Syracuse Radio: Market Vet Rich Lauber OUT At iHM

Rich Lauber exited WBBS B104.7 FM on Wednesday, after 35 years on Central New York radio. He spent the majority of his career as the afternoon host on B104.7, and had also served as operations manager for iHeartMedia’s Syracuse market, which also includes Y94FM (WYYY-FM), Hot 107.9 (WWHT-FM), NewsRadio 570 WSYR (106.9 FM, 570 AM) and Power 620 (WHEN-AM).

Bob Morgan, president of the Upstate New York market for iHeartMedia, confirmed Lauber’s departure Thursday but did not provide any other detailsm according to Syracuse.com.

Lauber, 60, started working at Y94FM in early 1985 as a music director and on-air personality. He also became assistant program director of WSYR in 1988, according to The Post-Standard archives, and was named the top DJ that fellow radio broadcasters "aren’t ashamed to listen to” in a 1992 newspaper survey.

Rich Lauber

"(WSYR’s then morning show host Bill Baker) told me he likes to do a show that he’s not ashamed to have his kids listen to,” Lauber said in 1992. “And so I try to do a show that Bill’s kids aren’t ashamed to listen to.”

Lauber was the first afternoon DJ on B104.7 when it first changed format to country music in 1993, back when its call letters were WKFM under NewCity Communications. He held the 3-7 p.m. shift for more than two decades while also serving as program director, during which B104.7 frequently dominated the radio ratings and was nominated multiple times for station of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.

The B104.7 website now lists a DJ named “Shanna” as the afternoon host. Shanna, also known as Quinn, is a Buffalo native who previously co-hosted mornings on WRVE 99.5 The River in Albany; she appears to be recording her B104.7 show from another iHeartRadio station in Milwaukee.

Lauber’s departure comes less than six months after hundreds were laid off at iHeartMedia stations nationwide, including in the Syracuse market. Local DJs axed in January include radio legend Dr. Rick Wright, “The Gospel Powerhouse” host Cora Thomas and program director Kenny Dees at Power 620; morning show host Pat McMahon at Y94FM; DJ/program director Cory “Kobe” Fargo at Hot 107.9; “Big Jim Donovan” (aka Jim Dunagan) at NewsRadio 570 WSYR and Y94FM; and Daryl Thomas Ledyard at B104.7 and Y94FM. Former iHeartMedia Syracuse market manager Rick Yacobush and B104.7 morning hosts Tom Owens and Becky Palmer retired in December.