iHeartMedia has begun one other spherical of layoffs throughout its radio division.
The cuts started on Tuesday (June 23) and rolled out throughout stations in markets throughout the nation by means of the week, in keeping with RadioInsight, which has tracked the named exits.
iHeartMedia framed the cuts as a part of a change to the way it packages its stations, in a memo despatched to workers by Multiplatform Group CEO Ann Marie Licata and Chief Programming Officer Tom Poleman.
“Because the primary firm in audio, our enterprise mannequin is to construct engaged relationships with listeners after which monetize these relationships,” the iHeartMedia executives wrote.
They stated iHeartMedia was “now taking an necessary step that can transfer us additional into the long run: Evolving how we program our stations to reward and develop our main and up-and-coming expertise.”
The memo pledged that “Assured Human” would keep “on the core of every part we do,” and that “actual voices and actual expertise strengthen our actual connection and dedication to our communities.”
On the cuts themselves, Licata and Poleman wrote that the adjustments have been constructed round pace for advertisers.
“Sooner is healthier, and that’s the aim of our adjustments.”
Ann Marie Licata and Tom Poleman, iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group
“Sooner is healthier, and that’s the aim of our adjustments,” the iHeartMedia memo learn.
The executives wrote that iHeartMedia had “constructed new tech capabilities over the past a number of years” and was “now transferring to scale this method.”
They added that “some colleagues and current positions will likely be impacted as a part of these adjustments,” whereas saying iHeartMedia would additionally create new roles.
Stories positioned the variety of folks affected within the dozens.
RadioInsight reported that, whereas the corporate’s January 2009 and January 2020 layoffs could have affected extra folks in absolute phrases, this spherical will hit a bigger share of iHeartMedia’s remaining workforce.
Nick Coffey, who left mornings at Information/Discuss 840 WHAS in Louisville after greater than a decade with iHeartMedia, stated he was advised he was “one of many lots of of workers impacted.”
Among the many iHeartMedia workers who left have been on-air hosts and programmers whose tenures ran to 2 and three a long time.
In Denver, Bret Saunders exited as morning host at 97.3 KBCO after 28 years on the station.
In Fort Myers, The Freak Present ended at 105.5 The Beat after nearly 25 years, and in Anchorage, programmer Casey Bieber departed after 23 years with the cluster.
Two of the corporate’s programming heads additionally left: Clint Gerlek in Springfield, after 19 years, and Nathan Nelson, vice chairman of programming for the Kentucky space, after 16 years.
Amy Demboski, who exited mornings at Information/Discuss 670 KENI in Anchorage after three years, stated the corporate was altering route.
“iHeartMedia is shifting their focus from native content material to a nationwide focus,” she wrote on social media.
The layoffs are tied to a cost-cutting program iHeartMedia outlined alongside its first-quarter ends in Might.
The corporate stated it anticipated an extra USD $50 million in annualized value financial savings this 12 months, to start within the second half of 2026.
That sits on prime of round $100 million in value reductions iHeartMedia had already deliberate or made throughout the 12 months.
The 2 packages collectively quantity to about $150 million.
The cuts come as iHeartMedia manages the debt it has carried since rising from chapter in 2019.
The corporate filed for Chapter 11 safety in 2018 and lower its debt by means of restructuring from $16.1 billion to $5.75 billion, and it nonetheless carries round $5 billion in debt.
iHeartMedia operates greater than 860 radio stations throughout 160 markets.
In April, it was reported to be in early talks to be acquired by SiriusXM, in a deal that may mix two audio corporations beneath strain from streaming.
Inside iHeartMedia‘s personal enterprise, radio income fell 4% in 2025, whereas podcasting income grew 26%.
Individuals now spend extra time listening to podcasts than to AM/FM spoken-word (discuss) radio, in keeping with Edison Analysis.
Broadcast radio nonetheless accounts for roughly two-thirds of US ad-supported audio listening, the agency’s Share of Ear examine has discovered, although digital platforms now make up greater than half of whole every day listening time.
iHeartMedia‘s cuts observe a run of upheaval throughout US radio.
Rival Cumulus Media filed for its second Chapter 11 chapter in March, looking for to shed about $600 million in debt.
Audacy, the second-largest US radio firm, laid off as many as 300 workers in 2025 after rising from its personal chapter the 12 months earlier than.
For iHeartMedia, the expertise framing of this spherical echoes an earlier one.
In January 2020, the corporate lower greater than 50 on-air workers and workers whereas citing “vital investments” it had made “in expertise and synthetic intelligence.”
This time, the corporate’s memo pledged that “Assured Human” would stay “on the core of every part we do.”Music Enterprise Worldwide
