D-C Radio: Entercom, Urban One Swap Means EXIT For 3

In the first big move made since WJFK 106.7 FM and WTEM 980 AM / W20DJ 95.9 FM became partners in a radio station swap earlier this month, three well-known figures were laid off from their roles at The Team 980: hosts Rick “Doc” Walker and Scott Linn, and program director Chris Johnson.

There are no immediate plans for additional layoffs, though nothing has been finalized, reports The Washington Post.

At 980, Walker hosted “Doc & Galdi” with Al Galdi while Linn worked with Brian Mitchell and Steve Czaban on their shows from noon to 7 p.m. Johnson will continue to produce Washington Football Team game broadcasts as an independent contractor for WTEM, as he has done since 2018.

Walker, who worked at the station for 27 years, said he holds no ill will over the move and will continue to give his thoughts on the Washington Football Team during and after games.

The former Washington tight end said he’ll fondly remember the “friendships” and “brotherhood” he formed at the station, especially with those who work behind the scenes.

Linn, who has been with WTEM since Christmas 1993, said he’s “overwhelmed, humbled and honored” by the outpouring of support he’s received since announcing his departure from the station on Twitter. He’ll continue hosting the “Linn Murray Solly” podcast on Patreon and has “lots of ideas pending” for his next move.

“If I told you you could do something you loved for 27 years with people you liked and loved, you’d be like, ‘Sign me up,’ ” Linn said in a phone interview with The Post.

Earlier this month, Entercom and Urban One made a swap involving six stations across four markets. The move, which had been in the works since July but was announced on Nov. 5., netted Entercom The Team 980, a competitor of 106.7 The Fan, which Entercom already owned. WTEM’s FM station, 95.9, was not included in the swap and there is no plan for Entercom to air WTEM content on an FM station.

The underperforming 980 was a throw-in in the deal for Urban One, which purchased the station from Washington Football Team owner Daniel Snyder in 2018. Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins had described WTEM as “breaking even or slightly losing a little” in revenue.

WTEM 980 AM (50 Kw-D, 5 Kw-N)

Today marks the beginning of an operating lease agreement until Entercom’s acquisition of 980 is finalized in early 2021. Entercom plans to continue to run 106.7 and 980 as live and local sports stations independent of each other without any nationally syndicated shows in the daily lineups.