We were notified today after completing our show that Cumulus, the owner of WCOA, has made a corporate decision to drop local programming from stations around the country. Don Boyd, the Mobile manager who assumed control of all the Cumulus stations in the Florida Panhandle, told us it was a company-wide budget issue. “Real News with Rick Outzen” broadcast its last show today.
Trade websites and newspapers have similar news:
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Cumulus Media has laid off Tom Tolbert and John Lund at KNBR, the flagship Bay Area sports talk station, as part of a broader reduction of staff ahead of the holiday season. Tolbert, a former Golden State Warriors player and 28-year veteran of KNBR, co-hosted the station’s afternoon drive show, “Tolbert & Copes,” alongside former station program director Adam Copeland. Lund hosted “Papa & Lund,” with Greg Papa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
Digital Music News reports: Cumulus Media has started layoffs in Indianapolis and Central Pennsylvania this week ahead of the holiday season, joining iHeartMedia who cut around 500 jobs the week prior.
RadioInk reports: Cumulus Media has joined iHeartMedia in the Election Week layoffs ahead of the holiday season. Cumulus markets affected so far include Indianapolis and Central Pennsylvania, as iHeart’s cuts hit more than two dozen clusters.
In Indianapolis, Cumulus cut ties with multiple industry veterans, including WZPL Program Director Jimmy Steele, who moved to the role in 2022 after serving as Operations Manager for Cumulus Mobile, AL. WFMS morning co-host Kevin Freeman is also gone after more than three decades at the cluster. He’s joined by WJJK afternoon host Laura Steele, Promotions Coordinator Jennifer Trevino, and members of the sales team.
Our plans are to switch to podcasting – both audio and video. We will have more on it next week. Stay tuned.