Springfield IL Radio: Five RIFFed At Mid-West Family Cluster

Ray Lytle

Ray Lytle, host of a morning show on WMAY 970 AM / 94.7 FM in Springfield, Illinois for nearly three years, was among five people in Illinois dismissed Friday by Mid-West Family Broadcasting as ad revenue has lagged during the COVID-19 outbreak, The State Journal-Register reports.

“Ray is awesome,” said Mike Paterson, president of the company, which has several stations in Springfield and Rockford.

“Every person that was let go from our company today is a fantastic person,” he said. But he said that for the sake of stations and shareholders, “we had to make some really hard decisions.”

With many local businesses experiencing revenue drop to 10 percent during stay-at-home orders, he said, there is “no way they can advertise.”

Lytle said Paterson delivered the news after Friday’s morning show.

In a Facebook post, Lytle said he appreciated having been able to do the show on the “legendary radio station.”

He lauded his co-workers, and also noted that he’s not the only one to lose a job during the nation’s health emergency.

“Unfortunately this ... virus ... is changing the landscape in which we all live,” he wrote. “However we are strong. I have confidence that we will come back stronger than ever.

“I am joining the ranks of almost 20 million people affected by the economics of this pandemic. To anybody else out there who has been recently terminated ... you are all special and worthy.”

Lytle, 50, has been a broadcaster for more than 30 years, including time on WYMG, WQLZ and WTAX in addition to WMAY. He had a show called “Morning Disaster” on WQLZ, and has also done syndicated and internet programs.

He said he’s planning to continue on the internet.