Lawson, Others On The Loose
The iHeartMedia downsizing continues, despite the company’s insistence that it’s not happening. The latest executive to be shown the door is 16-year company vet Jim Lawson, who exits his position as SVP of Programming for the company’s eight-station Denver cluster. We understand that Lawson’s former Denver responsibilities will be absorbed by JoJo Turnbeaugh, Region SVP of Programming for the company’s Nevada/Central California Region.
Prior to assuming his current post in July 2015, Lawson (left) had served the dual role as SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia’s Colorado Regional Markets — Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Ft. Collins and as Hispanic Brand Manager for National Programming Platforms. Lawson joined Clear Channel in 2001 as PD of KFMD (Kiss 95.7)/Denver. Prior to that, he helped launch one of the industry’s first Modern AC stations, KALC (Alice 105.9)/Denver. Lawson’s extensive radio career also includes programming and on-air roles at B96 and WGN/Chicago, WLUM (Hot 102)/Milwaukee and WVIC/Lansing, MI.
RAMP caught up Lawson, who remarked, “I have nothing but love and respect for everyone I’ve worked with at iHeart Media over the past 16 years. I will be forever grateful for the experiences I’ve shared with some of the brightest colleagues I’ve ever known. I will never take those years for granted. I’ve never given less than 100% of my efforts and my results speak for themselves. I will give the same effort and passion in my next endeavor.” Mr. Lawson can be reached at 303-525-7019 or jlaw725@msn.com.
• Other iHeart casualties include Brad Boyington, who exits as night jock on KJYO (KJ103)/Oklahoma City. Boynton (left) was initially hired at KJ103 in 1998 by former longtime PD Mike McCoy (who was also recently downsized himself) and did nights there until 2001. After stints in nights at KIXY/San Angelo, TX and WHZZ/Lansing, MI, Boyington returned to KJ103 in 2005. Boyington is now looking for his next gig and wants us to let you know he has a fully equipped home studio (including NexGen) and he’s ready to go. Hit him up at 405-816-3582 or bradboyington@gmail.com.
• And in Tulsa, OK, Brian Reed (left) exits as co-host of Afternoons On The Buzz on Fox Sports affiliate KTBZ (AM 1430 The Buzz) after only six months on the job. Co-host Jeremie Poplin is now flying solo. Reach Reed at 918-813-3456 or pokes_rock@yahoo.com.
Across the hall on Active Rock KMOD we understand John “Cornflake” Watkins has also departed as co-host of The Big Mad Morning Show.
