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iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by Media Reader <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Media+Reader' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 7, 2025, 9:28 pm

iHeartMedia Begins Round of Layoffs

"If you have been affected by the layoffs and would like your contact information shared with prospective employers or colleagues, please email garrett@barrettmedia.com or john@barrettmedia.com."

Closest layoffs so far are in Milwaukee:
In Milwaukee, sources tell Barrett Media that 97.3 The Game is flipping formats away from sports and is set to become a music station.
Currently, the station serves as the radio flagship home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. It also features local programming hosted by Steve Czaban and Brian Butch, Bill Schmid and Armen Saryan, Drew Olson and Kevin Brandt, Matt Schneidman and Doug Russell, and Grady “Trey” Crosby III and Quinton “Q” Miller.

Link: https://barrettmedia.com/2025/10/07/iheartmedia-begins-round-of-layoffs/

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 8, 2025, 7:04 am, in reply to "iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

Seems like yesterday everyone in Milwaukee was flipping to "Sports".

97.3 will most likely take up the slack for the exiting 102/1. Some type of Alternative based station positioning themselves between WKLH and The Hog.

Speaking to a friend in the industry, seems they are going after (in these initial rounds), people working for iHeart 10 - 15 years. SMH. Who needs talent and experience to be successful?

Z

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by JJSPC1372 <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=JJSPC1372' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 8, 2025, 9:17 am, in reply to "iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

97.3 is the highest rated sports station in Milwaukee, but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't keep the Packers and indeed return to a music format. I guess we'll see. The morning show is also simulcast on 1070 WTSO Madison so some at least minor change coming there as well.

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 8, 2025, 2:58 pm, in reply to "Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

The highest profile name to get laid off as a result of this round of iHeart layoffs is former quarterback turned sports talk radio host Sean Salisbury, who used to work here in Chicago in 2006 at ESPN 1000 AM co-hosting middays with Steve Rosenbloom.

Salisbury, who was also an ESPN NFL analyst & an ESPN Radio host, had hosted morning drive on Sports Talk 790 AM in Houston the last 8 years.

Brian Butch, who is a Big Ten Network/FOX Sports’ College Basketball analyst & the radio analyst on Wisconsin Badgers hoops broadcasts, was let go by 97.3 FM The Game in Milwaukee with rumblings of a format change there.

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by John from Wisconsin <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=John+from+Wisconsin' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 10, 2025, 10:07 am, in reply to "Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

So my question is do "the powers that be" know what will become of 97.3 WRNW?
My guess is this is not the PD, Manager or janitor, but will come from corporate?

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 10, 2025, 3:48 pm, in reply to "Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

I remember 97.1 FM The Drive's Bob Stroud did an on-air essay on his midday show a few years ago along those lines.

I would think WRNW-FM will soon be stunting and trying to make listeners guess what the new format would be.

I'm not if WRNW has started to do that. One day, listeners might hear "Jammin' Oldies". That would be a format of soul, dance, funk, etc., which is something that 103.5 FM did many years ago when they replaced its active rock format. This was long before they became KISS FM and started playing Top 40. Another day, WRNW might play holiday music and so forth until station bosses officially announce the replacement to sports talk there. The possibilities are endless and listeners might not hear a single live jock whenever the new format is announced.

I can only guess what they have in mind now that it appears to be "Game" over for WRNW's sports talk format.

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by John from Wisconsin <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=John+from+Wisconsin' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 10, 2025, 7:03 pm, in reply to "Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

Funny part is they have a network of stations around the state: 710 WDSM Superior, 1070 WTSO Madison,
1240 WOBT Rhinelander, 1440 WNFL Green Bay and 97.3 WRNW Milwaukee, so these will-might be affected too.

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by Jeremy Andrews <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Jeremy+Andrews' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 11, 2025, 10:14 am, in reply to "Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

I'll believe it when I hear it.

They kept all the people involved in the Packers broadcasts, so those will continue.

I figure the shows on now will simply go over to WOKY, which runs Fox Sports Radio 24/7. They have occasionally shifted some of the shows over there due to time constraints.

The rumors floating are Classic Rock. Their direct competition has been WHQG since the beginning of the Sports format.

iHeart typically runs NFL games on the following formats

Talk
Sports
Rock
Classic Rock
Alternative

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 11, 2025, 9:39 pm, in reply to "Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

Two of those teams…The New York Jets air on Q104.3 FM & Pittsburgh Steelers on 102.5 WDVE air on Classic Rock stations owned by iHeart Radio.

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by Jeremy Andrews <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Jeremy+Andrews' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 13, 2025, 8:58 am, in reply to "Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

Few other things I should stick in here.

WCHI tried to get the Bears broadcasts. WMVP ended up getting them. Again, Rock format.

Not sure how long the contracts go for, but WRNW got them in October of 2022. I wonder if they are up for renewal and iHeart doesn't want to renew them.

Their longtime Madison market president Jeff Tyler retired earlier this year. He hired the PD who was just let go back in the 90s. Jeff was the one behind the Sports formats. He made sure they had pretty much everything they needed. He was regional president for awhile covering Milwaukee, Madison and Minneapolis.

The Milwaukee market manager Colleen Valkoun (Who was hired there years ago SVP Sales was promoted to that position about a decade ago. She always supposedly had great relationships with advertisers and I remember reading on one of the news sites that it was her that pretty much convinced the Packers to leave WTMJ after 90 years for WRNW. They however wanted a radio station that would be Packers-friendly. Built for it. Thus the CHR format went Sports. It was pretty much all about getting the Packers. That began 2017 and the format flipped in 2018

They got the Packers contract in October 2022 and Colleen was let go not long after.

She quickly surfaced as the GM of the soon to be defunct Milwaukee Radio Alliance.

iHeart just hired her back as SVP Sales (Her original job there) The SVP Sales who replaced her was promoted to market manager when Jeff left earlier this year.

A lot of these people call shots on formats from what I can tell. I know they need corporate approval but if they want to do something, they often get it.

I don't think they will go to a music format during the Packers season however.

Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on October 13, 2025, 1:33 pm, in reply to "Re: iHeart Layoffs Begin (no local list yet)"

It is indeed "Game" over at 97.3 FM in Milwaukee.

Say hello...To B97.3. The new format is being described as "The '80s to Today." It debuted at Noon (CT) replacing the station's FM sports talk format.

Listeners there are hearing a Chicago radio voice on the new B97.3 in Milwaukee today, 93.9 WLIT-FM's Robin Rock.

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