It’s happening – again. The Job Loss Tsunami in broadcast media is here, and continues to grow. Downsizing has become an all-too-familiar reality. Companies like Beasley, iHeart, Audacy, and Cumulus – as chronicled by Barrett Media – previously cut staff in the name of efficiency. Connoisseur Media just gobbled up Alpha Media, and while Jeff Warshaw is a true broadcaster, his smarts will certainly locate duplication of effort, and jobs will shrink.
As we wrote in September 2024, reduction in force (RIF) and the sudden departure due to profit and nepotism, require a path towards a new, separated rebound.
For those of us working in broadcast, preparing for the possibility of a layoff is smart and essential. Building a financial cushion, keeping your network active, maintaining an updated résumé and demo reel, and exploring parallel career paths can help soften the blow and position you for what comes next.
In Music Formats – especially Adult Contemporary, Oldies, and Adult Hits – talent outside The Morning Anchor(s) role are particularly vulnerable.
After a few conversations with newly displaced talent and advice from broadcast recruiting experts, here are a few tips for anticipating a corporate-wide cut.
Financial Preparation
Corporate layoffs often come with little warning. However, you’ve been warned by the deduction news we read every month. A rule of thumb is that up to six months of savings allows breathing room while you strategize your next opportunity. Make a budget, cut luxury items, and reduce expenses where possible, even temporarily to boost savings.
Current Resume And Audio
For your updated resume or digital business profile, hire a professional resume writer. Experienced writers in this area will interview you and pull skills from the discussion that might be in your blind spot. Hidden skills include contract negotiation, budget management, and multi-dimensional marketing planning. Record and save all your work. Initial air demos sent to programmers should not exceed 90 seconds.
Feed Your Network
Don’t wait to reboot relationships. The broadcast industry runs on connections. Rework your LinkedIn profile or develop a new one. LinkedIn acts as a landing place for your credentials. List five different people you can call in your network weekly. Your network often equals opportunities coming to you before they’re posted.
Diversify
Digital content creation is a basic complement to our air work. Demonstrating your proficiency in social media platforms and digital marketing expertise are increasingly valuable skills. Experience across platforms makes you more attractive to employers and often opens doors outside of broadcast.
Mental Health and Similar Paths
Broadcast pros can transition into podcasting, voiceover work, corporate communications, media sales, event hosting, or digital production. After separation, keep your eyes wide open for how your talents translate outside a traditional radio station environment. If you pause your traditional broadcast career, there are dozens of examples of talent who sat out and successfully returned.
In addition to the hard skills listed above, take care of yourself physically and mentally. Here are a few thoughts on Mental Health if you’re caught in a layoff wave. HR veterans recommend the following:
- Personal Pause – Opt to step back instead of rushing into a new job. Take a solo retreat for reflection and healing. A layoff should be viewed as a “personal pause,” not an indictment of your performance.
- Next Move – Use that pause to understand your narrative. Craft a thoughtful next step, even if it means delaying your job search for a month or two.
- Get Organized – Request a layoff letter and research your health insurance options. Take a few days to reconnect with yourself, your hobbies, and your family.
Media Jobs Resources
There are professional resources that can help you stay behind the mic. Media Jobs Report tracks trends across the broadcast industry, offering resources on hiring, layoffs, salaries, diversity, job demand, and skills.
After contacting veteran broadcaster Jerry Butler of Media Jobs Report, he shared, “While we don’t directly place candidates, we do actively promote job opportunities across the industry. Experiencing a reduction in force is always difficult. I regularly hear from professionals navigating the stress and uncertainty of unexpected job loss. My advice is to immediately engage your network, update your resume and demos, review and refine your social media presence, and maintain a positive outlook. Although the number of industry positions has declined in recent years, opportunities remain for those who actively pursue them.”
Media Jobs Report has more than 2,000 positions posted currently, with new listings added daily. Jerry Butler is a Senior Music Scheduling Consultant at MusicMaster, leveraging over 30 years of radio leadership and management experience to onboard, train, and support talent across formats, markets, and platforms. Reach Jerry at JJ@Audiostream.Net.
Founded in the 1990s by my late friend Laurie Kahn, Media Staffing Network is a recruiting and staffing firm specializing in connecting radio and TV companies, along with agencies and digital platforms, with qualified professionals at all career levels.
Now at the helm, Lisa Fields provides comforting insight for those facing a layoff storm or who have just experienced one. Lisa echoes what other HR pros tell us:
“RIF (Reduction in Force) or headcount reduction is often a budgetary decision—not a reflection of your performance. Companies are still hiring. Many are doing so with intention,” said Fields. “You never know when the right opportunity will appear, so stay ready. While you’re searching, NETWORK. Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, and friends. Reconnecting can open unexpected doors.”
Fields continued, “Also take this time to refresh your resume. Update your LinkedIn profile and learn something new. There are plenty of free or low-cost webinars and courses available to sharpen your skills. Your next great opportunity is out there. Stay proactive, stay connected and stay confident.”
Media Staffing Network is a superior resource for recruiting and placement, assisting employers in finding candidates for full-time, part-time, freelance, and temporary roles in media, sales, programming, digital, and management.
Also a great outsourcing platform, Human Resources Support is helpful if you don’t have a full HR department.
Lisa Fields is the President of Media Staffing Network, with over three decades of radio experience specializing in recruiting top-tier talent and team building. Contact Lisa at info@MediaStaffingNetwork.com.
Bookmark Barrett Media as a resource. Our columnists offer weekly personal tips, and our Breaking News content is industry-leading. You can check the Barrett Media robust Media Industry Job Board HERE too.
Professional Advice
Avoid the Rear-View Mirror. Leave on good terms and exit gracefully, thanking colleagues and preserving professional bridges. You never know when your departing company might need your talent elsewhere.
Media is all about relationships. Those relationships may lead to consulting work or future opportunities. Job loss in a passion-driven field like broadcasting is emotional and financial. Being downsized is not a reflection of your talent or value—it’s a business decision.
We want you, and NEED you to stay in our industry. You’re the trained talent to pull others in and share your expertise.
Historically, Adult Contemporary brands (and all music formats) suffer the biggest body count during a layoff season. Replacements are recruited and mostly recorded out of market.
Be prepared for the gathering clouds.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Kevin Robinson is a passionate award-winning programmer, consultant and coach – with multi-formats success all over the country. He has advised numerous companies including Audacy (formerly Entercom Communications), Beasley Broadcast Group, Westwood One, Midwest Communications, Townsquare Media, Midwest Family Broadcasting Group, EG Media Group, Federated Media, Kensington Media, mediaBrew Communications, Starved Rock Media, and more. He specializes in strategic radio cluster alignment, building lean-forward tactics and talent coaching – legacy and entry-level – personalities.
Known largely as a trusted talent coach, Kevin is the only personality mentor who’s coached three different morning shows on three different brands in the same major market to the #1 position. His efforts have been recognized by The World Wide Radio Summit, Radio & Records, NAB’s Marconi, and he has coached CMA, ACM and Marconi Award-winning talent. He is also in The Zionsville High School Hall of Fame as part of the 2008 inaugural class. Kevin is an Indiana native – living near Zionsville with his wife of 39 years, Monica and can be reached at kevin@robinsonmedia.fm.
