Philly Radio: Ray Koob OUT At Beasley's WMGK

Ray Koob

Ray Koob’s run at Classic Rock WMGK 102.9 FM is over.

Koob initially posted a messaged on his Facebook fan page this morning thanking fans for “16 years of incredible fun on the radio,” and wrote in the post’s comments that he has been laid off from the station. He has since confirmed his layoff with The Inquirer, saying that he was let go Monday night and his position was eliminated.

How WMGK plans to fill Koob’s former weeknight slot, which ran from 7 p.m. to midnight, is unclear, as is whether other employees at the station have been laid off. Beasley Broadcast Group, WMGK’s parent company, could not immediately be reached for comment.

“Thanks to my teammates of the last 16 years at WMGK,” Koob told the Inquirer. “It’s an amazing station, and I’m happy to be a part of the family.”

“The best endings are endings of your own choosing,” Koob wrote on Facebook. “This sucks today, but there’s always tomorrow!”

Beasley purchased the station’s former parent company, Greater Media, in 2016 as part of a $240 million deal that also included the acquisition of Philly radio stations like 93.3 WMMR, 95.7 BEN-FM, and 97.5 The Fanatic in addition to WMGK. Earlier this month, the company released a statement indicating that it lost $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2018.

Koob is the latest layoff at a Beasley-owned property in Philadelphia. In November 2016, a rash of layoffs hit the company’s stations, and included former 95.7 BEN-FM host Marilyn Russell, who now works mornings on 98.1 WOGL. In April last year, 97.5 The Fanatic co-host Maureen Williams was let go from the station.