Pros On The Loose
• RAMP has confirmed two major departures inside the Cumulus New Orleans broadcast complex as the company parts ways with Paul “Gonzo” Cannell, PD of Alternative WZRH (ALT 92.3), Country WRKN (NASH FM 106.1) and Classic Hits KKND (106.7 The Krewe), as well as Ashley “O” Hollier, MD/afternoon talent on ALT 92.3. We understand that Market Manager Pat Galloway will be hiring replacements.
Cannell joined Cumulus New Orleans in August 2017 as PD of WZRH & WRKN, annexing programming duties for KKND in Jan. 2019 when the station flipped from Urban AC to Classic Hits as 106.7 The Krewe. Before that he programmed Sunrise Broadcasting Alternative WRMR (Modern Rock 98.7)/Wilmington, NC and was Digital PD/on-air at WKBU (Bayou 95.7)/New Orleans. Cannell’s resume also includes stops at WMFX (Fox 102.3)/Columbia, SC, KTUX/Shreveport, LA and WKLR (96.5 The Planet)/Richmond, VA, to name a few. He was also Digital Managing Editor for Townsquare Media’s six stations in Shreveport, LA.
Ms. Hollier joined the company via the sales department in 2014 and a year later was named Director Of Promotions & Digital Media. In Feb. 2018 she was promoted again to MD/afternoons on ALT 92.3, while also handling the midday show on Classic Hits sister WRQQ/Baton Rouge. Looking ahead, Cannell can be reached at 910-408-9795 or pfcannell@gmail.com; and you can make contact with Ms. Hollier at 337-344-0418 or ashleymhollier@gmail.com.
• RAMP has also learned that Entercom Buffalo, NY has cut ties with longtime VP/Market Manager Greg Ried and Sales Administrative Manager Lynn Hooper. In a statement, an Entercom rep told RAMP, “We can confirm that Greg Ried is no longer with Entercom Buffalo. [General Sales Manager] Tim Hollywill take over as interim Market Manager while an extensive search is conducted for a full-time replacement.”
Citing unnamed sources, a story in The Buffalo News says, “Ried received a call Friday while on vacation to tell him that he was fired. He had been running the local Entercom stations for about 25 years under two different owners. Hooper had worked at the stations in various roles for more than 30 years.” The News article also has further details about Ried’s departure, including this speculation that reads, “The move comes almost a year after questions were raised about whether Entercom was following federal law related to public disclosure about political campaign advertising, but it was not clear if Ried’s departure is related.”
• And there’s more — RAMP has also confirmed the departures of two longtime staffers at Howard University-owned Urban AC WHUR/Washington: midday personality Triscina Grey and Quiet Storm host Jeff Brown.
We understand that Ms. Grey had been with the station since 1991, preceded by a brief run at WBLS/New York, and Brown had been there for the past 15 years. No replacements have been named yet.
