Job Loses Reported At Summit Media Stations

On Friday, SummitMedia, a Birmingham, Alabama-based media company operating 45 radio stations across nine U.S. markets, implemented significant layoffs affecting staff in multiple roles, including on-air talent and programming leadership. 

The exact number of job cuts remains undisclosed, but the scope was described as substantial, impacting stations in markets such as Birmingham, Greenville, Honolulu, Louisville, Omaha, Richmond, Springfield, Tucson, and Wichita.

Known Departures

• Mike Sanders, Program Director and midday host at Country 104.7 WZZK, was let go after 11 months. Sanders, who joined WZZK in May 2024 from Midwest Communications’ AC “Mix 92.9” WJXA in Nashville, announced, “My journey as Program Director and midday personality at WZZK 104.7 with SummitMedia Birmingham has come to an unexpected pause.” His career includes programming and on-air roles in Clarksville, Cookeville, Denver, Idaho Falls, Jacksonville, and Savannah.
• Mike McKenzie has exited his role as Creative Content and Production Manager for SummitMedia’s Birmingham cluster, concluding a 25-year tenure that began with Cox Media Group before SummitMedia acquired the stations.

Other departures were not named in public reports, but sources indicated a broad sweep across various roles and markets.

SummitMedia’s layoffs align with broader challenges in the radio industry, where advertising revenue is shifting to digital platforms and streaming services are capturing larger audiences. The company, known for stations like Birmingham’s 104.7 WZZK, Honolulu’s “Krater 96” KRTR, and Louisville’s “107.7 The Eagle” WSFR, has faced financial pressures before. In January 2022, SummitMedia made significant cuts, primarily in Honolulu, affecting high-profile roles like Market President Andrew Rosen and Operations Manager Wayne Maria, alongside entire morning show teams at stations like KRTR and KPHW.

The 2025 layoffs follow a pattern of industry-wide downsizing. For example:

• Audacy, emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2024, cut approximately 200–300 staffers in March 2025 across its 230 stations, affecting markets like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.
• iHeartMedia executed major layoffs in November 2024, with further cuts in January 2025, impacting hosts, producers, and sales teams as it regionalized operations.
• Bell Media in Canada divested 45 radio stations and cut 4,800 jobs in February 2024, citing an unviable radio business.

SummitMedia has not publicly commented on the layoffs or their rationale, consistent with its approach during previous cuts. The absence of detailed information leaves the full extent of the layoffs unclear, including the number of affected employees and specific stations beyond Birmingham.