iHeart Restructuring Continues…
• UPDATED: Just when we thought our industry’s run of shrinkage had reached a semi-reasonable plateau, iHeartMedia has initiated another round of restructuring in several markets, resulting in the departure of several longtime iHeart programming pros:
• Amber Miller has also been caught up in this latest round iHeart restructuring and was relieved of her duties as APD/MD & middays at WRFF (ALT 104.5)/Philadelphia late last week.
Miller (left) joined WRFF, then “Radio 104.5,” in 2016 as APD/MD, was promoted to PD in early 2020, and reclaimed her APD/MD status in September 2023 when Mike Kaplan joined the station.
Before that she spent three years promoting records at Caroline (now Virgin Music Group) and enjoyed a six-year run with Northshire Alternative WEQX/Manchester, VT-Albany, NY, the last three years as PD. Miller’s earlier radio stops include WDCG (G105)/Raleigh and WQSM (Q98)/Fayetteville, NC. A Michigan native and a graduate of Central Michigan University, Miller got her radio start back in the day as a lowly-yet-enthusiastic street teamer at WDVD/Detroit, working her way up to Producer of The Rocky Allen Show.
Amber is now examining her options and can be reached at amberkbouchard@gmail.com.
• Don Cristi, SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Tulsa & Oklahoma City, who broke his own departure news via a Saturday Facebook post, which reads, in part, “They say, ‘Beware the Ides of March.’ They were right. Yesterday, after a 20-year love affair, I was separated from iHeartRadio. I literally loved every minute of overseeing our stations in Tulsa and four years ago adding the awesome group in Oklahoma City. But everyone who knows me knows this — my love for the legendary 97.5 KMOD was head over heels and unbridled.”
Cristi (left) added, “Those who say never get too attached to a radio station or any inanimate object can kick rocks (whatever that means). I knew the minute I walked in the studio to say hello to Phil & Brent to my last meeting yesterday with the Big Mad Morning Show that this place was special. That I got the privilege of programming 20 of KMOD’s 50 years is something I’ll treasure forever.”
Cristi can be easily contacted at rocketsurgeryradio@gmail.com.
• Erich West, SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Huntsville, AL
West (pictured, left) had been in the building for nearly 18 years. He caught the radio bug at Auburn University’s WEGL in the early ’90s, before going on to work in promotions at WVEE/Atlanta. After subsequent stops at WZLM/Alexander City and WHHY/Montgomery, AL, West was named OM of Tiger Communications’ group in Auburn in 1996. He later served four years as OM of Clear Channel’s Macon, GA group before earning the transfer to Huntsville in 2006.
West can now be contacted at 256-656-3086 or ewestradio@hotmail.com.
• Matt Gilcheck (left), morning co-host on Country WBCT/Grand Rapids, MI has been downsized after 11 years in the building. Gilcheck previously programmed Classic Rock sibling WBFX and did nights on WBCT until his elevation to mornings ten years ago. His earlier stops include middays on WKKT/Charlotte and MD at WKIS/Miami. Gilcheck, who also operates his own V/O business, can be contacted at Matt@MattGilcheck.com.
• “Uncle Sam” Eulenfeld (right), exits iHeartMedia’s Corpus Christi, TX cluster after 16 years. Eulenfeld had worked his way up from board op and morning talk show producer to his most recent multiple roles of PD of News-Talk KKTX-AM, afternoon drive talent on Country KRYS, and Director of Production for the company’s Corpus Christi and McAllen, TX groups. Hit him up at bulkysam@gmail.com.
• Chelsey Steinhauer, PD of iHeartMedia Country WMAD (96.3 Star Country)/Madison, WI, who exits after nearly a decade.
Steinhauer (left) is one of those increasingly rare radio pros who had spent her entire career at the same station, initially getting her foot in the door as an intern while attending UW-Whitewater and gradually working her way up through the ranks, to MD, then APD, and ultimately, elevated to the PD post in January 2020, while also hosting the midday shift.
Steinhauer can be contacted via chelseyradio@gmail.com.
• LJ Smith, SVPP for iHeart’s Carolinas group (Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach & Florence, SC). Smith had been on the job in Columbia for 22 years. Prior to joining the former Clear Channel in 2002, Smith spent six years as a consultant with Broadcast Programming, preceded by two years with Benchmark Communications in Baltimore.
• Steve Wazz announced via Facebook that he has exited as APD/morning co-host at iHeartMedia Country WGAR/Cleveland due to restructuring. Wazz is a Cleveland native who originally left his hometown in 2003 to start his radio career. After a stint as APD/MD at iHeart’s KKDM/Des Moines, IA, Wazz spent six years doing nights at sister KDWB/Minneapolis. In Oct. 2014 he was named APD/MD/afternoon talent at iHeartMedia Top 40 WDCG (G105)/Raleigh, and ultimately earned the transfer back home to WGAR in Oct. 2018. He can be reached at wazzradio@gmail.com.
• And the cuts continue… Zack Owen has exited as SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Waco, Temple & Killeen, TX. As first reported by Country Aircheck, Owen joined heritage Country WACO 100/Waco in 1992 as PD/morning host and remained in those roles for his entire tenure, with the station ranking No. 1 in 56 of the 59 surveys in that time. He was awarded regional oversight in Oct. 2011. Reach him at zackowen@att.net.
If you or someone you know has been similarly affected by these cuts and would like your information shared with the industry, please contact me ASAP at Kevin@RAMP247.com.
