Audacy Downsizing Continues

• UPDATED AUG. 18: Another high-profile company veteran who was unfortunately terminated was Roberta Jasina, morning drive anchor for three decades on WWJ Newsradio 950/Detroit. Jasina posted a brief video to Facebook that says, in part, “I did not retire — I was let go on Tuesday after 34 years at WWJ…. I have to say, my heart is broken. I LOVED WWJ. I had the best job in the world. I loved going into work every day and trying to serve the listeners to the best of my ability.” Making Jasina’s situation even more heartbreaking, she revealed that the day after she was let go, they found out that her husband Alan was diagnosed with cancer. “Please say a prayer for my family,” Jasina added.

• In other major market departures — KNX/Los Angeles has parted ways with traffic reporter Denise Fondo, a 15-year station veteran, and Production Guru Bill Nesbitt. According to LA Radio veteran Alan Oda, Fondo said she was planning to retire soon and looked forward to travelling.

Nesbitt got his SoCal radio start at KWIZ/Santa Ana in the mid-’80s, before going on to work at KEZY/Anaheim, and KYSR, KACD & KFWB/Los Angeles prior to KNX. He was also the former Director of Programming for the now defunct Entertainment Radio Networks, which produced Fight Back with David Horowitz and The Weekly Top 30 Country Countdown with Charlie Tuna. Among his many distinctions, Oda says Nesbitt was the disembodied voice at Disneyland telling riders, “Please keep your hands inside the vehicle.”

• One of the more surprising cuts in this round of Audacy downsizing is Joe Calgaro, OM of the company’s Sacramento cluster and PD of KRXQ (98 Rock) and KSEG (The Eagle), who finds himself on the radio beach for the first time in his 33-year career.

Calgaro (left) earned the transfer to Sacramento in Nov. 2020, following two years with Entercom Boston, where he served as OM for Sports-Talk WEEI and Adult Hits WBGB (Big 103). He also programmed the late, legendary WAAF/Boston until it signed off in February 2020. Calgaro previously programmed WHQG (102.9 The Hog)/Milwaukee, WAPL & WZOR (Razor 94.7)/Appleton-Green Bay, WI and WWCT (Rock 106)/Peoria, IL. He’s now exploring his options and can be reached at 920-915-1811 or joecalgaro@gmail.com.

• Elsewhere in the Sacramento building… Ian Massengale is out as co-host of That Damn Show in afternoon drive on KRXQ (98 Rock). That Damn Show soldiers on with remaining hosts Stroke Mastro, Mikey Muscatello, and Lara Nelson. Massengale broke the news of his exit to Instagram, stating, “This day bears a heavy toll. I am truly crestfallen. Due to cutbacks, many people including myself were let go from Audacy. Meaning I am no longer a part of That Damn Show or 98 Rock. Tomorrow is a new day, and I’ll deal with that day tomorrow. Tonight I’m gonna get hammered and remember the good times I had entertaining all of you. Thank you for laughing at my stupid fart jokes. It meant the world to me.”

• Denver — Dave O’Brien, Mornings at Classic Rock KQMT (99.5 The Mountain)/Denver since 2019. Previously spent 18 years with Emmis Indianapolis, four with former Top 40 WNOU (Radio Now 93.1) and 14 years in mornings on Country WLHK (97.1 Hank FM). Multiple CMA and ACM nominations and a 2016 Marconi nomination for Large Market Personality. He can be reached at 317-429-6171 or dobrien131@msn.com.

• Seattle — John Fisher departs mornings at Soft AC KSWD (94.1 The Sound)/Seattle after nearly four years. Fisher is best known for his 20-year run in mornings on former Entercom Triple A KMTT (103.7 The Mountain) until the station flipped in 2013. He later spent three years on-air at Hubbard AC KRWM (Warm 106.9) before joining The Sound in Jan. 2018, shortly after its launch. Reach out to Fisher at 206-650-0167 or heyjohnfisher@gmail.com.

• Pittsburgh — Kristen Buccigrossi, morning co-host, Country WDSY (Y108) since March 2018. Buccigrossi previously spent nine years in cluster’s promotions department, followed by a stint as Regional Sales Asst. for Sinclair. Reach her at kristenmbuccigrossi@yahoo.com.

• Kevin Battle, morning co-host, News-Talk KDKA-AM/FM. Find him on Twitter @kevinbattle.

 • Austin — John Zenor exits his dual role as Public Affairs Director and Host/Producer of Inside Austin on 1370 KJCE and weekend talent on AC KKMJ (Majic 95.5). Locate Zenor on LinkedIn.

• St. Louis —  Stel Pontikes, who had been with the cluster since 1978, starting at the late, great KSLQ before it became KYKY in the ’80s. Pontikes was handling overnights on KEZK and KYKY and was PD of Rock-based Contemporary Christian The Spirit 102.5 (KEZK-HD3), which, we are told, has also gone away. Pontikes can be reached at 314-640-5727 or punpickle@mindspring.com.

• Lance Hildebrand, AM & PM Traffic on Hot AC KYKY (Y98)/St. Louis. Call him at 314-220-8278.

• Baltimore —  Jerry Coleman, nights, Sports-Talk WJZ-FM (105.7 The Fan). Coleman tweeted, “I was let go today in a cost-cutting move. Right as vacation begins. But thanks to my bosses and colleagues at 105.7 The Fan!” Coleman’s previous DC-area stops include WTOP and WTEM/Washington and WBAL-AM & WIYY (98 Rock)/Baltimore.

• Washington, DC — Reese Waters, midday host, Sports-Talk WTEM (The Team 980). Waters will continue to host Open Mic on WUSA9-TV. Follow him at @reesewaters.

• Minneapolis — Mike Max, a 24-year veteran of News-Talk 830 WCCO exits as host of Sports To The Max, along with producer Craig “Hammer” Schroepfer. BringMeTheNews.com, citing an internal Audacy memo, reports that Max, who also serves as sports anchor on WCCO-TV, will be replaced in his 6:30-9pm slot by Henry Lake, who moves up from 9pm-midnight, as the station picks up CBS Audio Network’s Eye on the World with John Batchelor for late nights.

 • Milwaukee — Sports-Talk WSSP-AM (1250 The Fan) has jettisoned most of its local on-air staff – morning host Bart Winkler, midday guys Gary Ellerson and Leroy Butler, and afternoon talent/Brewers post-game host Tim Allen – in favor of CBS Sports Radio programming. We understand that midday co-host Steve “Sparky” Fifer remains in the building to handle local sports.

• Las Vegas — Lindsay Brown & Adrian Hernandez, co-hosts of The Playmakers on Sports-Talk KXST-AM (1140 The Bet). Brown can be reached at 612-978-3005.

• Tony Dinkel, Engineer, Audacy Las Vegas – call him at 702-280-6003.

 If you or someone you know has been downsized, please reach out to us at Kevin@RAMP247.com.