Cincy Radio: Hubbard's Country WYGY Cuts Air-Staff

Ernie Brown

43-yer-old radio vet Ernie Brown along with personalities Pete Miller and Jimmy Salzurulo didn't get to say goodbye this week as they were pink-slipped from Hubbard's other Country station WYGY-FM "97.3 The Wolf".

The station is now jockless.

According to Cincinnati Media Watcher John Kiesewetter, The Wolf  has always been the little sister station to Hubbard's WUBE 105.1 FM, the area's most popular country music station.  WUBE-FM, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next spring, was named the County Music Association's "Station of the Year" in November for the fifth time in 20 years.

The Wolf cutbacks came less than a week that Hubbard plans to build new offices and studios for WUBE-FM, WKRQ-FM, WREW-FM and WYGY-FM and follows other personnel downsizing at Hubbard stations in Chicago and St. Louis.

Brown said Hubbard "was kind enough to give me a severance package. I have nothing but high praise for them."

He's heard from many old radio friends and former coworkers since word spread that he was let go. He's looking for full-time work (and health insurance), "even if it's not radio," says Brown, who turns 64 in June.