Both major Boston sports radio stations -- and their on-air talent -- are "facing the harsh financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," according to Chad Finn of the BOSTON GLOBE. Entercom Communications, the parent company of WEEI, informed employees in all of its markets Thursday that it "would be implementing pay cuts, layoffs, and furloughs to cut expenses during the pandemic." Meanwhile, Beasley Media Group, which owns WBZ-FM, early Thursday evening confirmed that it has "taken similar measures," including a 10% "reduction in salary for full-time employees during the second quarter." Finn reports full-time Entercom staffers that make more than $50,000 per year will be "required to take pay cuts" from 10-20%. Entercom Communications Chair, President & CEO David Field in the memo to employees said that he would take a 30% "pay cut." Meanwhile, Beasley in a statement said that it has "eliminated a total of 67 positions across the company, furloughed 18 full-time employees," and is "furloughing several part-time employees." Beasley CEO Caroline Beasley took a 20% "cut in salary" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/3).
AROUND THE COUNTRY: On Long Island, Neil Best notes it is "not yet clear how many employees at WFAN will be impacted" by the news at Entercom. Mike Francesa on his Radio.com show said that management "has not yet discussed the matter with him one-on-one." Best notes WFAN last week had its contracted weekday hosts "fill in on the weekend while putting on hold most shows hosted by non-full-time employees" (NEWSDAY, 4/3). In Miami, Barry Jackson cites sources as saying that Entercom, which owns South Florida sports stations WQAM-AM and WAXY-AM, as well as five local FM stations, "dropped three on-air sports radio personalities as part of at least 17 layoffs locally over the past several days." The layoffs included "talk show hosts Zack Duarte, Kevin Rogers and Rashad Butler, as well as multiple sports producers." WAXY-AM has "gone to national programming at night in recent days instead of the usual mix of live games and Duarte’s talk show" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/3). In Detroit, Tony Paul notes Entercom-owned WXYT-FM, the flagship station for the Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons, already has "started cutting back the hours of several late-night and overnight hosts" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/3).
