Local layoffs at Audacy (and a resignation), the 2025 edition

 

The latest downsizing of Audacy involves 250 - 300 layoffs across the country. The company's digital content division is almost completely eliminated. Morning hosts in New York and Boston were let go. RIFs happened with talent, management, sales, and traffic. 

The last major Audacy layoffs locally were in 2022. The current Audacy layoffs hit the LA market quite significantly, perhaps more signifcantly than three years ago.

Ralph Stewart is described as both a strong radio man and a wonderful person. Raised on Seattle rock-n-roll, he started with rock and progressed to CHR. In 1987, his station flipped to the format first heard in LA known as "the WAVE." He suddenly had Yanni's home phone number. He guided the station through the transition until the station itself was sold. As it turned out, there was an opening at the original WAVE whcih brought him to Southern California in 1991. He briefly left CBS Radio to help launch All Comedy Radio in 2003 before returning to CBS Radio and JACK-FM (KCBS-FM) in 2005. He added the PD duties of 94.7 the WAVE (KTWV) and JACK-FM. Both stations have been significant successes in the local ratings. Like other Audacy properties, it's rumored the station will now be run from a regional multimarket management structure. 

Also leaving the WAVE is weekender Michelle Briddell. In addition ot her radio hosting duties, Briddell appeared in "The Cross-Up" (2017), "Shi" (2012) and "Planet of the Apes" (2001). The Redondo Beach native also is a stage actress and voiceover talent. She has served with the USO since 1994, entertaining troops in Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. Briddell had been with the WAVE since 2017.

Kevan Kenney emanated his show from New York, across many of Audacy's alternative stations. He was heard on KROQ from 7-midnight, a show complimenting his work on MTV. His shows include "Fresh Out Live" and "Friday Livestream." He was seen on the red carpet prior to the annual MTV Video Music Awards. Just this past December, Kenney teamed up with Dr.  Tara Suwinyattichaiporn in another reboot of the "Loveline" show on Sunday evenings. Kenney got his start in the entertainment business with Dick Clark Productions here in LA.

Jonathan Kantrowe may not be a household name, but his nom de plume -- Beer Mug -- is well recognized by KROQ listeners. Kantrowe was associated for many years with Kevin & Bean, then continued for the brief "Kevin (Ryder) in the Morning with Allie (McKay) and Jensen (Karp), which lasted less than a year without the presence of Gene "Bean" Baxter. Both popular and controversial as Beer Mug, Kantrowe remained with the station as producer of "Loveline" and on other shifts. He was often sent to Hollywood premieres where he awkwardly tried to interview celebrities. His nickname is derived from a beer mug tattoo on his foot. He leaves KROQ after twenty years, having started with CBS Radio.

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Though the significant changes elsewhere in Audacy Los Angeles are noteworthy, there were two developments at all-news KNX that surprised many.

Charles Feldman served as KNX's investigative reporter, having done similar work at CNN in both New York and LA. He describes himself as a journalist, author, television, radio, and media consultant. Along with former LA Times media critic Howard Rosenberg, Feldman co-authored the book “No Time To Think: The Menace of Media Speed and the 24-hour News Cycle.” He cohosted the one-hour "KNX In Depth" with Mike Simpson until early 2023. He was frequently featured during the station's afternoon newscasts and was prominently featured during breaking news stories including election night coverage. Most recently, Feldman was part of KNX's wall-to-wall coverage of the SoCal wildfires. He leaves the station after over a decade of reporting.

Alex Silverman arrived in LA after a successful run at Audacy's KYW-Philadelphia in 2022. During his leadership, he created "LA's Morning News" featuring Simpson and co-anchor Vicky Moore.  Silverman worked to expand their digital presence and enhance the KNX brand as a multimedia platform. Despite a tight budget, Silverman worked with News Director Julie Chin and Assistant Brand Manager Sam Benson Smith to maintain KNX's presence as a leading information source, competing head-to-head with iHeart's KFI. In the January ratings, KNX had its largest share since 1975, plus a cume of over 1.2 million listeners, reflecting the aforementioned non-stop coverage of the recent wildfires.

On Thursday morning, Silverman sent this memo to his staff:

I'll be leaving KNX News in a few weeks to pursue other opportunities and possibilities. Because I love what we've build and I'm so proud of what we've accomplished together, this is a decision that didn't come easily or quickly.

As it stands now, KNX News holds its strongest ratings position in modern history. This is in no small part thanks to what you demonstrated over the past two months: your work is vital to Southern California, and despite the great challenges facing the media industry broadly, this remains as true as ever. The millions who have depended on our work on the air and on our digital platforms are a testament to the fact that credible, local journalism matters - and I am honored to have been a part of it and incredibly proud of every one of you.

I'm sure you'll be curious what's next for me, and the answer is I don't know yet. In the meantime, I'll be around until April and I'll work to support the team and make sure the transition is as smooth as possible for all of you. Thank you again for your hard work and dedication to our responsibility as Southern California's News.

In a later memo, Jeff Federman, Regional President for the Southern California market, confirmed Silverman's departure on April 11. Jennifer Seelig, VP of the San Francisco All-News format including heritage news station KCBS will oversee KNX along with Chris Ebbott, VP of Programming for Audacy SoCal. 

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