iHeartMedia is preparing to launch a new round of layoffs in the coming days. The company is planning to implement a new strategy with a “faster is better” approach.
What We Know: In an internal memo obtained by Barrett Media, the company shared that the changes would create layoffs. “Existing positions will be impacted as part of these changes,” the memo reads. Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer and President of iHeartMedia, and Ann Marie Licata, CEO of the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group, said the company made the changes “with a great deal of thought” and does “not take this step lightly.”
What They Said: “Faster is better, and that’s the goal of our changes. With that in mind, we’ve built new tech capabilities over the last several years that have enabled us to both deepen our relationships with the listeners and communities who depend on us and improve the support we provide to our sellers. We’re now moving to scale this approach, implementing structural changes within our Programming organization and expanding responsibilities for key leaders.
“These moves are designed to:
- Expand and deepen our support for our communities, markets and sales teams
- Fully leverage our technology to deliver an even stronger product for listeners wherever they live
- Move faster and operate with greater precision across markets
- Position us not just to adapt to the future, but to lead it.” -Joint statement from Ann Marie Licata and Tom Poleman
Who’s Been Affected: (As of 6-25-26. If you have been affected: Email John@barrettmedia.com or Garrett@barrettmedia.com)
Akron: Tony McGinty is out as Program Director and morning co-host at 98.1 WKDD. McGinty also served at WMMS Cleveland and previously at WKDD from 2013-2020. Also previously with WAKR Arkon, and WTHT Portland, ME.
Allentown: Mike Kelly is out as morning host at B104 after two decades in the timeslot.
Becca Lynn also departs B104. She joined the station in September 2023 after previously spending fifteen years in mornings at Cat Country 96 from 2004-19.
Joel Shimer is also out as midday host at 95.1 WZZO and nights at Country 94.7 WDSD in Dover, DE. He joined WZZO in October 2023 after previously serving at 99.9 The Hawk four four years.
Anchorage: 670 KENI host Amy Demboski has exited the station. She helmed mornings for the past three years after previously serving on the City Council.
Casey Bieber exits after a 23-year run with the cluster. Bieber programmed CHR 101.3 KGOT since 2013, added mornings in 2015, and took on PD/afternoons at Country 107.5 KASH in 2022.
Atlantic City: Joe Borsello & Scott Reilly’s JoJo & Scotty Morning Show are out at 100.7 after seventeen years at the station.
The Mike & Diane morning show is out at 95.1 WAYV. Diane Mitchell has been with the station for 27 years after previously working at WPST (Trenton) and WBBO (Ocean Acres). Mike Kelso joined the program in 2014 after previously serving as PD/morning host at WBBO and WWZY (Long Branch).
Birmingham: Madison Reeves exits her multiple roles with iHeartMedia after 25 years. She currently was featured on 102.5 The Bull in Birmingham, Whistle 100.5 in Greenville, SC, and Cities 97.1 in Minneapolis. In addition, she’s worked in multiple formats from AC to Country.
Charleston: Mike Blaze is out as PD/afternoon host on Q104.5 after 27 years with the station.
Columbus, GA: Kelin Flis departs middays at Sunny 100.1 after four years.
Denver: Bret Saunders has departed as morning host at 97.3 KBCO after 28 years with the station.
Denise Plante is out in middays at 106.7 The Bull after eight years with the station.
Ryan Schuiling also departs as morning host at Talk 630 KHOW after nearly three years. Prior to moving to mornings, Schuiling served as producer of the station’s afternoon show. He also hosted sports progams in Lansing and Grand Rapids MI.
Des Moines: Barrett Media has learned that 106.3 KXNO has multiple shows affected. Heather Burnside, Alec Busse, and Tyler Allen are out as the station has removed The 1st Quarter with Heather and Alec morning program. Also, Sean Roberts, Lucas Strain, and Connor Ferguson have also departed the station in afternoon drive. Roberts was promoted to program director of the station in June of last year.
In addition, Ken Miller is departing the Miller and Condon program effective at the end of this week. Trent Condon announced yesterday that Nick Marovets will serve as his new co-host in the daypart beginning Monday.
1040 WHO host Emery Songer has exited. His show was also heard on 600 WMT in Cedar Rapids. He previously helmed afternoons at 1110 KFAB in Omaha, in addition to middays at 1040 WHO.
Eau Claire: Dave DeVille departs as the cluster’s SVP/Programming and morning host at Z100 after 20 years.
Fort Myers: ‘Flyin Brian’ Jameson is out after 25 years hosting the Morning Freak Show on 105.5 The Beat.
Todd Matthews exits after 33 years in mornings at “Kix Country 92.9” WIKX Port Charlotte. He also hosted middays at Soft AC “Seaview 104.9” WCVU since 2016 and afternoons at Classic Hits “95.3 The Beach” WOLZ Fort Myers.
Fresno: Sam “Diggedy” Segovia exits as OM/PD at KHGE Fresno and KTOM Monterey.
Trevor Carey also exits Power Talk 96.7 after 10 years with the radio station.
Harrisburg: Mike Miller is out as VP/Programming and afternoon host at Bob 94.9 WRBT after 28 years with the company. Miller previously programmed 99.3 Kiss-FM Harrisburg and Z104.3 Baltimore. In addition to APD/MD of KKRZ Portland during his tenure.
Houston: Barrett Media is reporting that Cole Thompson is out in mornings at SportsTalk 790 in Houston. He was elevated to the position in November of last year. Thompson brings more than a decade of experience covering Houston sports, with previous stops in Austin and San Antonio.
Huntsville: RAMP is reporting Spencer Graves is out in mornings at WDXB (Birmingham) and WDRM in Huntsville, AL.
“Decisions like this are difficult for everyone involved,” Graves tells RAMP. “I’d like to personally thank Tony Travatto, Dino Conard, Blake Fulton and Ronnie Bloodworth for their faith in me. Also, the incredible communities of Birmingham and Huntsville. I was honored to be a part of two legendary Country stations, WDRM and WDXB. I’ve always appreciated the saying, leave things better than when you found it and we did that. Ratings, personal revenue and record setting numbers.”
Indianapolis: Erica Coleman is out at Real 98.3 WZRL and Real 93.1 WTFX Louisville. Coleman joined the industry in 2007 and has experience in Indianapolis, Louisville, Atlanta, Columbus among other markets.
Lexington: Nathan Nelson departs as vice president of programming, Kentucky Area after 16 years with the iHeartMedia.
Little Rock: Bo Dalton exits as afternoon host at the statewide trio of Country 95.7 KSSN Little Rock, “Kix 104.1” KKIX Fayetteville, and 99.1 KMAG Fort Smith after a seven-year run with the company.
Louisville: Nick Coffey departs mornings on 840 WHAS. He previously hosted on SportsTalk 790 in Houston.
McAllen, TX: Frankie D. exits as longtime afternoon host and former APD at Country KTEX.
Minneapolis: Twin Cities News Talk morning host Jon Justice has exited. He helmed the show for 10 years. His email is: TheJonJustice@gmail.com
Amy James has also departed middays at K102, She also tracked for several stations nationally.
Myrtle Beach: Brodie is out as PD/afternoon host at Mix 97.7, 104.7 WNOK Columbia, and 97.3 Kiss-FM in Savannah GA. He also served a decade as APD/MD/morning host at 95.7 KCHZ Kansas City.
Pensacola: Brian Edwards is out as VP/Programming and PD/Afternoon host of TK 101.
Phoenix: Lois “Double-L” Lewis is out as APD/MD/midday host at 102.5 KNIX. Her previous experience includes KWNR Las Vegas as APD/MD, and also worked as Senior Director of Regional Promotion for Republic Nashville.
Jon Jeffries also departs his anchor role with the iHeart Sports Radio network.
Pittsburgh: Val Porter exits afternoons at Classic Hits “94.5 3WS” WWSW and nights on Classic Rock 102.5 WDVE. Porter has been with the cluster since 1994, serving as MD of WDVE from 1999-2024 and co-hosting mornings there from 2001-2024. Also in Pittsburgh, Russ ‘Whip’ Rose exits weekends at Rock/Alternative “105.9 The X” WXDX, where he began his tenure in 1995.
Travis Marzina also departs as midday host at 105.9 The X and night host at Big 104.7. Marzina joined iHeartMedia in 2014 as an intern for the WDVE morning show.
Russ Rose also exits weekends at 105.9 The X. Rose began his tenure with the station in 1995.
Poughkeepsie: Jeremiah Wood departs afternoons at 96.1 Kiss-FM and 102.3 Kiss-FM in Albany after three years.
Quad Cities Market: Pat Leuck & Dani Howe depart mornings on 103.7 WLLR after over 30 years together.
Mark Manuel also departs as PD/Afternoons at Big 106.5 and 100.7 The Fox in Cedar Rapids. He previously served as APD of KCQQ and webmaster for the iHeartMedia Quad Cities cluster before rising to PD in June 2020. He has worked in the market since 1993.
Reading/Lancaster, PA: Leah Tyler is out after eighteen years as midday host at Y102 and FM 97. Tyler also served as Production Director on the national programming team.
Rochester: Jeremy Newman departs middays at Country 100.5 and afternoons on Rock 95.1. He joined the company in 2021.
Mark Maira is also out as evening host at Rock 95.1. Maira has held multiple roles at the cluster over the past five years after previously serving as Production/Imaging Director and afternoon co-host at Stephens Media Group’s 94.1 The Zone.
Springfield: Clint Gerlek departs as VP/Programming after 19 years with iHeartMedia. He recently hosted middays at 100.5 The Wolf and Afternoons on Alice 95.5.
Chris Zito departs mornings at Mix 93.1 and 96.1 WSRS Worcester after fourteen years. He has also held morning show roles in his career in Boston, Detroit, and Worchester, MA.
St. Louis: Tony Mott is out at 103.3 KLOU in afternoons. He previously worked afternoon drive in Chicago and mornings in San Francisco. Mott shared the news via his Instagram story.
Also, BJ Holiday is out of middays at Hallelujah 1600 and weekends on 100.3 The Beat after 41 years with iHeartMedia.
Tampa Bay: Barrett Media has learned that AJ Malone is out as Program Director/morning drive host at 98Rock. Malone joined the outlet in 2018, and her previous experience includes various roles, including Program Director at WXSR-FM in Tallahassee, FL, as well as Production Director at WOLT-FM in Indianapolis, IN.
What Remains Unclear: The size and scope of the layoffs remain unknown. In its memo, iHeartMedia executives shared that the new strategy will also create new roles. The company has not disclosed how many positions it plans to add.
What It Means: The cuts mark another in a long line of reductions by iHeartMedia. Because iHeartMedia has not disclosed the scope of the cuts, assessing the impact another round of layoffs will have on employee morale remains difficult.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
So a warning from the top but nothing has happened yet? Must be awful to have to work like that. Basically, “talk soon!”
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Horrible decisions from the top. Only reason I listen to I heart is for the local sports in Des Moines and to be honest seldom listen the only show left. Hopefully most of the talent laid off will use YouTube to keep their voices heard in Des Moines. So long I heart!