{"id":421066,"date":"2026-08-01T19:44:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T19:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/421066\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T19:44:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T19:44:08","slug":"kcal-fires-entire-on-air-staff-in-switch-to-dj-less-format","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/421066\/","title":{"rendered":"KCAL fires entire on-air staff in switch to DJ-less format"},"content":{"rendered":"

A legendary Southern California classic rock station is pulling the plug on its DJs, laying off its entire on-air staff<\/a> as it flips to a fully automated<\/a>, music-only format.<\/p>\n

KCAL, a longtime staple of the Inland Empire radio dial, announced the sweeping changes will take effect August 1, with parent company Anaheim Broadcasting Corporation promising listeners \u201cnothing but music all day across the Inland Empire<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chief Operating Officer Kelly Sanders said the DJ-free format will mean fewer interruptions and more nonstop classic rock, according to a social media announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cKCAL has a longstanding history in the Inland Empire, and this next chapter builds on the station\u2019s strong rock heritage,\u201d Sanders said in a news release, per the Orange County Register<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Legendary classic rock station KCAL laid off its entire on-air staff and is moving to a DJ-less fully automated format, per an announcement. Facebook\/Daryl Norsell<\/p>\n

\u201cWe rebuilt KCAL around the music our listeners grew up on, the songs and the artists that made classic rock, and we built it right here at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cKCAL will deliver a focused, consistent listening experience with broader appeal for both our audience and advertising partners,\u201d Sanders added.<\/p>\n

The move leaves more than a dozen on-air talent<\/a> out of work like John DeSantis, Nikki Preston, and Patrick Tish.<\/p>\n

The move leaves more than a dozen on-air talent and disc jockeys out of work like John DeSantis. Facebook\/John Desantis<\/p>\n

DJ DeSantis took to social media to post about the bloodbath calling the layoffs shocking.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s finally our turn. This morning the ownership of KCAL released the entire air staff,\u201d DeSantis wrote<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cKCAL has a longstanding history in the Inland Empire, and this next chapter builds on the station\u2019s strong rock heritage,\u201d Sanders in a news release, per the Orange County Register. Instagram\/@Patrick967kcal<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will be moving to an automated, human-less format. To say this is shocking is an understatement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a lot to process, and will be saying more shortly,\u201d he added. \u201cBut for right now, I just want to thank all of you for letting me be part of the KCAL family. It has been a radio dream come true. You will always rock.\u201d<\/p>\n

The layoffs included longtime favorite like veteran Daryl Norsell, who\u2019s been with KCAL for 42 years.<\/p>\n

The COO Anaheim Broadcasting Corporation Kelly Sanders said starting August 1, the station would have fewer interruptions throughout the day. X\/@SyedaRocks<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s true. The entire KCAL air staff was let go today. Patrick in the Morning, Nikki Preston, John DeSantis, and myself,\u201d Norsell wrote<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPlus our awesome weekend crew. After an amazing 42 year run with the station, the last 36 in the Afternoon show, I can\u2019t be anything but grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The layoffs extended to the weekend crew and fill-in staff like Syeda Jafri, Jeremiah Paul, and Rogelio Orozco, Steve \u201cRazz\u201d Brazill, Mike \u201cMike Z\u201d Zara, Kelli Cluque, among others, per the report.<\/p>\n

The layoffs extended to the weekend crew and fill-in staff like Syeda Jafri, Jeremiah Paul, and Rogelio Orozco, Steve \u201cRazz\u201d Brazill, Mike \u201cMike Z\u201d Zara, Kelli Cluque, among others.\u00a0 Instagram\/@nikkikush<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an incredible 20 years as a weekend and fill-in DJ on 96.7 KCAL Rocks,\u201d Jafri said. \u201cFrom Ozzy, Quiet Riot, Tommy Chong, I\u2019ve had the privilege of meeting some of the most fascinating people and rock stars, but even radio has a shelf life.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is unclear exactly how many other people at the station lost their jobs. The Post reached out to KCAL for more information. <\/p>\n

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