People are still talking about a major shakeup in the Lehigh Valley radio scene.
This week, three DJ’s were let go. They all worked for local stations under the iHeartMedia umbrella.
Several local radio hosts lose jobs in iHeartMedia corporate layoffs
It’s a trend across radio. The local DJ’s are let go, replaced by hosts from out-of-market in other cities. It’s cost effective, but not necessarily fan-friendly.
“What if the next host isn’t as good as they were? Or what if they’re not as in touch with the community as the former DJ’s were. You know what I mean?” said Joe Szertag of Bethlehem.
It happened again this week, and left three local DJ’s in its wake, including the B104 morning show team of Mike Kelly and Becca Lynn, and WZZO midday host Joel Shimer.
“I love listening to (Shimer) on ZZO. it’s really the only station that I listen to,” Szertag said.
All three hosts declined on-camera interviews, with Shimer telling 69 News by phone he loves what he does.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, iHeartMedia let go of dozens of hosts across the country this week as part of staff reductions and cost-cutting.
Experts say the local connection is being lost, and it will likely lead to more out-of-market DJ’s filling shifts in the Lehigh Valley.
“That’s lost now. That’s going to be replaced by voices from an unknown place,” said Margaret McConnell, Executive Director of WDIY-FM in Bethlehem.
McConnell says local radio provides content you can’t get anywhere else.
“Radio will continue to exist is if it’s hyper-local. That’s the important part,” said McDonnell.