Andre Gardner Has Date With Philly Hall of Fame

Andre Garner

Andre Gardner’s layoff ar 102.9 WMGK FM comes just months after the announcement that he would be inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’s 2024 hall of fame class. A ceremony slated to celebrate Gardner and the other inductees is scheduled for Nov. 22.

According to The Philly Business Journal, the news about Gardner comes several months after Fanatic host Bob Cooney was laid off in July and after the company cut 7% of its workforce in May, including two other on-air personalities at The Fanatic (WPEN-FM). Jennifer Scordo, a producer and on-air contributor to the Fanatic's afternoon drive show, and nighttime host Pat Egan were among several employees at local Beasley-owned stations impacted by the cuts. Sources said others caught up in the layoffs included two longtime producers and other behind-the-scenes staffers.

Beasley also conducted similar layoffs last year that impacted Fanatic afternoon drive co-host Hunter Brody as well as another round in 2022 that impacted The Fanatic’s morning show co-host Jamie Lynch, WMMR afternoon drive disc jockey Paul Jaxon and country music station 92.5 WXTU midday disc jockey Charlie Maxx.

Like many of its peers in the radio industry, Beasley has been facing a difficult economic situation. The company suffered a net loss of $276,000 in the second quarter, down from $10.4 million in the same period of 2023.

Net revenue was down 4.8% to $60.4 million in the second quarter. Beasley attributed the revenue decline to a year-over-year drop in audio advertising and other revenue related to divestitures of a station in Wilmington and e-sports holdings, in addition to a continued soft commercial advertising business. Beasley said those declines were partially offset by growth in digital and political advertising.

Naples, Florida-based Beasley also owns rock station 93.3 WMMR-FM, adult contemporary 95.7 BEN FM, sports talk station 97.5 The Fanatic (WPEN) and country station 92.5 XTU (WXTU-FM) in the Philadelphia market. Beasley owns 59 stations across the country.