Former 97.5 The Fanatic radio host Mike Missanelli has broken his silence following his dismissal from the radio station after his program on Friday. The long-tenured voice of Philadelphia sports radio had returned to the airwaves of 97.5 The Fanatic in August of 2024, following a two-year departure from the brand.
On Monday, taking to his social media feed, Missanelli explained the details surrounding his removal from the station last week.
“For the folks who noticed I’m not on the air today…I was informed after last Friday’s show that I was being let go as part of the company’s ongoing budget cuts,” wrote Missanelli. “I had planned to retire (with a lil dignity) at the end of my contract next February.”
Previously, Missanelli had been with 97.5 The Fanatic for 15 years before his surprise exit in May of 2022. However, The Mike Missanelli Show made its return in 2024 in the midday time slot on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Missanelli joined by Bill Colarulo, a former attorney turned sports talk host.
In June, Colarulo was promoted to afternoon drive alongside co-host Ricky Bottalico.
As the dust settled, Missanelli reflected on what his next steps might be.
“I want to thank the many people who listened to me over the years, and the great colleagues with whom I worked,” wrote Missanelli. “It was a blast. What’s next? Podcast world? Who knows. God speed. Go birds.”
Furthermore, Missanelli was just one of many programming cuts made over the weekend by Beasley Media Group. Other departures included Jack McCartney, who was removed as Director of Programming for Beasley’s Boston cluster and corporate VP/Strategy & Analytics. Additionally, Magic 98.3 Program Director/midday host Debbie Mazella and Rock 105.5 PD/midday host Terrie Carr also exited the company.
Financially, Beasley Media Group reported a 12.3% year-over-year revenue decline in the second quarter of 2025, with net revenue falling to $53.0 million from $60.4 million. On a same-station basis, revenue decreased 11.1%, largely driven by continued softness in the traditional audio ad market. Nevertheless, the drop was partially offset by growth in high-margin digital sales, which increased 1.3% to $13.2 million and now account for 25% of total revenue.
Looking ahead, CEO Caroline Beasley said the results reflect “continued progress in reshaping our business for long-term profitability,” pointing to growth in digital offerings and cost reductions.
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