Detroit Radio: Drew Lane Out At WMGC 105.1 FM

Longtime Detroit radio personality Drew Lane is off the air at Greater Media Inc.’s sports station WMGC 105.1 FM after disagreements over show content and talent led to a breakdown in contract talks.

The station’s management announced in a statement today that Lane’s time as host of the afternoon drive-time show is over, and midday host Matt Dery would host his slot in the interim, according to CrainDetroit.com.

“It was Greater Media’s desire to take the station, and especially the show, in a direction that Drew could not agree to. It included changes, specifically in content and personnel,” said Lane’s agent, Loretta Ames.

Money was not the issue, Ames said, adding that Lane and Greater Media had agreed on financial terms for a new deal.

“It was as amicable a parting of the ways that there could possibly be,” she said.

Lane has been a co-host of the “Drew and Marc” show for the station’s 3-7 p.m. afternoon drive programming since August 2013. His contract expired in June, but continued on a month-to-month basis during contract negotiations, the station confirmed.

The station rebranded itself Detroit Sports 105.1 FM when it hired Lane, giving it access to ESPN programming like “Mike & Mike”.

CBS Radio Inc.-owned rival WXYT 97.1 FM, which has the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings play-by-play contracts, dominates the market with a 6.8 rating.

Lane joined 105.1 FM after WRIF 101.1 FM, also owned by Greater Media, canceled Lane’s 22-year-old morning show, “Drew & Mike,” in May 2013.  The show was replaced by former 89X morning show "Dave and Chuck the Freak."