Cumulus Cuts Painfully Continue

• UPDATED 8/9, 4pm PT: The company’s Atlanta cluster was particularly hard hit… “Scorched Earth” is how one market observer described the wholesale dismantling of the core of WNNX (99X)/Atlanta, three and half years after it was revived — The entire cast of The Morning X is out — Host/Executive Producer Steve Barnes, co-host Crash Clark and producer Leslie “LT” Tillery.

In a statement for RAMP, Barnes said, “I am happy to report that I am happy and healthy after this 3.5-year hostage situation. Negotiators were able to secure my release, and I have been set free from my 4am alarm clock. I am incredibly grateful to Cumulus for ANOTHER amazing run on the legendary 99X, but I will be spending the next month at an undisclosed, off-grid location detoxing from the 900 gallons of diet coke that has kept me alive. Special thanks to Brian Philips, Justin Shaflander, Leslie Fram, Steve Craig, Crash Clark, Leslie Tillery and everyone else in that building. Now back to my other show… check me out on THE OVAL on Paramount+. Scene!! Reach out to Barnes at barnes@barnescreativestudios.com.

• Also out: 99X PD/midday talent Steve Craig (left), another charter member of the original 99X for 16 years. Craig went on to help launch 101.9 WRXP/New York in 2008 alongside Leslie Fram and Matt Pinfield before spending a decade at CMG Classic Rock WSRV (97.1 The River). He rejoined the relaunched 99X in July 2023. RAMP hears that only Will Pendarvis and several part-timers remain aboard. Contact Craig at radioflyer99x@yahoo.com.

• Across the hall… Laura Dickerson has been released from her dual market responsibilities as APD/nights for WWWQ (Q99.7)/Atlanta and MD/nights for 104.1 KRBE/Houston. Dickerson joined KRBE as a weekend talent in 2021, and earned her MD stripes the following year. In January 2025 she was named APD/midday personality for sister WWWQ (Q99.7)/Atlanta and relocated to the ATL, while retaining her MD duties for KRBE/Houston, and host of H-Town Nights with Laura weeknights from 7-Midnight. Prior to joining KRBE, Dickerson was MD/middays at former Urban One Top 40 KROI (Radio Now 92.1)/Houston. She earlier worked at KMVA/Phoenix, and started her career at WXKS (Kiss 108)/Boston. She can be contacted at onairlaura@gmail.com.

> Also out: Jake Bennett, Promotions Director for the Atlanta cluster — Q99.7, WKHX (New Country 101-FIVE), WNNX (99X), and OG 98.9 (WWWQ-HD2). Bennett joined the company fresh out of college in 2022. He can be reached at JakeBennett255@gmail.com.

• Nashville: Amy Paige exits middays on 95.5 WSM-FM. In a Facebook post, Paige (left) said, “I am so grateful for the four years I spent with Cumulus radio. I was given a compassionate and gentle sendoff, yesterday. It’s a new year and a new era for me.”

Paige joined Cumulus Country 103.3 WKDF for middays in Jan. 2022, following a nine-year run at iHeartMedia rival WSIX. She crossed the hall to WSM-FM last Labor Day, swapping shifts with Lucas Phelan. She’s also been heard on SiriusXM’s Prime Country and The Highway. Earlier in her career Paige worked at the late WRQX (Mix 107.3)/Washington.

• San Francisco: The San Francisco Chronicle confirms that Cumulus Sports-Talk KNBR has laid off midday duo Greg Papa and Greg Silver. The timing couldn’t be worse for the 63-year-old Papa, also the 49ers play-by-play announcer, who was diagnosed with leukemia just over a year ago and returned home last month after a life-threatening 78-day hospital stay that included lung failure. Papa and Silver will be replaced by the returning John Lund, who was laid off during a November 2024 round of restructuring.

“Not a good look for KNBR or Cumulus,” says Raj Mathai, Primary News Anchor and Sports Director Emeritus for NBC Bay Area, in a social media post.

• Atlanta: Kristin Klingshirn, a fixture at Top 40 WWWQ (Q99.7) for the past 15 years, primarily as a member of the now former syndicated The Bert Show, and more recently in afternoon drive, has left the building. “I was let go from Cumulus Media today,” Klingshirn posted to Instagram. “I’ll have more to say later. Right now, I’m gonna process and discuss plans with my husband. And then I’m gonna pick up my son from school. Because I can now.”

Klingshirn joined The Bert Show in 2011 and remained a cast member until Bert Weiss‘ retirement in October 2025. She launched her own afternoon show in January of this year.

• Albuquerque, NM: Stephanie Duran exits middays at AC KMGA (Magic 99.5) after 12 years in the building. Duran joined KMGA as midday personality in 2014, moved to mornings three years later, and then back to middays in January 2021. Her lengthy radio history includes several other Albuquerque stops, as well as Phoenix, Santa Barbara and St. Louis. Duran can be reached at stephduran505@gmail.com.

> Elsewhere in the ABQ building… Doug Durocher exits as PD/midday jock “Rick Havoc” at Active Rock KTBL (94.5 The Pit), and afternoon host on AC KMGA (Magic 99.5) and Classic Hits 103.3 KRUZ/Santa Barbara, just short of ten years with company. Durocher earlier spent a decade as MD/morning host on Alternative KCXX (X103.9)/Riverside, CA until January 2016. Before that he worked at KPOI/Honolulu. Durocher posted his departure details to Facebook.

• Modesto, CA: Jaimee Lee exits as APD/MD/morning co-host and midday talent at KATM (Kat Country 103.1). Lee’s history in the building dates back to 2003, as Marketing Director for Rhythmic sister 97.7 KWIN. She originally joined KATM in 2007, doing various prime shifts over the next seven years before rising to her most recent role in 2015. For now, PD Andy Winford is handing the midday show. Lee recently relocated to New Mexico and is looking for something local, remote live, or VT. She can be contacted at jaimeeleeradio@yahoo.com.

• New York: Jay Soderberg, VP of Digital Ops, Cumulus Podcast Network, a five-year company veteran. He posted his departure news to LinkedIn.

• Detroit: Dave Fuller exits afternoon drive on Hot AC 96.3 WDVD/Detroit after eight years. Fuller joined WDVD in January 2019, crossing the hall from afternoons on Country sister WDRQ (93.1 Nash-FM). Fuller’s earlier Motor City stops include Classic Hits 104.3 WOMC, Country WYCD, Top 40 WKQI (Channel 955), and WDRQ during its Top 40 days. Fuller can be reached at davefuller73@yahoo.com.

• Columbia, SC: Leo Baldwin is out as PD of AC WTCB (B106.7), Classic Hits WOMG (98.5 OMG) and Urban AC WLXC/Columbia SC. Baldwin also co-hosted The Midlands Morning Show with Kaylin Mozdzen on WTCB. The Midlands Morning Show has been replaced by Radiocraft’s The TJ Show. Mozdzen remains in middays at WTCB and at sister WRRM (Warm 98)/Cincinnati.

Baldwin arrived in Columbia in June 2023 from Audacy St. Louis, where had served as Operations/Brand Manager of Hot AC KYKY (Y98) and AC 102.5 KEZK. Baldwin earlier worked for Hubbard Radio & Alpha Media West Palm Beach as OM of the seven-station group, PD of Hot AC WRMF and AC WEAT (Sunny 107.9) and corporate AC and Hot AC Format Captain. His earlier programming stops include WRDW/Philadelphia, WHHH & WNOW/Indianapolis and KDDB/Honolulu, where he started his career. Baldwin can now be contacted at leo.r.baldwin@gmail.com.

• Mobile, AL: Cami Marlowe exits her dual role as PD/afternoon talent at Top 40 97.5 WABD/Mobile, AL and Regional Promotions Director after eight years with the company. Marlowe shared news of her departure in a Facebook post.

Marlowe joined Cumulus in December 2018 after three years with WYOY (Y101)/Jackson MS as morning co-host and midday talent. Earlier stops include Beckley, WV, Greensboro, Lima, OH and in her native New Zealand. She can now be contacted at 304-673-3635 or camimarlowe@gmail.com.

• Little Rock: McConnell Adams exits as PD of AC KURB (B98.5) & Top 40 KLAL (Alice 107.7) after two years on the job. Adams’ four-decade radio career includes a stint as Operations Director of Delta Radio’s five-station group in his hometown of Greenville, MI until July 2023. He earlier worked for Townsquare as Brand Manager of Top 40 WJIM (97.5 Now) and AC 99.1 WFMK/Lansing, MI and Director of Content for the cluster. Prior to joining Townsquare in 2017 Adams spent a decade in scenic Alaska, most notably programming Ohana Rhythmic KFAT/Anchorage and doing afternoons on iHeartMedia Top 40 rival KGOT. He later moved to frosty Fairbanks as PD of KWLF (K-Wolf 98.1) and did a stint as Operations Coordinator for Coastal Television, the local ABC, Fox and CW affiliate, Reach out to him at 907-947-1311 or mccon12470@gmail.com.

• Ft. Walton Beach, FL: The Morning Movement with Taryn & Stroke (Taryn Driggers & Stroke Mastro) is gone from WKSM (99 Rock).

• Saginaw, MI: Tim Brandow exits as Production Director and midday talent at Classic Rock WILZ (Wheelz 104.5). Brandow is a 40-year Saginaw radio veteran who got his start at age 14 at his high school station, and has “worked at damn near every station in the market,” including 20 years total at Wheelz over several tours, with a stint at 92 WZEW/Mobile, AL in between. He’s also been doing freelance voice work since the ’90s. Brandow can be reached at tbrandow@aol.com.

• Shreveport: Anthony “Big Ant” Simmons has exited as PD of Urban 99.7 KMJJ and Country 101.1 KRMD/Shreveport LA. Simmons had programmed KMJJ since 2014 and added PD stripes for KRMD in July 2023. Simmons broke in as an intern at KDWB Minneapolis and went on to worked elsewhere in the Twin Cities at 89.9 KMOJ and KTTB (B96), followed by over a decade at WEUP/Huntsville, AL. Hit up Big Ant at Rollinwithbigant@gmail.com or 612-226-2268.

• Grand Rapids, MI: Jordan Lass is out as APD of Top 40 WHTS (105.3 Hot FM) & Triple A WKLQ (The Q 94.5) and afternoon drive on Classic Rock 97 WLAV. Lass previously served as Brand Manager/afternoon talent at Midwest Communications Hot AC WZOX (Hits 96.5)/Kalamazoo until October 2023. He earlier worked for iHeartMedia as PD/afternoons at Top 40 KOSY (Hot 95.7)/Cedar Rapids and afternoons at Alternative KDXA (ALT 106.3)/Des Moines until that massive 2020 round of restructuring. Reach him via LinkedIn.

• Amarillo, TX: Cumulus has released these longtime veterans from its Amarillo, TX cluster: Shortie — 15+ years, most recently Noon-6pm on Rhythmic KQIZ (93.1 The Beat) • Chase Elder — 28 years on the air, most recently noon-6pm on Active Rock KZRK (Rock 108) • Carol Titus — Traffic, more than 20 years of experience • Dale Miller — part-time/production and on-air for 40+ years.

• Peoria-Bloomington, IL: Wes Jordan has exited as Production Director for Cumulus Bloomington and Peoria IL and afternoons on Rhythmic WZPW (Z92.3)/Peoria and WBWN/Bloomington after seven years. Reach him at wes.jordan1520@gmail.com.

Also out: Roxy Baker — Director of NTR and afternoons on WIXO/Peoria (Facebook) • Blake Haas — News Director and afternoons on WJBC/Bloomington (Facebook), and Susan Saunders, 20+ years in mornings on WBNQ/Bloomington (Facebook).