Beasley Downsizing In Boston, Tampa, More
• Late last Friday, word began rapidly circulating about numerous high profile personnel cuts within Beasley’s on-air and programming ranks.
In Boston, eight employees at the five Beasley stations in the market were let go, according to Boston.com, including two at highly rated WBZ-FM (98.5 The Sports Hub): Mike Lockhart, longtime producer of the hugely popular Toucher & Rich morning show, and evening co-host Christian Arcand.
Lockhart started answering phones for Toucher & Rich in January 2009 when the show was on the late WBCN, seven months before The Sports Hub was launched. As Boston.com reports, “Lockhart’s dismissal infuriated hosts Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb, who made their feelings known to management after their Friday show.” Lockhart posted a heartfelt farewell to his Twitter account.
Boston.com says “Arcand had been with The Sports Hub since December 2017 and had co-hosted The Adam Jones Show — which ranked No. 1 in the summer ratings book — since June 2018. He was working without a contract but had negotiated a three-year deal that he had expected to sign soon.”
• Other downsized Beasley Boston employees include Ken West, PD of Classic Rock WBOS (Rock 92.9) and Classic Hits 105.7 WROR. West is a 30-year Boston radio pro who first joined Classic Rock WZLX in 1992 as an intern, worked his way up to morning show producer, Asst. MD and part-time air talent. West joined WROR as APD in 2002, rose to PD in 2006 and added oversight of WBOS in 2009. In 2017, he moved to WBOS full-time to re-launch ROCK 92.9. West can be reached at 508-733-8803 or kenwest2112@gmail.com.
• Jonathan Wier, morning co-host at WKLB (Country 102.5) alongside Ayla Brown since Sept. 2019. He previously spent four years in nights at Entercom News-Talk KMBZ/Kansas City. St. Louis native Wier took a unique path into the business after his wife entered him into a radio talk show host search in 2004. He can be reached at jonwierwlca@gmail.com.
• Julie Devereaux, midday talent at WROR for the past seven years and a station veteran for more than two decades in various shifts, including mornings and afternoons. Previous stops include WBOS and the late WCGY (Rock 93.7)/Lawrence, MA. Devereaux can be contacted at radiodevro@gmail.com.
• Brian “Lungboy” Bell, a 27-year WROR morning show veteran, who served as the producer for the late, long-running Loren & Wally morning show from 1995 until 2019, when he was upped to co-host alongside morning successors Bob Bronson and Lauren Beckham Falcone. Bell can be contacted at 617-899-1961 or lungboy@comcast.net.
• Bobby Blaze, afternoon personality at Rhythmic Hot AC WBQT (Hot 96.9) since April 2017. He previously spent a decade in afternoon drive across the street at iHeart’s WJMN (Jam’n 94.5) and had also done part-time at Hot 96.9. And Joe Plett, Director of Production for Beasley Boston is also out.
• Tampa Bay: Market legend Mason Dixon has exited afternoon drive on Classic Hits WRBQ (Q105). Dixon’s name is synonymous Q015, having originally worked there with Scott Shannon in the late ’70s. After leaving in the early ’90s, Dixon went on to work elsewhere in the market before returning to WRBQ in 2002 as PD and morning personality. He relinquished his PD stripes in Nov. 2008 and moved from mornings to afternoons in Sept. 2020. Say hello at charger@masondixon.fm.
• Travis Daily exits as Operations Manager of the cluster and PD of Country WQYK. Daily had been on the job with Beasley since April 2018 after launching crosstown WFUS (US103.5) for iHeartMedia in 2005, later rising to SVP of Programming for iHeart Tampa and Sarasota. Earlier in his career Daily was OM for Clear Channel Southern Colorado (including Colorado Springs and Pueblo) and PD/morning host on Country KCCY.
• Joey Franchize exits nights at Rhythmic WLLD (WiLD 94.1) after eight years. Franchize joined the WiLD crew in May 2016 after an eight-year stint with CBS Radio Rhythmic WZMX/Hartford, CT, where he served multiple roles as mixer, morning show producer, weekends and swing. He also mixed at the former WODS (103.3 AMP Radio)/Boston.
Philadelphia: The downsizing has also claimed Charlie Maxx, APD/midday personality/Production Director at Country WXTU/Philadelphia. Maxx was previously PD and morning host on Beasley AC WJBR/Wilmington, DE and has worked at a number of Philly stations, including Mix 95.7, 96.5 The Point, Alice 104.5 and WBEB. Maxx began her radio career at the Jersey shore working at WAYV and WJRZ. She has also worked in Washington and Baltimore. Maxx will retain her current role with Futuri as TopicPulse and Prep+ Operations Specialist. She can be reached at ChazMaxx@gmail.com.
• Jaime Lynch exits The John Kincaide Show at Sports-Talk WPEN (97.5 The Fanatic). Lynch earlier worked at crosstown 94.1 WIP before joining WPEN in 2015, spending time in mornings and middays.
• New Brunswick, NJ: Mike McGinn departs afternoons at AC WMGQ (Magic 98.3) after a five-year run. McGinn previously did weekends on former CBS Radio Top 40 WBMP (92.3 AMP Radio)/New York.
