‘Unscheduled Departures’ Hit iHeartMedia Again

Another round of layoffs has affected several iHeartMedia markets, resulting in the exit of many talented professionals — lets start in Cincinnati, where longtime Market Manager Chuck Fredrick has exited, along with Bo Matthews, SVP of Programming for the Cincinnati cluster and PD of WEBN and Top 40 WKFS (Kiss 107). Matthews (pictured, left) is a 20-year company vet who started as an intern and worked his way up through the ranks. He notably spent 11 years in Cleveland as PD of Rocker WMMS and Top 40 WAKS (96.5 Kiss FM) until January 2014, when he earned the promotion and transfer to Cincinnati. Matthews is understandably eager to get back in the saddle and can be reached at 216-269-0700 or bomatthewsradio@gmail.com.

• Detroit: Matt Shepard, who had done mornings on Sports-Talk WDFN-AM/Detroit since 2001 was fired after his show on Monday. Shepard tweeted, “As you can tell, my show is no longer. I thank the listeners (friends) for the support and conversation over the yrs. It’s been an honor.”

• Tampa Bay: We understand six people were terminated, including WFLZ night jock Brody (a three-year vet) and Launa Phillips (left), MD of Country WFUS (US 103.5). Brody’s previous stops include KUPL (98.7 The Bull)/Portland, OR, WJHM (102 Jamz) and WXXL (XL106.7)/Orlando, WKSS (Kiss 95.7)/Hartford and WFKS/Jacksonville. Communicate with Mr. Brody at 407-902-9776 and Brody1067@gmail.com. Launa Phillips can be reached at LaunaPhillips@gmail.com.

• New Orleans: Market Manager Marlon George is out, along with News Director Bob Christopher, Loretta Petite, PD of Gospel WYLD (AMen 940) and Jim Fisher, a nine-year company vet who was PD of News-Talk WRNO & WODT (Fox Sports 1280)/New Orleans, as well as WBUV (News Talk 104.9)/Biloxi, MS and WNTM (News Radio 710)/Mobile, AL. Fisher can be contacted at 504-390-3204 or jim@findyourmarathon.com.

• Sacramento: Pacey Williams (left) exits mornings on Rhythmic Hot AC KHYL (V101)/Sacramento and hosting evening on the company’s Pride Radio for the past five years. He was a seven-year company vet who previously produced the morning show on KMEL/San Francisco. Williams began his radio career in San Diego working with The Jeff & Jer Morning Show. Contact him at paceywilliams@gmail.com.

• Grand Rapids, MI: Britta Cleveland, midday personality at Country WBCT (B93.7) and Brook, longtime co-host of the Tommy & Brook morning show on AC WSRW (Star 105.7).

• Akron, OH: Over the past week or so the cluster has lost WKDD morning co-host Meg White, Production Director Jeremy Bruce and Stan Piatt, weekend talk host on WHLO-AM.

• Florence, SC: On Monday we told you iHeartMedia Country WEGX (Eagle 92.9)/Florence, SC had picked up the Premiere-syndicated Bobby Bones Show in place of the longtime local Mudflap & Palmer morning show, displacing PD Ed Palmer (18 years) and APD/MD Randy “Mudflap” Wilcox (14 years). Reach Wilcox at randymudflapwilcox@gmail.com.

While denying there had been a widespread “downsizing,” iHeartMedia issued a statement that read, “Each market constantly looks at all aspects of its business to ensure that it reflects how the best organizations work today so they can continue to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible. This creates some new jobs, and unfortunately sometimes eliminates others.”