Bucky Jacobsen’s future at KJR remains unsettled following his departure announcement over the weekend. Co-host Chuck Powell broke his silence on the situation Monday and hoped to have answers shortly, but also was skeptical about the timing.
What We Know: Powell opened Monday’s Chuck & Buck morning show without Jacobsen following his announcement over the weekend that he will be stepping away from the program. Jacobsen joined KJR’s morning show in March 2018, teaming with Chuck Powell for more than seven years. He stepped away in April citing health issues. Meanwhile, Powell confirmed KJR and iHeartMedia are actively working to keep Jacobsen involved in some capacity. However, Powell cautioned that a resolution likely won’t come quickly.
What They Said: (All quotes via Chuck & Buck on KJR – Seattle)
KJR’s Chuck Powell: “We are working actively to try to keep him as part of our show, as part of our station in some capacity. So, we will give you some information on that whenever we have it to pass along. But I’m going to tell you this right now, KJR/iHeart, we don’t get right on things. There are a lot of great things about this radio station. One of them is not getting right on it. Being right on the ball.”
KJR’ Chuck Powell hopes to have more information soon: “I think we should have more information for you within the week. Certainly you’ve not heard the last move that the station’s going to be making in this area. So, we’ll let you know whenever we know anything, because I’m truly in the dark right now.”
What Remains Unclear: Any timetable for an announcement on Jacobsen’s status with KJR moving forward is unknown. Powell also didn’t lobby up any announcements in the near future that are confirmed.
What It Means: Ultimately, Powell’s comments signal patience over urgency at KJR. Jacobsen’s departure for health reasons is unfortunate. Moreover, Jacobsen’s departure forces KJR to retool a show built around his chemistry with Powell. Powell offered caution with the listeners about expecting gradual updates rather than a swift resolution. iHeartMedia’s slow-moving reputation, per Powell, now extends to this decision too. However, with the start of the football season ahead, it’s imperative that station management land on an option for the Seahawks Super Bowl title defense to begin the lineup every weekday.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.