Pros On The Loose
• Earlier this week we reported on some of the cuts being made inside Alpha Media, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Along with the exit of MoJoe Roberts, PD of Country KUPL (98.7 The Bull)/Portland, OR and corporate Country Format Captain, we also told you that Jake Byron and Tony Russell, two thirds of The Bull’s morning show had also departed. We now have their contact information to share:
• Ironically, this week Byron (left) had marked his 16-year anniversary with The Bull. His previous stops include KDUK & KFLY/Eugene, ORand KLAD & KAGO-FM/Klamath Falls, OR. He can now be reached at jakebyronmedia@gmail.com.
• Russell (right) joined The Bull three years ago, coming off of a decade as co-host of Fitz In The Morning on KKWF (The Wolf)/Seattle. Earlier stops include KPLX (99.5 The Wolf)/Dallas and the former WFLC (97.3 The Coast)/Miami. Russell can be contacted at tonyrussell2@gmail.com.
• Elsewhere in the Portland cluster, we learned of another layoff — Lucinda Kay, who co-hosted Portland’s Afternoon News with Cooper Banks on News-Talk KXL has been downsized. Banks will now host the show solo.
Ms. Kay has been in the business since 1994, initially spending many years as a TV news anchor, and later coached/consulted before stepping into radio. As Kay tells RAMP, “I’m sturdy AF, and I’ll come out the other side. But first I’ll grieve and need to rest. COVID-19’s kickin’ our ass, working us hard, and I will miss taking care of my listeners and collaborating with our team.”
Fortunately, Kay was able to record a farewell video message that is posted to Facebook. Going forward, she can be reached at 509-280-6237 or lucinda@lucindakay.com.
• Elsewhere inside Alpha Media, Sadie Black, APD/MD of Triple A WPCO (94.9 The Palm), Classic Rock WMFX (102.3 The Fox) and former Active Rock-turned Alternative WARQ-HD2 (ALT 99.7)/Columbia, SC, has been indefinitely furloughed.
Ms. Black joined Alpha Media Columbia as Promotions Manager in 2015 and worked her way up through the ranks. She started her radio career in 2013 across the street with Cumulus Sports-Talk WISW and Classic Hits WOMG. She can be easily contacted at 803-403-6388 or BettyFordCynic@gmail.com.
• After recently celebrating his 20th year with Saga Communications in Des Moines, IA, Creative Services Director Brian Whitaker exits as his position is eliminated due to COVID-19-related budgets cuts. Whitaker had imaged Hot AC KSTZ (Star 102.5) and Active Rock KAZR (Lazer 103.3), along with leading the cluster’s commercial production department. He has previously done imaging for markets like Washington DC, Milwaukee and Omaha, along with others.
Whitaker commented, “It’s rare these days to spend 20 years at any job, and the team I worked with at the Des Moines Radio Group were the best group of people I’ve ever worked with.”
Whitaker also runs his own voiceover and production company, and is available for imaging V/O. Check out his demos at whitakerdesign.net or contact him at whitvo@gmail.com.
