Kirk Minihane’s tenure with Entercom has come to an end. Minihane went live on Periscope earlier today to confirm that he’s signed papers to exit the company. His departure comes immediately after voicing his displeasure with the structure in which he had been operating under since leaving WEEI to focus on podcasting for RADIO.com.
During the course of an 11 minute video, Minihane expressed his displeasure with his former employer and said that he no longer has a non-compete and could go to work for a new employer starting tomorrow. Should he return to the airwaves, he can also do so with the name of his former podcast ‘Enough About Me’.
The video also included Kirk sharing that suitors have reached out to him since his exit from WEEI but because he was under contract he resisted getting into deeper conversations. Now clear though, he’s expecting to talk to interested parties over the next few weeks to see what opportunities make sense.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy hasn’t hid his interest in Minihane in the past. Given his new availability, it’s likely the two sides will at least explore conversations. Whether it advances beyond a discussion though remains to be seen.
It brings to an end a rocky relationship which at times produced the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Minihane’s pairing with Gerry Callahan on WEEI led the station to strong ratings, including beating Toucher & Rich who previously held a steady advantage in mornings. The wins though came with a price as Kirk battled mental health issues, endured public battles with the Boston Globe and a local activist who put advertiser pressure on the radio station, and received multiple suspensions from WEEI.
In a statement provided by Entercom the company said “We have mutually agreed to part ways with Kirk and allow him to pursue other opportunities. Over the years, Kirk has been a valuable member of the WEEI team, and a host of the ‘Enough About Me’ podcast. We wish him all the best on his future endeavors.”
Minihane’s departure from the company doesn’t necessarily impact WEEI as the station had already moved on in mornings by teaming Callahan with Mike Mutnansky. What his exit from RADIO.com means for the platforms immediate plans though is unknown. Entercom CEO David Field did say in a memo yesterday that the company plans to build and improve the app aggressively in order to make it one of the country’s leading digital audio apps.
From a talent standpoint, there are few in the business today who are as skilled as Minihane. But fit will be important for both Kirk and his next employer. Some groups who see today’s video won’t appreciate how he lambasted his former employer. Others may applaud his take no prisoners approach. Either way, the next chapter should be interesting.
