The "Audacy" of KNX and other short takes

 

As we offered a couple of days ago, Audacy Inc. -- which just recently emerged from bankruptcy -- cut approximately 100 positions nationally. The current round of layoffs follows the 12 positions cut this past February from the company's "Pineapple Street Studios" which oversees many of Audacy's podcasts. Locally, the hardest hit station is all-news KNX. We previously reported evening anchor Brian Ping was released, we have now learned news writer John Nuño was also let go. Evening traffic reporter Tanya Campos has not been heard on KNX the past few days, but we've been unable to confirm her departure. It appears the station will now utilize solo anchors except in morning drive.

Here's the company's official statement about the layoffs:

Audacy is performing well against our 2024 business plan, and we are on track to emerge as a stronger and healthier company, well positioned for a bright future as a differentiated, scaled industry leader with the industry’s strongest balance sheet. As we continue to make large investments and drive enhancements across our business, we are simultaneously implementing some difficult but necessary decisions that will impact less than 2% of our workforce to best position our company for long-term growth.

Unfortunately, (at least) four positions cut from KNX is far more than two percent of the all-newser's workforce. Besides the 2024 cuts, Audacy cut about five percent of their employees in 2022, following two rounds of cuts in 2020. The second largest radio company filed for bankruptcy in January of this year, emerging from Chapter 11 about a month later, reducing the company's debt from $1.9 billion to $350 million. 

Comment: There's the management principle that states "you can't cut your way to success." Granted, radio is assumed to be a fading medium, but it's not dead yet. Why hasten its demise?

(P.S. Yes, I'm aware of the Monty Python reference.)

20 roses for Ryan: The 21st century reincarnation of Dick Clark, namely Ryan Seacrest, celebrated 20 years as morning man on KIIS-FM. The successor to Rick Dees back in 2004 embarked on a 12-hour "thank you tour" last week, with stops at the Disneyland Resort, SnoCorner in Long Beach, Ruben's Bakery and Mexican Food in Compton, Malik Books in Culver City, and Guerrilla Tacos in Downtown LA, some of Seacrest's favorite sites. 

Sisanie, Ryan Seacrest, Tanya Rad

They also hosted a student rally at Los Alamitos High School, the alma mater of co-hosts Sisanie and Tanya Rad.

Back at the studio, Seacrest reunited with former co-host Ellen K, the latter now doing mornings at iHeart sister station KOST. The KIIS-FM veteran is about to begin hosting duties on the syndicated "Wheel of Fortune" gameshow, succeeding 41-year host Pat Sajak. Seacrest continues to host ABC-TV's "American Idol," now in its 22nd season.

Wallengren with former KOST morning co-host Kim Amadon

Get well soon!: Two veterans of the LA airwaves are recovering from medical issues. Former KOST morning host Mark Wallengren is being treated for a severe blood infection. "There’s so much pain in my lower back that I can hardly walk," said Wallengren, currently hospitalized in Arlington, TX. He may need to be transferred to an LA hospital in order to get advanced treatment. "Other than that I’m in really great shape," said Wallengren.

Then there's Bryan Simmons, another KOST veteran, who is recovering from a heart attack. He's back home, having had a stent put in and avoiding what's commonly known as the "widow maker." Simmons is currently the Operations Manager for Global One Media and midday talent on the company's classic hits KOOL 94-5 FM (KUOL) in Elko, Nevada. He's planning to return to the airwaves in a couple of weeks.

Hold please: Tavis Smiley has been waiting for FCC approval to purchase KBLA, hoping to use the station as a flagship for a national black talk radio network. But there's been two obstacles. First, the current owner, Multicultural Broadcasting, is being blocked from selling the station by the Ukrainian Congress Committee, claiming Arthur and Yvonne Liu (current Multicultural and KBLA owners) are unfit to hold the station's license for not operating in the public interest. The Ukrainian group wants all of the Lius' 39 stations (six stations in SoCal) stripped from him because the Russian government-backed “Radio Sputnik” leased time on WZHF-Washington DC to broadcast "egregious" Russian propaganda. The Ukranian committee has also revived past allegations of sexual harrassment by Smiley while at PBS, thus claiming Smiley is also unfit to own a station. For his part, Smiley still plans to purchase the AM 1580 frequency for about $7 million.

Seen on the westside

And there's more: The changes on the local airwaves apparently aren't done. We'll do our best to keep you posted. If you're not on the email alert list, send your information to ayodaradio@gmail.com. As always, stay tuned.