Axe Falls At Westwood One Formats

Last week it was CBS Radio, this week it seems to be Cumulus-Westwood One to institute a reduction in force.

Up to 50 employees have been layed-off from Westwood One's Colorado offices as Cumulus has finished their takeover that began in August 2013, according to allaboutcountry.com.  Cumulus Media paid $260 million for Westwood One.  It was then merged into Cumulus Media Networks.  The company eventually merged the two operations, under the Westwood One name.

According to Mike McVay, Cumulus Media & Westwood One SVP/Content and Programming, "We are now one company.  Westwood one and Cumulus are together and it has taken a while to fully integrate all of our great assets that we have .have acquired over the last four years, but we are now there. That means we can now take advantage of the complete talent pool in our company. This will improve the quality of the 24/7 products by tapping into market leading talent across our company."

Mike McVay

McVay also indicated that there will be no name change but the changes in personnel will allow the 24-hour formats to be hosted ," , "to a large degree by top-quality and experienced Cumulus announcers from the company’s radio stations in markets like New York City, Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Los Angeles.  This takes advantage of the best personalities in every format, regardless of where their sshow originates."

About this integration and the job cuts McVay comments, "While many current Wetwood One announcers will still be heard on weekday and weekend dayparts, the integration of our company into one programming platform has affected some Westwood One announcers," said McVay, who noted, "all departing announcers will be eligible for vacancies at Cumulus radio stations. This week we’ll be evaluating what openings exist inside of Cumulus and we’ll consider the Westwood One personalities and programmers for these positions."

Those that we know have been affected:

• Jim West-Mornings on Classic Country with Westwood One.  Experience includes three years in this position and 30-plus years in the Country format.  Markets worked inclue KYNG, YOung Country/Dallas, K-Bull/alt Lake City and KIM/Tucson. Also programming for ten years including KAYD/Beaumont, Cat Country/Colorado Springs.
• Bernie Mack-Full time nighttime voice and voice of the Hot AC format.  Available for Top 40, Hot AC and has had experience in Classic Hits and Young Country.
• John Summers' background includes B-94 Pittsburgh, KJ 105/Orlando, WMMO/Orlando, spent 19 years at KLUV/Dallas and has been with Westwood One for four and a half years doing Classic Hits and Classic Hits Rock.
• Dan Hardee has been with the Hot AC format as afternoon host for just over a year.  His experience includes time at KYGO and KWOF and was Production Director for KIMN and KXKL/Denver.  He also worked for 5 years in Colorado Springs and was on-air for Hot AC KKPK and Country KATC along with programming and promotions experience.