iheartradio layoffs

[rx8driver2]

The Bay Area has been hit.

I am sure there are more than what I listed below.

I only heard of Corey because I listen to Star 101.3 in the morning. Unfortunately, I haven't heard of the others.

Corey from Marcus and Corey at Star 101.3 was let go a few days ago.

iHeartMedia Layoffs Continue Around The Country

iHeartMedia continues more staffing cuts as layoffs began n Tuesday morning, with many sharing that their positions have been eliminated.

barrettmedia.com

More Names Affected By Last Week’s iHeartMedia Layoffs

Updated 10/15: Following last week's iHeartMedia layoffs, names continue to trickle out of those affected. Among the more recent names

radioinsight.com

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Hudson Hott from Star 101.3
Hudson Hott: Evening host on Star 101.3 (KSFO) in San Francisco and weekend/fill-in host on ALT 98.7 (KYSR) in Los Angeles was impacted. Hott's dual-market role underscores the national scope of the cuts.

iHeartMedia Layoffs: Day 2 Developments

iHeartMedia, the largest radio broadcaster in the U.S. with around 10,000 employees across its local stations and national audio divisions, ...

mediaconfidential.blogspot.com

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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.

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

radioinsight.com

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Hudson talked about it here:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1976012948851278215

 

[michael hagerty]

Hudson Hott: Evening host on Star 101.3 (KSFO) in San Francisco and weekend/fill-in host on ALT 98.7 (KYSR) in Los Angeles was impacted. Hott's dual-market role underscores the national scope of the cuts.

And that's hugely important. Almost six years ago, I was laid off. I was co-anchoring a three-hour newscast. I was told that if I'd been co-anchoring a four-hour newscast, I'd probably not have been cut.

Now, doing shows in two major markets isn't enough security.

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.

Proof that literally no one is safe. I met Don a few times when he was in the Sacramento cluster. A nice guy, a total pro, and as you can see, had a fold-out business card. He was doing the job of at least three people. Not enough anymore.

 

[TheBigA]

This is what happens when expenses exceed revenues. We know revenues are declining and we know audience for broadcast radio is declining. These things all are related. When you look at iHeart's 2nd quarter results, broadcast revenue is down, while digital is up. If you work in a division of any company that's losing money, it's likely you'll see layoffs.

 

[rx8driver2]

I was wondering what happened to Corey. I missed Marcus's explanation why Corey wasn't in the studio because I had to start working. That is why I started looking to see if I could find something when I got home. She was on the day before. Sad to see her go.

Even having multiple positions like Don Parker doesn't guarantee a job. I would think his job would have been somewhat safe. He probably worked night and day seven days a week.

Everyone has budget problems. The company I work for is in the hole by a whole bunch. There will be layoffs and possibly a furlough. We are not hiring like we used too. People are concerned.

 

[HenryOchs]

I also hear that Dreena Gonzalez has exited the midday show at KYLD(WiLD 94-9). No word yet on her replacement.

 

[El Zilcho]

And that's hugely important. Almost six years ago, I was laid off. I was co-anchoring a three-hour newscast. I was told that if I'd been co-anchoring a four-hour newscast, I'd probably not have been cut.

Now, doing shows in two major markets isn't enough security.



Proof that literally no one is safe. I met Don a few times when he was in the Sacramento cluster. A nice guy, a total pro, and as you can see, had a fold-out business card. He was doing the job of at least three people. Not enough anymore.

Is that also the reason why Audacy has some traffic anchors report for KNX and KCBS, sometimes simultaneously? I remember listening to KCBS recently one night where an anchor let slip that their traffic anchor wasn’t ready to go on yet because she was likely still in the middle of a segment for KNX, specifically mentioning KNX over KCBS airwaves.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

This is what happens when expenses exceed revenues.

Flying a private Dassault Falcon 900EX around isn't cheap. Heads gonna have to roll to pay for it.

 

[michael hagerty]

Is that also the reason why Audacy has some traffic anchors report for KNX and KCBS, sometimes simultaneously?

Yep. This past spring's Audacy layoffs meant a lot of shared resources. In fact, when Alex Silverman left earlier this year, KCBS's PD, Jen Seelig, oversaw both KNX and KCBS for a few weeks.

She's almost certainly still in the mix, because the KNX PD gig ultimately went to Chris Ebbott, who's programming KRTH and KTWV and is SVP/Programming for Audacy L.A. His recent resume' is music stations (there was a year overseeing imaging at KFI 25 years ago) and he clearly has a full plate.

(Alex is now back as an anchor/reporter)

And we totally missed that Audacy cut KNX's ND, Julie Chin back in April, after 19 years:

Update: (KNX) News making news

The local all-news outlet is making some news of their own once again. Julie Chin , the station's Director for the past 19 years, has been...

ayodaradio.blogspot.com

I haven't seen anything about a replacement there, so it wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't one but that there are a lot of phone calls and Slack messages between Chris and Jen.

I remember listening to KCBS recently one night where an anchor let slip that their traffic anchor wasn’t ready to go on yet because she was likely still in the middle of a segment for KNX, specifically mentioning KNX over KCBS airwaves.

Mutli-market traffic responsibilities are nothing new. When I returned to radio from 30 years in TV back in 2012, my first gig was at iHeart in Phoenix, doing traffic for Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City and El Paso----all in the same shift.

 

[michael hagerty]

Flying a private Dassault Falcon 900EX around isn't cheap. Heads gonna have to roll to pay for it.

And a reminder that the Falcon belonged to Bob and his contract had iHeart lease it from him to make it available for him to fly.

Essential pull-quote:

The catch? The jet already belonged to Pittman. Clear Channel agreed to pay him $3 million over six years — plus upkeep and insurance — to ferry him around the world in his own plane. The company also reimbursed him for tens of thousands of dollars in helicopter expenses.

iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman’s Efforts May Not Be Enough to Avoid Looming Bankruptcy

CEO Bob Pittman's efforts to reshape radio giant iHeartMedia into a tech dynamo have done little to thwart the looming threat of bankruptcy.

variety.com

That was 2017, but as of last year, the New York Post reported that security filings showed the company was still paying $42,000 a month to lease jets for Bob and Rich Bressler.

Radio giant iHeart Media slashes hundreds of jobs amid industry struggles

Hundreds of jobs will be slashed at iHeart Media as the debt-ridden radio and podcast giant has been crushed by music streaming, The Post has learned.

nypost.com

 

[TheBigA]

Flying a private Dassault Falcon 900EX around isn't cheap. Heads gonna have to roll to pay for it.

Keep in mind that iHeart is more than just radio stations. The other parts of the company are making money. Broadcasting is a drag on the company's profits. Especially a lot of the stations in small markets that have limited local revenue. The layoffs are because local revenues aren't keeping up with rising expenses in those markets. The profit margin for every other part of the company is over 30%. Broadcasting profits are half of that, because of higher expenses in running radio stations. But my point is radio people aren't losing their jobs to pay for CEO expenses. They are losing their jobs because of rising local expenses.

The choice is simple: Cut expenses or find new sources of local revenue. That's not only the challenge for iHeart, but every radio station in the country. Because spot ad revenue is declining, and listeners won't put up with more commercials in order to make up for the difference.

 

[michael hagerty]

Keep in mind that iHeart is more than just radio stations. The other parts of the company are making money. Broadcasting is a drag on the company's profits. Especially a lot of the stations in small markets that have limited local revenue.

But let's not fool ourselves---half a dozen people are out the door in market #2 this week. It's bad everywhere. The smaller markets are worse.

 

[TheBigA]

But let's not fool ourselves---half a dozen people are out the door in market #2 this week. It's bad everywhere. The smaller markets are worse.

Absolutely, but the expenses in LA are also higher, and the revenues haven't grown to keep up with rising expenses. At one point, a station could either increase the price of the commercials, or find a way to add more spots. Throw in those little :05 live reads, or sell naming rights to your studio. All those ideas are already being done. They've squeezed the last drop of juice from the orange. Now what? They can't add more commercials or even more people will leave. So they're looking at specific dayparts like mid-days or evenings, and those people get cut. Radio needs a new revenue stream. I've been saying that for over ten years.

 

[cc333]

Radio needs a new revenue stream. I've been saying that for over ten years.

Noncommercial and donation-supported radio (the recent CPB and NPR funding brouhaha notwithstanding) seems to be doing relatively OK compared to their commercial counterparts, at least in larger markets where donation-based revenues presumably are fairly strong.

EMF et. al. seem to be among the strongest of all, of course. How is it that they have so much money in an environment where hardly anyone else seems able to earn any? Tax exemptions and donations alone can't account for all of it....

c

 

[TheBigA]

Noncommercial and donation-supported radio (the recent CPB and NPR funding brouhaha notwithstanding) seems to be doing relatively OK compared to their commercial counterparts, at least in larger markets where donation-based revenues presumably are fairly strong.

It seems to me that radio might as well operate as a non-profit given the reality. They wouldn't pay property tax on their building or tower sites. They'd use a tax-exempt number for sales tax. Lots of benefits.

Tax exemptions and donations alone can't account for all of it....

No local staff or studios. Save a lot of money with no local staff. iHeart is heading in that direction. But if they want to get any local advertising, they need someone to do the selling. K-Love doesn't do local anything.

 

[michael hagerty]

Noncommercial and donation-supported radio (the recent CPB and NPR funding brouhaha notwithstanding) seems to be doing relatively OK compared to their commercial counterparts, at least in larger markets where donation-based revenues presumably are fairly strong.

EMF et. al. seem to be among the strongest of all, of course. How is it that they have so much money in an environment where hardly anyone else seems able to earn any? Tax exemptions and donations alone can't account for all of it.

Religious donations are a whole ‘nuther thing. NPR donors get a tax break. Religious donors get that and think they’re going to heaven.

The two sets of donors are two different psychologies.

 

[Mark Roberts]

Maybe it's unremarkable, but I'm surprised that no one has called out what Hudson Hott said on her podcast...I listened to part of it, but here's the synopsis provided on the landing page:

I gave 30 years of my life to one company. Thirty years of early mornings, laughter, music, connection, and love for my listeners. After moving across the country, after taking pay cuts, after staying loyal, I was let go. I was making $8,000 a year just to stay connected with the people I love on the air. I’m heartbroken and angry. This isn’t how loyalty should be repaid.

Making $8,000 a year. That wasn't a living wage 45 years ago, much less now. It appears that she did everything she thought she could do to stay on the air and sacrificed a lot as a result. No wonder she's angry. That's commitment. It's admirable but everything around her should've indicated that corporate loyalty is a one-way street not going in her direction. That's actually true of most workplaces now, but in a business with declining revenues, it gets particularly brutal.

She comes across on the podcast as a supremely decent person. Hopefully that will rebound to her benefit.

 

[michael hagerty]

Maybe it's unremarkable, but I'm surprised that no one has called out what Hudson Hott said on her podcast...I listened to part of it, but here's the synopsis provided on the landing page:

I gave 30 years of my life to one company. Thirty years of early mornings, laughter, music, connection, and love for my listeners. After moving across the country, after taking pay cuts, after staying loyal, I was let go. I was making $8,000 a year just to stay connected with the people I love on the air. I’m heartbroken and angry. This isn’t how loyalty should be repaid.

Making $8,000 a year. That wasn't a living wage 45 years ago, much less now. It appears that she did everything she thought she could do to stay on the air and sacrificed a lot as a result. No wonder she's angry. That's commitment. It's admirable but everything around her should've indicated that corporate loyalty is a one-way street not going in her direction. That's actually true of most workplaces now, but in a business with declining revenues, it gets particularly brutal.

She comes across on the podcast as a supremely decent person. Hopefully that will rebound to her benefit.

Eight grand? I get that it doesn't take long to voicetrack evenings on KIOI and and weekends on KYSR, but...c'mon. That's $153.84 a week. To be on the air in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

I made that in Ukiah in 1976.

 

[TheBigA]

Making $8,000 a year. That wasn't a living wage 45 years ago, much less now.

I sense she had other sources of income. Doing VT isn't meant to be a full time gig.

 

[michael hagerty]

I sense she had other sources of income. Doing VT isn't meant to be a full time gig.

And, not meaning in any way to be insensitive to Ms. Hott's pain...unless this was PR spin to cover an iHeart cutback a year ago, she gave up a fulltime gig at KSYR to move back east and voicetrack:

Hott From Coast To Coast

• Looking back on her three-decade radio career, all of it spent with iHeartMedia, Hudson Hott has made what she terms the "incredibly difficult decision" to leave Los Angeles -- and her full-time midday position at KYSR (ALT 98.7) -- and relocate to a lovely beachside community on the east...

ramp247.com

 

[Mark Roberts]

I sense she had other sources of income. Doing VT isn't meant to be a full time gig.

She didn’t indicate one way or another. I don’t think someone would react to the loss of a supplemental source of income the way she did.

And, not meaning in any way to be insensitive to Ms. Hott's pain...unless this was PR spin to cover an iHeart cutback a year ago, she gave up a fulltime gig at KSYR to move back east and voicetrack:

It could have been as simple as her desire to view the situation as positively as she could.

iHeart doesn’t seem to care much about its workplace reputation.