Tom Bauerle is leaving 930 WBEN after 24 years with the Buffalo station. His contract was set to expire next week.
What We Know: Bauerle confirmed his exit after spending more than 40 years in radio. His career included stops in St. Louis and Tampa before he established himself in Buffalo.The longtime broadcaster previously worked at 550 WGR before moving to 930 WBEN in 2002. Most recently, Bauerle hosted afternoons from 3-6 PM. He spent 42 years combined at Buffalo’s two stations, including his time at WGR. Over the years, he became a prominent voice in the market. However, Bauerle said he was fired after returning from a sold-out trip to Italy with listeners. He acknowledged that his contract had been set to expire next week.
What They Said: “Thank you for a great 42 years combined at those two Buffalo stations. Your support and support of sponsors has been like a great dream. This was the life I chose, and no matter how loyal ANYONE is to ANY employer, EVERY ONE gets popped eventually. MY SITUATION IS NO DIFFERENT THAN OR MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYONE ELSE’S! Nothing ever happened to me that didn’t work out for the better, and every day I spend with my wife Richelle Derrah Bauerle I am reminded of that. Yes I was FIRED, one day after returning from a sold out Italy trip with fans.
“My original ego-saving defense mechanism wanted this to be a ‘retirement’ spin, and after a 45 year career I was in temporary denial. Richelle properly knocked sense into me and said, ‘Tom, why bullshit your listeners? That makes YOU like Soros fake news! That isn’t who you are and you know it!’ I apologize for my 6 hour moral lapse, and Friday conversations with certain others knocked sense back into me.” -Tom Bauerle
What Remains Unclear: Bauerle hasn’t revealed what’s next for his radio career. He did, however, make clear that he intends to remain active in the industry. The veteran host said he will be a competitor, potentially signaling another Buffalo radio opportunity.
What It Means: Bauerle’s departure marks the end of one of the longest-running relationships between a Buffalo host and a major local station. Now, 930 WBEN will need to determine how it fills the afternoon slot. Meanwhile, Bauerle’s next move could quickly become a major story in the Buffalo radio market.
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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.