Update: Jack Silver and Lon Helton out at Westwood One

 




Radio Ink and All Access are reporting L.A. radio veterans Jack Silver and Lon Helton were part of a number of layoffs at Cumulus-owned Westwood One. 

Silver had been in charge of the NBC Sports Radio Network until the pandemic, he continued as the operations manager for their Culver City broadcasting facility for the national syndicating service which produced music and talk programming and oversaw the production crews for NFL and collegiate sports broadcasts.


Silver took over "Real Radio 97.1" (KLSX) in 1997 and transformed it into "97.1 the FM Talk Station," featuring KFI veteran Tom Leykis. One of his challenges was having to replace Riki Rachtman for punching Doug Steckler in the face in the station's hallway. Silver stopped at KFWB and KRTH as an account executive before he was hired as program director at KABC, adding KLOS to his responsibilities a year later. 

Silver told Radio Ink, “I had a great run with an amazing company and was able to work with top tier talent and staff. Now it’s on to a new challenge.”


Helton was the Country editor for Radio & Records, working out of Nashville for over a decade. He also hosts the syndicated "Country Countdown USA" which will cease distribution following the weekend of July 30 - 31. Just two years ago, Helton was winner of The Country Music Association (CMA) National Broadcast Personality of the Year.

Helton told All Access, “We have had a great run of 30 years and my deepest thanks to all of the stations and artists who have contributed to our success. Our longtime writer/producer George Achaves is out as well, and together we will keep the show going as we always have with a different Country star as a co-host each week. We are exploring other platforms and opportunities.”

In 1980, Helton was hired by Charlie Cook, the new program director who would help flip one-time "Boss Radio." KHJ to country. A premature announcement two months earlier gave KZLA time to switch to country in 30 days, blunting the debut of KHJ's "We All Grew Up to be Cowboys" format. The departure of Rick Dees, who quickly left KHJ for KIIS, required Helton to take over mornings, adopting the name Scott Jeffreys. Helton recalled for LARadio.com, "I wasn't about to replace Rick Dees on the air. He had a strong loyal audience and I didn't want to be the recipient of the hate mail, so I created Scott Jeffreys.” 

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