RadioInsight

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Cat Country Returns To Colorado Springs

Posted: 08 Apr 2020 02:57 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...orado-springs/



Cumulus Media relaunched Country 95.1 Nash-FM KATC-FM Colorado Springs as
Cat Country 95.1 this morning.

The move marks a return to the branding the station utilized from 2006-2014
before moving to Cumulus national Nash-FM identity. With the name change,
the station has debuted a new on-air lineup. Bo Jaxon, who most recently
had a brief run as OM of SummitMedia Springfield MO, joins KATC-FM as
morning host alongside Wendy LaBree. Jaxon has also served as PD/morning
host at 92.5 The Wolf KWOF Denver and programmed KIMN Denver and KBBY
Ventura CA. LaBree previously served as KATC-FM morning co-host from
2008-2014 and has been working in automotive marketing.

KSCS Dallas midday host Michelle Rodriguez will voicetrack that shift at
KATC-FM to fill the hole created by the exit of Dallace Jade last month.
Program Director Mike Dylan remains in afternoons with Nights with Elaina
and The Blair Garner Show rounding out the lineup.


The post Cat Country Returns To Colorado Springs appeared first on
RadioInsight.


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KVLY Teasing Monday Revamp

Posted: 08 Apr 2020 10:07 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...monday-revamp/



After flipping Regional Mexican “La Tricolor 99.5� KKPS Brownsville TX to
Bilingual Rhythmic “Fuego 99.5“ last week, Entravision is preparing another
change in the Rio Grande Valley.

CHR 107.9 Mix-FM KVLY Edinburg is running promos teasing a change on
Monday, April 13.

KVLY had a 4.5 share in the Fall 2019 Nielsen Audio ratings, well behind
iHeartMedias market leading Rhythmic CHR Wild 104 KBFMs 11.8.



The post KVLY Teasing Monday Revamp appeared first on RadioInsight.


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Minnesota Public Radio Names Duchesne Drew As President

Posted: 08 Apr 2020 09:51 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...-as-president/



American Public Media has announced the appointment of Duchesne Drew as
President of Minnesota Public Radio.

Drew joins MPR from the Bush Foundation where he served as Community
Network Vice President since March 2015. He previously spent over nineteen
years at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune over two terms starting as an intern
and rising through the reporter ranks to Managing Editor for Operations.

Prior to a restructuring last November, American Public Media CEO Jon
McTaggart served as direct leader of Minnesota Public Radio. Tim Roesler,
Chief Business Development Officer at the group served as Interim President
since then. He will return to his primary position after the leadership
transition through the end of June.

After an extensive national search, Jon McTaggart, president and CEO of
American Public Media Group (APMG) and CEO of Minnesota Public Radio (MPR),
today announced that Duchesne Drew has been named president of MPR. He will
start at MPR on May 4.

As MPR president, Duchesne Drew will lead strategy, programming and daily
operations serving MPR’s growing regional audiences through MPR News,
Classical MPR, The Current and MPR’s rapidly expanding digital, social and
mobile services.

Drew comes to MPR from the Bush Foundation, where he led the foundation’s
leadership programs, community innovation and communication teams and built
networks across the region as its Community Network vice president. Prior
to his role at Bush Foundation, Drew was managing editor of operations at
the Star Tribune, where he began as a summer intern and rose to one of the
most senior roles in the newsroom. Last year, he was honored with the
Widening the Circle Award by ThreeSixty Journalism, recognizing individuals
who have contributed to the next generation of journalists, particularly
while promoting inclusion and diversity.

“Duchesne is absolutely the right leader for our regional services –
especially during this extraordinary time. He has terrific leadership and
news experience, and his commitment to using public media to inform and
inspire people is a perfect fit for MPR,� said McTaggart. “Duchesne has a
wonderful ability to connect with people and welcome new ideas. He brings
passion and curiosity about how MPR can serve our audiences even better.�

“I’m delighted to be joining MPR,� Drew said. “Minnesotans are relying on
MPR now more than ever. Our music and news services are proving their
importance in people’s lives. I’m honored to lead these talented teams and
I look forward to helping us serve even more Minnesotans.�

In addition to serving on the board of the St. Paul Area Chamber of
Commerce, Drew is a member of the Itasca Project’s working team and Make
It. MSP.’s Leadership Council, which is focused on attracting and retaining
talent within the Twin Cities region. Drew’s other board commitments
include the African American Leadership Forum, the Monitors Club, the
Leadership Learning Community and the Columbia Daily Spectator.

Since November, Tim Roesler, APMG’s chief business development officer, has
served as interim president of MPR and he will assist with this leadership
transition through the end of June. Tim will then return to his
responsibilities developing new business and earned revenue support for the
APM Group.

“Without missing a beat, Tim stepped into the role as interim president of
MPR last year,� McTaggart said. “His strong leadership added stability
during a time of change, and we have all relied on his many talents, good
humor, and his no-nonsense, compassionate approach.�



The post Minnesota Public Radio Names Duchesne Drew As President appeared
first on RadioInsight.


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Cumulus To Institute Rolling Furloughs And Paycuts

Posted: 08 Apr 2020 06:32 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...s-and-paycuts/



While forgoing layoffs like other companies for now, Cumulus Media told
employees on Tuesday that it will institute a series of rolling furloughs
beginning next week.

Employees will be split into one of three groups. The majority of employees
will take 3 weeks of furlough spread out over 15 weeks starting April 20.
Others will have a 90 day pay cut instituted while a others will be placed
on a 90 day furlough. Cumulus executives are taking a 25 percent pay cut
and will forgo all incentive packages, with CEO Mary Berner taking a 50
percent reduction in salary.

Robert Feder quotes Berner as saying in her video message to employees
outlining the plans as stating, Even though these are intended to be
temporary actions, I know they are going to land hard — really hard — and
that is in the emotional and financial toll that a furlough or salary cut
will take on each of you, but also in terms of the increased workload the
vast majority of you will have to take on during your co-workers’ furlough
weeks. I am truly sorry and sad about this announcement. None of you
deserves this. Feder also noted that SAG-AFTRA objected to Cumulus
intentions that they cannot unilaterally implement changes upon union
represented staff.


The post Cumulus To Institute Rolling Furloughs And Paycuts appeared first
on RadioInsight.


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To Every Generation, There Is A "Seasons"

Posted: 08 Apr 2020 06:19 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/ross/185978...-is-a-seasons/


Many of the listeners who made Powfu f/Beabadoobee’s “Deathbed� (first
subtitled, then retitled “Coffee for Your Head)� a phenomenon probably
don’t have to go back any further than the Band Perry’s “If I Die Young� as
a lyrical touchpoint. For anybody who knows both, however, it’s hard not to
think of Terry Jacks’ “Seasons In The Sun,� another tale of dying young
that became an archetypical ‘70s pop hit. (WXSS [Kiss 103.7] Milwaukee PD
Brian Kelly, an early supporter, calls it “‘Seasons’ crossed with ‘Cupid’s
Chokehold.’�)
Beyond the deceptively cheerful farewell of the lyrics, there are other
similarities. Both artists are not only Canadian, but from Vancouver. Both
songs were interpolated from others, “Seasons� in an era when that was
rare. “Deathbed� took nearly a year to go from Soundcloud to general
release, waiting for its sampled hook to be cleared. “Seasons� was Rod
McKuen’s early-‘60s English-language translation of a Jacques Brel song
that Jacks rearranged, rewrote (to make the narrator a young man), although
he never got a writing credit, and unsuccessfully pitched to the Beach Boys
more than a decade later.
What’s telling, though, is the difference in how the two songs came to the
radio. Jacks was already known to U.S. radio and a regular hitmaker in
Canada through the Poppy Family and then a handful of underrated solo
singles. “Seasons� appears on Canadian playlists as early as (and
appropriately on) Halloween 1973. Canadian-licensed CKLW Detroit officially
added it in early December, but had likely been playing it for a few weeks
by then. Detroit led to Cleveland and Louisville. By mid-January, “Seasons�
was No. 1 at CKLW. A month later, it was No. 1 nationally.
But that’s not how hits break now. Powfu’s journey from Soundcloud to
Spotify was 10 months, until the Beabadoobee song “Coffee� was cleared. The
song built on YouTube over the course of five months. The promo blast
quotes success stories from both Shazam and Spotify (it’s No. 7 on Today’s
Top Hits), but there was a burst in TikTok activity that finally propelled
it to radio in February. Mediabase shows WXSS first, then KIIS Los Angeles
(although with fewer spins than the others), then Cox’s WBLI Long Island,
N.Y.; WPYO Orlando, Fla.; and WPOI Tampa in succession.
Canadian radio started “Seasons�; the earliest supporter documented on ARSA
is CKOC Hamilton, an equally legendary Canadian Top 40 AM. With “Deathbed,�
the first Canadian radio spins are at Sirius XM’s The Verge on March 13,
more than three weeks after WXSS, then on March 14 at Alternative CIND
(Indie 88) Toronto, and at four Top 40s including CIHT (Hot 89.9) Ottawa
and CKMP (Amp 90.3) Calgary. But this week, it’s up 38-28 in Canada vs.
49-46 here.
“Coffee� is also No. 20 at Alternative and has gotten to No. 21 in Canada.
I’m sure “Seasons� played on a few of those stations that evolved to AOR
from a more nebulous “stereo rock� position, but for the most part, it was
a lightning rod for ‘70s pop. By mid-February, “Seasons� was leading a Top
40 chart full of polarizing ‘70s songs. At age 11-1/2, I remember that era
fondly, but a lot of people regard it as a bottoming-out period.
“Seasons� was long gone from most gold libraries in 1979. Which made the
requests I got for it at my college station that much odder. They came from
the handful of teens who could hear the station on the local cable system.
They were known to us as the “Kiss kiddies,� because of the band they most
often requested, but they also asked for two less likely songs. One was the
then-year-old “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers� by Barbra Streisand & Neil
Diamond. The other was “Seasons.�
Two years later, WINZ (I95) Miami went top 40 with a healthy component of
“oh wow� oldies, including both “Kung-Fu Fighting� and “Seasons in the
Sun,� the latter reportedly testing well enough as a result that WHYI
(Y100) began playing it again. The following year, KKBQ Houston launched
(then as AM 79Q) using a lot of the same gold. “Seasons� became one of its
signature songs as well.
If “Seasons� (or “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers�) had teen appeal, it was
probably therapeutic — a way to talk about adult subjects, especially in a
time before school shootings and before teen suicide was epidemic (or at
least discussed openly enough to be identified as one). “Deathbed� began
its journey to radio before the entire world was on the edge, but certainly
still at a time when the world was edgy. It arrived shortly before
existential crisis became everybody’s reality.
A few weeks ago, I wondered what would happen to “Deathbed� in the time of
COVID-19. Would people want a song that was viral in every way? Around that
time, I also came across “Seasons in The Sun� on the radio and found I
definitely didn’t want to hear it. Radio struggles with tone in every way
now, from contesting to commercials. Younger listeners are less at risk,
but now clearly at risk from the virus, and what’s happening to their
parents and grandparents is not the abstraction it may have been in 1974.
And yet Kelly reports that the Powfu song only tests better every week. So
clearly, it’s therapeutic, too.


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RadioInsight.


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Radio One Joins Ranks Of Companies Making Cuts

Posted: 08 Apr 2020 06:06 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...s-making-cuts/



The COVID-19 related economic cuts have reached Urban1s Radio One and Reach
Media divisions.

In a memo obtained by RadioFacts, the company states that they have
experienced significant advertising cancellations for second quarter and
new business is coming in at a trickling rate. While commenting that they
hope to bring many employees back once the crisis ends, they are unwilling
to commit to that or even when due to all of the uncertanties. The cuts
extended beyond Radio One to parent Urban1s digital and television
properties as well.

Among the names exiting the company a

Jerry Smith has exited after 20 years as Program Director of Gospel 103.9
The Light WNNL Raleigh. Since 2014, Smith has also served as Inspirational
Content Director overseeing all of Radio Ones Gospel stations.

Dustin Kross departs as Top 40 Format Director overseeing CHR Radio Now
100.9 WNOW-FM Indianapolis and Radio Now 92.1 KROI Houston. Cross, who also
hosted afternoons at WNOW-FM, joined the company last May after programming
KLIF-FM Dallas and serving as APD at WQMP Orlando and WKSL Jacksonville.

Both CHRs also lost their evening hosts as Mallory Moreno departs WNOW-FM
and Amir Diamond at KROI.

Jarard J Johnson exits nights at RB Majic 107.5/97.5 WAMJ/WUMJ Atlanta.
Johnson joined the station in November 2018 after stints at WVEE Atlanta
and KKFR Phoenix.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports on four on-air cuts in that market. At
Hip-Hop Hot 104.1 WHHL, midday host Meghan O ODonnell and afternoon co-host
GeNella Miss Pooh McCrary exit. On RB 95.5 The Lou WFUN-FM, the afternoon
team of DJ Kut and Ms. Sinita depart.

Today is an extremely difficult day for all of us at Radio One and Reach.

As you are aware, we are faced with a time of uncertainty and it is not
business as usual. Our businesses have been dramatically affected by the
effect of the Coronavirus on our advertisers. We have experienced
significant cancellations for second quarter and new business is coming in
at a trickling rate. The decline in revenues forces us to react soundly and
appropriately to ensure that we are able to operate our businesses going
forward.

Unfortunately, this meant having to make very difficult decisions to
furlough or layoff many employees, across all divisions of the company
today. While we hope to bring many of them back, unfortunately at this
time we do not know when this crisis will end.


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RadioInsight.


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K-Pop HanMi-FM Debuts In Washington DC Suburbs

Posted: 08 Apr 2020 05:30 AM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...on-dc-suburbs/



Metro Radio Inc. has launched Korean Pop HanMi-FM on 102.9 W275BO Reston VA
fed via Hubbard’s 107.7 WWWT-HD2 Manassas.

Positioning as Playing today’s best Korean hits, the brand had launched
online in March before debuting over the air on Monday afternoon.

The translator serves the western suburbs of Washington DC near Dulles
Airport. It had been operating as South Asian “Bolly-FM�, which is now
broadcasting online only.


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RadioInsight.


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Ongoing List Of Those Affected By Entercom's Massive Cuts

Posted: 07 Apr 2020 03:00 PM PDT
https://radioinsight.com/headlines/1...for-employees/



More names from the Entercom cuts last week have become known:

Jay Hicks exits as Program Director of Hip Hop 95.5 WPGC Washington DC.
Hicks joined WPGC last September after previously programming WBLK Buffalo,
WGPR Detroit, and WQHH Lansing.

Brian Lopez departs as PD of Classic Rock Eagle 96.9 KSEG and Sports ESPN
1320 KIFM Sacramento. Lopez had been with KSEG since 1994, serving first as
morning show producer before rising to APD in 1999 and PD in 2013. He began
programming KCTC in 2007.

Along with the previously reported Chris Booker, Chelsea Briggs has also
exited mornings at CHR 97.1 Amp KAMP-FM Los Angeles. Briggs joined the
station in January 2018 after serving as a video host for Billboard
Magazine.

Matthew Reid departs as APD/MD/night host at Hot AC Mix 104.1 WWBX Boston.
Reid joined then WBMX in 2009 after runs at WPLY Philadelphia, WWZZ
Washington DC, KZQZ San Francisco and KBKS Seattle.

Susan DeVincent is out as evening host at Classic Hits Sunny 98.1 KXSN and
overnight host at Country 103.7 KSON San Diego. DeVincent also served as a
traffic reporter for the cluster and previously hosted mornings at AC 96.5
KYXY and Sports 97.3 The Fan KWFN.

Melissa Maxx exits nights at Alternative 104.3 The Shark WSFS Miami.
Joining the station in September 2018, Maxx previously hosted nights at
95.5 KLOS Los Angeles and has also worked at WBAB Long Island and WBCN
Boston.

Also departing WSFS is morning co-host Mike Spanish Gregory.

Steve Edwards exits afternoons at Soft Oldies EZ 1430 KEZW Denver.

MC Chrissy departs nights at CHR B97 WEZB New Orleans after a year and a
half in the position.

Update 4/3: The names being forced to depart Entercom continue to come out
as more big names exit the company.

Chris Booker departs as morning host at CHR Amp 97.1 KAMP Los Angeles.
Booker moved to mornings last October after hosting afternoons since the
brands 2009 launch. He previously has worked at WIOQ Philadelphia,
WXRK/WFNY-FM New York and hosted mornings at the infamous Blink 102.7 WNEW
New York.

The TJ Show hosted by TJ Taormina and Loren Raye departs mornings at CHR
103.3 Amp Radio WODS Boston. The duo joined WODS in 2013 following its flip
to CHR from the syndicated Elvis Duran Show. Also departing are producers
Matt Shearer and Nick Benevenia. They were given the opportunity to do a
final show this morning.

Recently inducted Country Radio Hall of Famer, Chuck Edwards departs
Country 99.5 WYCD Detroit after 20 years with the station. Edwards joined
WYCD in 2000 after a long run in afternoons at KSCS Dallas. Co-hosts Steve
Grunwald and Rachel Hunter remain in mornings.

Also exiting WYCD is APD/MD/midday host Tom ‘Cadillac Jack’ Kapsalis.
Kapsalis joined WYCD in November 2018 after stints in Tampa, Philadelphia,
Las Vegas, and Washington DC.

Nancy Quill exits middays at AC Magic 106.7 WMJX Boston after 38 years with
the station.

Geoff Sheen departs The Morning Mix at Hot AC Mix 96.5 KHMX Houston. Sheen
joined KHMX in 2017 after previously working as a Sports talk host in San
Antonio, Fresno, Modesto and the Sports By-Line USA network.

Jason Kidd departs mornings at Classic Hits 94.7 The Drive WIAD Washington
DC. Kidd has previously worked on-air at WRQX Washington, WXYV/WWMX
Baltimore and programmed WPGC Washington, WQSR Baltimore, KQBT Austin, WKST
Pittsburgh, and WWHT Syracuse.

After 23 years with Alternative Alt 105.3 KITS San Francisco, Aaron Axelson
departs as APD/MD/afternoon host.

Diana Steele departs middays at Classic Hip-Hop 104.3 Jams WBMX Chicago.
Steele joined WBMX in April 2018 in what was supposed to be a temporary
voicetracking role from her San Francisco home.

Nancy Barrow departs The Hot Morning Crew at Hot 93.7 WZMX Hartford after
21 years in mornings.

Bobby Duncan departs as PD/afternoon host at Classic Rock 92.3 KGON
Portland. Duncan joined KGON in November 2018 after previous programming
stints at KLOL Houston, WGRD Grand Rapids, and WXMX/WKIM Memphis.

Harris Allen becomes the second WFAN New York update anchor to take a
contract buyout. Allen joined WFAN after a long run on-air at Rock 102.7
WNEW.

Morning show co-host Jack Freeman and evening host TJ exit Hot AC Q104 WQAL
Cleveland. Freeman joined WQAL in 2018 after previously being part of WKQI
Detroits Mojo In The Morning.

Freddy Snakeskin exits as PD/morning host at ROQ Of The 80s KROQ-HD2 Los
Angeles.

Dean Richards has departed as Music Director and evening host at AC Lite
100.5 WRCH Hartford after 28 years with the station.

Drew Cuthbertson has exited as Market Operations Manager for Radio.com
after three years with the company.

Dennis Fithian departs as late night host at 97.1 The Ticket WXYT-FM
Detroit after 14 years with the station.

Sports reporters Joe Salvatore and Bruce Macgowan exit News 740 KCBS/106.9
KFRC San Francisco.

The New York Post reported that the pay cuts asked of remaining employees
will be broken down with those making $50,000 to $100,000 taking a 10
percent cut, those making $100,000 to $250,000 taking a 15% cut, and those
making over $250,000 taking a 20% reduction in salary through the second
quarter or negotiate new terms.

Original Report 4/2: Entercom has become the latest radio operator to
announce a series of layoffs, furloughs, and pay cuts for employees.

In a memo from CEO David Field, the company details some of the financial
moves it needs to take during this crisis. Beyond the people that will be
exiting or furloughed of whose numbers have not been disclosed, the company
is suspending its stock dividends and 401K matching and implementing salary
reductions in the second quarter between 10 and 20 percent for any
employees with a salary above $50,000 per year. Field himself will take a
30% paycut.

Among the names exiting the company today a

Liana Huth departs as corporate SVP of Programming Innovation. Huth joined
Entercom in December 2015 and was responsible for creating and developing
content opportunities and strategic partnerships.

Kenny Jay, leaves as Program Director of Country US99 WUSN Chicago and
102.9 The Wolf KMNB Minneapolis. Jay joined WUSN in January 2018 and
readded those duties at KMNB last November after previously programming it
and 94.1 KMPS Seattle for CBS Radio.

Smokey Rivers departs as Program Director/afternoon host of Soft AC 94.1
The Sound KSWD Seattle after two years. Rivers joined KSWD in May 2018
after recent roles as OM for Scripps Tucson, VP/Programming for iHeartMedia
Phoenix and VP/AC format for CBS Radio.

Terry Foxx exits as Program Director at Sports 92.9 The Game WZGC Atlanta.
Foxx launched the brand in 2012 after previously programming 93.7 KDKA-FM
Pittsburgh.

John Minko, an update anchor at WFAN New York since its launch in July
1987, has accepted a contract buyout. Minko will continue to call St. Johns
University games.

Jay Berman, sports anchor at News 880 WCBS New York and CBS Sports Radio,
has tweeted he was let go.

Kasper is out as afternoon host at Country US99 WUSN Chicago after four
years. Kasper joined WUSN after previous stints at WAKS Cleveland, WRVQ
Richmond, WIOQ Philadelphia and WRTS Erie.

Eric Tyler departs afternoons at CHR B96 WBBM-FM Chicago. Tyler originally
joined WBBM-FM as night host in 2016 and was quickly promoted to
afternoons. He previously spent a decade as APD/MD at Kiss 106.1 KBKS
Seattle.

Brian Wookie Kostek departs as APD/MD/afternoon host at Country Y108
WDSY-FM Pittsburgh.

Toni Marie is out as APD/MD/midday host at Country 99.5 The Wolf KWJJ
Portland.

Andrea Duffy has exited middays at AC B101.1 WBEB Philadelphia after seven
years with the station.

Casey Reed has announced her exit from mornings at CHR 96.5 TDY WTDY-FM
Philadelphia. Reed joined WTDY-FM in November 2018 after working at
multiple other CHRs in Philadelphia.

Amanda Casey exits middays at Hot AC Q104 WQAL Cleveland. Casey had been in
the position since July 2018.

Aaron Carreno exits as morning host at Mix 105.1 WMHX Madison and afternoon
host at 99.1 The Mix WMYX Milwaukee. Carreno joined WMYX in September 2018
after hosting afternoons at Entercoms KZPT Kansas City.

Ryan Gibbons departs as morning show producer at CHR 103.7 Kiss-FM WXSS
Milwaukee. Gibbons joined WXSS in 2016 after stints in Philadelphia and
Seattle.

Jeffrey Jmatt Matthias departs Digital Program Director for Entercom
Milwaukee and midday host at WXSS.

Chuck Friemond departs mornings at Sports 105.7 The Fan 1250 WSSP Milwaukee
after 11 years with the station.

Also at WSSP, Bill Schmid departs as part of the afternoon Wendys Big Show.

Zach Duarte is out as night host at Sports 790 The Ticket WAXY Miami.

Trevor Murray exited WAXY after fourteen years. Most recently Murray had
been working as a part-time host at the station.

Julie DiCaro exits as night host at Sports 670 The Score WSCR Chicago.

Connor McKnight departs as midday co-host at WSCR.

Jason Snupe Daniel exits afternoons at Hot 95.9 K240EL Austin and high
school sports host on 1370 KJCE.

Terry Phillips departs as Creative Services Director at Country 99.5 WYCD
and Classic Hits 104.3 WOMC Detroit just shy of twenty years with the
stations.

Sassy exits as Program Director/afternoon host at CHR 103.7 Kiss-FM WKXJ
Chattanooga.

Mathhew Slightly Warshawsky departs as afternoon host at Hot AC 94.9 The
Point WPTE and nights at CHR Z104 WNVZ Norfolk.

Were told that a lot of the cuts were also focused on the promotions and
local digital departments within the company as well as significant
reductions to the companys national production team.

Thank you for your resilience, dedication and fortitude as we manage
through the extraordinarily challenging and disruptive impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. We are all doing our best to ensure that our loved ones
remain safe and healthy while working tirelessly to serve our listeners,
customers, and communities. I am deeply appreciative of everything you are
doing to keep us moving forward under these difficult conditions. We are
fortunate to work in an industry that plays such an important role in our
country at a time of crisis, providing a critically important and trusted
local voice for news and information as well as entertainment,
companionship and respite during these uncertain times.

Unfortunately, the severity of the situation necessitates us making
significant cost reductions in order to cope with the realities at hand.
Our nation is facing unprecedented disruption that has shut down countless
businesses and entire industries, including many of our customers. This is
having a very large impact on advertising revenues. We must take hard but
necessary actions to ensure that we endure the crisis and emerge as a
strong, healthy and competitive company.

I am deeply saddened that we need to make these painful moves at this time,
but they are necessary under the circumstances. We are doing everything in
our power to minimize the number of layoffs through shared sacrifice across
the organization, but we will still need to eliminate or furlough a
significant number of positions. In order to make the transition less
painful for our colleagues, we will be providing up to an extra month of
additional severance for those individuals for whom their normal severance
and the recently announced enhanced federal unemployment benefits provide
less support. In addition, we will be providing enhanced employee benefits
for furloughed team members.

We will also be taking other cost reduction actions at this time, including
the temporary suspension of our dividend and our 401K Company match, the
elimination of Q1 and Q2 bonuses, and temporary salary reductions of
between 10% and 20% for anyone earning a salary in excess of $50,000 per
year. I will be taking a 30% salary reduction. We hope to restore regular
salaries, bonus eligibility and our 401K plan match at the start of the
third quarter. I very much appreciate the sacrifice that people will be
making in these difficult times.

We will get through this crisis and put this all behind us. Better days
lie ahead. With the tough but necessary actions we are now taking, we are
doing what is required for us to preserve the health of the company and
ensure that we are strong when we get to the other side. Our future is
further protected by our strong financial position with substantial cash
reserves and virtually no debt due before 2024. And when the crisis
abates, we look forward to resuming our growth and building on our strong
strategic position as a leader in the audio business, including the best
lineup of local radio stations in the United States.

I deeply appreciate your dedication and commitment and look forward to
better times ahead.

We will be following up with additional information shortly.

Yours,

David


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