

San Francisco

Don Parker exits as Regional SVP/Programming for the Northern California Region as well as Program Director of Hip Hop 106.1 KMEL and General Manager of the national LGBTQ+ “Pride Radio“. Parker has been with the San Francisco cluster since 2009 after previously holding roles including Program Director of KTBZ-FM Houston, KCMG Los Angeles, and KNGY San Francisco and serving as VP of Programming for NextMedia.

Jerry Houston exits as PD/afternoon host at LGBTQ+ “Pride Radio“. Houston has led Pride Radio since 2019 after serving as APD/MD from its launch in 2011. He has also held additional roles in the company’s Baltimore and Washington clusters including morning show producer and weekend host at WPOC from 1998 to 2010, Washington Digital Content Director, and on-air at “Hot 99.5” WIHT Washington.

Jason Dahlstedt is out as Executive Producer for “Marcus & Corey” at Hot AC “Star 101.3” KIOI and the “Sana G Morning Show” on Hip Hop 106.1 KMEL. Dahlstedt spent six years in his role after previously serving as producer for “Fernando and Greg” at 92.7 KNGY and 99.7 KMVQ from 2007-18.

Chidi Nwachukwu departs her producer role and as weekend host at CHR “Wild 94.9” KYLD.

Seattle

Jake Waldo departs as cluster Promotions Director and morning show producer at Classic Rock 102.5 KZOK. Waldo has spent his entire career at the cluster since 2016.

Lee Callahan exits as morning host at Variety Hits “96.5 Jack-FM” KJAQ after nine years in the daypart. She had been with the station since 2007 and also served as a news anchor for Liberal Talk 1090 KPTK, morning producer/co-host at AAA “103.7 The Mountain” KMTT and producer at 1000 KOMO.

Tampa

John Mamola exits as Program Director of News/Talk 970 WFLA and Sports 1250/95.3 WDAE. Mamola has programmed WDAE since 2011 and WFLA since 2020 after previously holding positions at CBS Radio Chicago and its Chicago Bears Radio Network.

Jay Recher and Zac Blobner are out as hosts of “Jay & Z” from 12-3pm on WDAE. Recher has been with the station since 2014 and was also Assistant Program Director at the station. Blobner joined the station in 2017 as a producer after three years at 930 WFXJ Jacksonville. The duo had hosted the early afternoon show since 2021.

Jeff Croy exits as Director of Sales after nine years with the cluster, six in his now former position.

Toledo

Scott Sands exits as Region SVP/Programming and afternoon host at News/Talk 1370 WSPD. Sands joined the Toledo cluster in 2013 as PD of WSPD and Classic Rock 104.7 WIOT later adding oversight of AC “101.5 The River” WRVF. He previously held roles including PD of WCLI-FM Dayton and KFMB-FM San Diego, VP/Programming for Tralyn Broadcasting Biloxi, and spent a decade as Director of Operations and Programming for Entercom Indianapolis where was also Entercom’s Hot AC format captain.

Washington DC

Paul Jaxon exits as morning host at Classic Rock “Big 100” WBIG-FM and midday host at “Alt 104.5” WRFF Philadelphia. Jaxon joined WBIG-FM in September 2023 after 18 years in afternoons at WMMR Philadelphia from 2004-2022. He has also hosted mornings at WFNX Boston, KBPI Denver, and KURR Salt Lake City as well as nights at WHJY Providence in his career.

Also departing WBIG-FM is midday host Lisa Berigan. Berigan has been with the station since 2005 after previously spending time at stations including WTMX Chicago and WPLY Philadelphia. She also hosts the syndicated “Live In Concert“.

This story is being continuously updated. If you were affected by the cuts and would like to be added to the list please email us at news@radioinsight.com.