Des Moines Radio: Sean Fisher EXITS KAZR Morning show

Sean Fisher

Sean "Fish" Fisher, co-host of the "Everything That Rocks" morning show on KAZR Lazer 103.3, is out after what he says was a dispute over his role in the show.

The Des Moines Register reports Fisher, who held down the 6-10 a.m. weekday slot with co-host Heather Lee, was in the spotlight in November after he and Lee tangled with a Minnesota DJ who went on a misogynistic, on-air rant against Lee. The DJ, Aaron Imholte of WHMH Rockin' 101 in St. Cloud, had been an unsuccessful applicant to host the Lazer morning show, where Fisher and Lee started Nov. 9.

Imholte ended up resigning after Lee, backed by Fisher, called him out for his behavior, inspiring a listener backlash against him.

Fisher said his own decision to quit came after disagreements with radio and TV consultant Randy Lane of The Randy Lane Company, which boasts of having coached clients including Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Seacrest.

"We've been coached (reprogrammed) by The Randy Lane Company the past 2.5 months, and Randy slowly took over the show," Fisher wrote in a Feb. 11 Facebook message announcing his departure. 

Lane, contacted by the Des Moines Register, said. “I was surprised and disappointed that Fish decided to leave the morning show. He’s a talented broadcaster, and I hope he finds his place in the media landscape. The Randy Lane Company coaches talent to build character and to be their authentic selves on-air.

Fisher said Lane "tried turning me into something I'm not, and consultants like him need to be stopped, or local radio is going to be in even bigger trouble than they already are."

He said that during a meeting, he was told that he shouldn't be the "shock jock guy" anymore. Instead, he said, he was advised that he should be the "cool dad" and tell dad jokes.

"They wanted me to start doing these boring benchmarks like a joke of the day or stupid news, and they wanted to sell it, pimp those benchmarks out on the air, give them to a sponsor," said Fisher.

Lance Richard, vice president and general manager of Lazer 103.3 owner the Des Moines Radio Group, said Fisher's resignation caught him by surprise. 

"While we are disappointed, we want Fish to be happy both professionally and personally and wish him well," Richard wrote.