More Industry Layoffs Looming
• UPDATING: Lost under the weight of this week’s sizeable iHeart departures, RAMP has learned that Cumulus is also making cuts — Indianapolis took a hit with the exit of several prominent pros, starting earlier this week with the departure of 34-year cluster veteran Kevin Freeman, morning co-host on Country WFMS. Now comes word that Jimmy Steele, PD of Top 40 WZPL & AC WNTR (107.9 The Mix) has exited, along with Laura Steele (no relation), who was released from afternoons at Classic Hits 104.5 WJJK; Carter Marshall, Asst. Producer of WZPL’s Smiley Morning Show, and midday voice; Promotions Coordinator Jennifer Trevino, and several sales department staffers.
• Steele, a 37-year industry veteran, was named PD of WZPL in March 2022, transferring from the OM post at Cumulus Mobile, AL. Steele earlier programmed iHeartMedia Hot AC WRFY (Y102) & WRAW-AM/FM (Rumba 92.3/1340)/Reading, PA; was SVP of Programming for iHeart’s Salisbury-Ocean City, MD group; Director of Operations/Brand Manager for Saga Columbus, OH; OM for Clear Channel/iHeartMedia’s San Diego group; RVPP of the company’s Columbus and Central Ohio regional markets; PD of WNCI/Columbus and WRVW (107.5 The River)/Nashville. Reach out to Jimmy at jimmylsteele@gmail.com or 858-869-5073.
• An Indianapolis native, Laura Steele did middays on WJJK for seven years before being upped to afternoons in May 2023. She also worked at the late, legendary WNAP back in the day, and spent 15 years in middays at iHeartMedia Classic Rock WFBQ (Q95) until 2015. She’s also a voice for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network, the emcee for Colts’ pre-game events, and was the first female voice on the P.A. team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2004.
• On Thursday, Cumulus cuts hit Central Pennsylvania, as at least six staffers that we know of have been laid off: A.J. Cobian, a.k.a. “AJ in the Afternoon” at Country WIOV (I105)/York; Dave Russell, PD/afternoons at AC WARM 103.3/York; Gary Sutton and Mark McKenzie from News-Talk WSBA-AM; Venetia Stephenson, APD/MD, Rhythmic WWKL (Hot 106.7); and Engineer Rich Hill.
Cobain had been with WIOV since 2018. Before that he spent a decade at WRFY/Reading, PA. He can be reached at albertjcobian@gmail.com.
As always, if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, please reach out to Kevin@RAMP247.com so that we can share your info with any potential future employers.
More Exits: iHeart & Townsquare
• Leah Dickinson exits iHeartMedia Baltimore, where she has served as Marketing & Promotions Director for WPOC, WZFT, WQSR, and WCAO since 2023. Before that she was a member of the cluster’s Promotions Event Support team. A specialist in concerts and live events, Dickinson previously did event support for Times-Shamrock Classic Rock WZBA (100.7 The Bay), and was afternoon producer at Hearst’s WIYY (98 Rock). She can be contacted at LeahDickinson@gmail.com.
• RAMP has also learned that budget cuts at Townsquare Media Buffalo have resulted in the exit of Kadie Daye, co-host of the Clay & Company morning show on Country WYRK. Prior to arriving in Buffalo in July 2021, Daye did nights at WNDV (U93)/South Bend, IN. A graduate of Goshen College in Goshen, IN, Daye caught her radio break as Student Station Manager and morning show host at WGCS (91.1 The Globe). Hear from her directly in an Instagram post. Daye can be reached at kadiedj@gmail.com.
