Audacy Restructures CHR Formated Stations, Goodbye Local

Audacy on Thursday began implementing a regionalized CHR programming leadership model which eliminated local control.  The changes go into effective Monday.

The plan is beging directed by Format Captain Brian Kelly, who serves as the company’s VP/Programming based at WXSS Kiss 103.7 in Milwaukee Milwaukee. Under Kelly is a small cadre of Regional VPs of Programming and Regional Brand Managers.

Julia Lepidi

The plan which is being implement is similar to Audacy's recent restructuring of Country and Alternative station.  The plan includes the launching of two shows nationally. The centralized approach includes WBBM B96 FM Chicago afternoon personality Julia Lepidi being placed in middays across 15 of the company’s stations and KNOU 97.1 Now Los Angeles afternoon host Josh “Bru” Brubecker covering the daypart on seven other stations and an addition to nights on seven more.

Lepidi is a Detroit native who started with the company as a part-timer in the Promotions department. She first joined “B96” for nights in January 2019, after hosting mornings at the company’s former “Amp Radio 98.7” WDZH Detroit.  She will now be heard 10am-3pm local time on WKSE Buffalo; WKXJ Chattanooga; WFBC Greenville, SC; KLUC Las Vegas; KNOU Los Angeles; WPOW Miami; WXSS Milwaukee; WEZB New Orleans; WNVZ Norfolk; WTDY Philadelphia; KALV Phoenix; WRVQ Richmond; WPXY Rochester; and KUDL Sacramento.

Bru

Brubecker is the self-proclaimed CEO of Radio Tik Tok, with more than 3.3 million followers. “Bru” regularly weaves content from the platform into his Los Angeles drive time program, which he has been hosting since March.  He will be heard 3-7pm local time on WKSE Buffalo; WKXJ Chattanooga; WFBC Greenville, SC; KLUC Las Vegas; KNOU Los Angeles; WXSS Milwaukee; WNVZ Norfolk; and WRVQ Richmond.  He will also handle evenings (7-11pm) at WBBM Chicago; WPOW Miami; WEZB New Orleans; WTDY Philadelphia; KALV Phoenix; WPXY Rochester; and KUDL Sacramento.

Besides on-air programming, changes are being implemented in production.   The company is launching a new national imaging and creative production team.

Kelly will lead a team of five RVPs Programming:

• Jammer (WEZB New Orleans)
• Nathan Graham (WTDY Philadelphia)
• Sue O’Neil (WKSE Buffalo)
• Todd Cavanah (WBBM Chicago)
• DJ Buck (WZMX Hartford)

RVPs will be backed up by:

• Regional Brand Managers Erik Bradley (WBBM Chicago)
• Mike “OD” O’Donnell (WKRZ Wilkes Barre-Scranton)
• Michael “Big Mic” Buhrman (KSFM Sacramento)
• Mike Danger (WPXY Rochester)
• Molly Cruz (WXSS Milwaukee)

Audacy has no plans to change mornings at its roster of pop-formatted stations.

The full effect on local startions will take some time to shake-out; however, many local on-air staffers have been fired.