Philly Radio: Revered WIP Producer Exits

SportsRadio 94.1 WIP faced a significant shakeup as its popular morning show lost its longtime producer, Joe Weachter, amid a broader wave of layoffs by its parent company, Audacy. 

Weachter, who had been with WIP for 38 years, was the station’s longest-tenured employee and a key figure behind the scenes of the morning show, which airs weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. His departure was positioned as retirement and announced by morning show host Joe DeCamara during the broadcast.

Joe Weacheter

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Weachter’s exit coincided with Audacy’s latest round of cost-cutting measures, which impacted over 200 employees nationwide. The Philadelphia-based radio giant, which owns WIP along with other local stations like KYW NewsRadio and Big 98.1, had recently emerged from bankruptcy in September 2024, reducing its debt from $1.9 billion to $350 million. However, the company continued to restructure, with layoffs hitting various markets and departments. At WIP, another veteran, producer Dave Breitmaier, was also let go after nearly 25 years, known for managing remote broadcasts and earning praise as a behind-the-scenes stalwart.

Joe Weachter’s tenure at WIP predated its shift from music to sports talk in 1986, and he became a linchpin during the morning show’s rise under legendary host Angelo Cataldi, who retired in 2023 after over 30 years. Weachter served as Cataldi’s call screener and producer, earning a reputation as a “legend” among colleagues. DeCamara, who took over the morning slot alongside Jon Ritchie and Rhea Hughes, called Weachter “my best friend here at the station,” while Hughes credited him as a vital part of the show’s success.

Audacy’s layoffs, estimated to affect 250 to 300 staffers across its 230+ stations, were part of a strategy to “streamline resources” and stay competitive in a media landscape shifting toward digital platforms. The cuts spared WIP’s sports brand somewhat, as it remains a revenue driver, but Weachter’s departure and Breitmaier’s layoff underscored the impact even on flagship properties.