WJR 760 morning host Guy Gordon has exited the Cumulus Media Detroit news/talk station after declining a pay cut and a shift in the station’s lineup.
Gordon informed listeners on Tuesday morning that it was his final show with the venerable station after he was asked to take a pay cut — of what he called 60% — and not accept the raise included in his contract that lasted until 2026.
Additionally, Gordon claims he was asked to move to the 2-4 PM timeslot currently occupied by Chris Renwick.
“I was told it was a purely financial decision,” Gordon told the Detroit Free-Press. “If this is the end of the career, I have no grievances. I’m Lou Gehrig without the horrible disease. I’m the luckiest man on Earth.”
Gordon added that he didn’t know his job was in jeopardy. “I probably should have,” he admitted. “Radio is really tough now.”
Gordon had been morning host on the station since June 2023, replacing Paul W. Smith in the daypart, where he had been since 1996. The 66-year-old Gordon originally joined WJR 760 in 2017 as an early afternoon host after working in television in the city from 1984 until 2016.
After the exit of Guy Gordon, co-hosts Lloyd Jackson and Jamie Edmonds will continue to host JR Morning from 6-9 AM.
Despite his departure, Gordon said that he’s “not a retiring guy” and that he’d still consider working at WJR or somewhere else in some capacity.
The exit of Gordon over compensation comes as Cumulus Media has been in the midst of shutting down underperforming AM radio signals in recent weeks. The company has silenced several stations around the country, including some FM brands, in an effort to contain costs.
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