With iHeartRadio’s latest wave of layoffs rippling through the industry, it feels like the right moment to have an honest conversation about what comes next. I was laid off from my position as National Director of Music Initiatives at Audacy in August 2025. I wasn’t shocked that my team was shrinking again, but being next on the list was still a gut punch. Day one, I cried. Day two, I went to the beach. I highly recommend the latter. After about a week of FUNemployment, reality set in. Here’s my advice from someone who is now ten months post-RIF.
Let Yourself Grieve
Forbes describes what many of us experience as “career grief — a profound sense of loss tied not just to a job role, but to identity, purpose, and self-worth.” That grief hits differently in radio.
None of us got into this business for the money. For most of us, it’s a genuine love. I started as an intern at 18, and now in my early 40s, I look back at my first years in Providence radio the way most people look back at growing up. Radio bleeds into your social life. My fiancé works in IT and initially found it odd how many of my closest friends came from my career. He has approximately zero co-workers on our wedding invite list. I have a small army of radio people.
It’s also worth saying plainly: most of us who were laid off were good at our jobs. That part remains a hard pill to swallow.
Get Clear On What You Actually Want
Think hard about what matters most to you at this specific point in your life. In my younger years, I moved for radio without hesitation. When I was laid off this time, my answer was immediate — I didn’t want to move. I was recently engaged and happy in Rhode Island. I wasn’t willing to uproot my life for a position that, in today’s climate, could disappear just as quickly.
Reflect on what you genuinely enjoy most from your skillset and chase that direction. For me, it was brand development, marketing, and event production. Let that clarity guide you.
Invest In Your Next Chapter
Hire a career coach and get your resume professionally redone. I used a portion of my severance on both, and it was worth every dollar. Having someone outside our industry helped me reframe my experience in language that travels beyond radio. Our skills are more transferable than we sometimes give ourselves credit for.
That brings me to something important: radio people are generalists. We write, we market, we produce, we manage talent, we host, we build relationships, we execute under pressure. That versatility is an asset, but it can also make it hard to position yourself on paper. A good career coach helps you solve that problem.
Get Out And Network
Something I didn’t prioritize early enough was local networking. I now work for a chamber of commerce doing marketing and producing events in Rhode Island, and I see firsthand how much value these events create. People genuinely want to connect and help each other. Seek those opportunities out in industries where your skills apply.
Don’t be shy about reaching out to former colleagues on LinkedIn or via email either. Most people are good. Most people want to help if they can.
Say Yes To Everything
Lean into freelance, contract work, and side hustles. Saying yes to everything that came my way is what carried me financially through unemployment. Through contacts, I landed event production roles for Microsoft, PayPal, and the global broadcast of the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square. I showed up, even when things felt unfamiliar, and realized quickly just how much our radio skills translate.
I also discovered a new passion when I became obsessed with vintage and antiques and launched Anchor & Hope — named as a nod to the Rhode Island flag — a vintage décor business with an online presence and two booth spaces at a local antique mall. It has been genuinely successful and brought me real joy.
Advice From The Radio Peeps
I asked members of the Radio Peeps group on Facebook for any advice they would give to those who have been let go recently based on their own experiences. Below are some highlights:
Shelley Wade commented “Radio tends to be all-consuming on our lives, so I think it’s important to our process to give ourselves time to rest once we’re out of work. Yes, go through the grieving process, it’s a healthy part of life. Then, if you’re financially able to, take some time to just be… I mean live life like you’re a retiree, so you know how it feels to not make work your life. It’s also important to remember that radio is what we do, not who we are.”
Julian Nieh chimed in “as someone who’s been let go multiple times, here’s what I’d say. Everyone will tell you to “keep going,” “keep creating content,” and “stay positive.” That’s all true. But my advice is this: don’t let radio determine your worth. I love this business and the art of communication, but I also learned that so much of this industry is out of your control. For years, I let other people’s opinions define my value. I don’t anymore. I know what I bring to the table and I know I can compete with anyone in this business. If someone else doesn’t see it, that’s their decision — not my identity. And one more thing: when you get let go, you quickly find out who your real friends are. Pay attention to actions, not words. Love the business. Just don’t let the business control you.”
The Peeps On Action Steps
Phil Newmark, who has now been working for RCS for 11 years, after nearly 25 years in radio said “take what you have built and look for ways to use it in other fields, the community interaction and social media experience is huge right now and translates to so many other fields that you are pigeonholing yourself by trying to stick to just broadcasting.”
And Tucker Young added “Take EVERY MEETING YOU CAN. Make time for coffees, lunches, pickleball dates…anything with anyone. Meet with no expectations with friends, former clients, listeners. Stay open for opportunities because they will present themselves in the places you least expect.”
Stay Connected To The Industry
Writing for Barrett Media has given me a creative outlet and a way to pass on what I’ve learned while spotlighting the people still doing great work inside radio. There are ways to stay tethered to this industry even when you’re no longer inside it.
Grieve when you need to. Be gentle with yourself. Lean on the people who love you. You were good at your job. You are worthy of what comes next. Keep going.
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Bethany Kent is a Music Radio Editor for Barrett Media. She spent nearly 20 years bringing radio to life on stages, across the airwaves, and through unforgettable listener experiences. Her career spans local markets including Providence, Philadelphia, and New York City, most recently serving as National Director of Music Initiatives for Audacy. From producing major live events like HOT 97’s Summer Jam to leading strategic national marketing initiatives, she has built a career at the intersection of music, media, and culture. She can be reached at bethany@barrettmedia.com.
