A blood letting at CBS radio

[Force Commander]

from allaccess.com

ALL ACCESS has confirmed that budget cutting is underway at several CBS RADIO clusters.

In NEW YORK, TRACY CLOHERTY is out as PD of Alternative WXRK (92.3 K-ROCK) after just over seven months in the position. RICK MARTINI is also out as PD of AC WNEW (102.7 FRESH FM).

News WCBS-A/NEW YORK PD CRYS QUIMBY is also on the layoff list. The veteran news programmer lists KFWB-A and KNX-A/LOS ANGELES, and WBBM-A/CHICAGO among her stops during over 20 years with CBS RADIO, and has also worked in TV news at CNN. Reach CRYS at crys.quimby@yahoo.com.

Also in NEW YORK, WCBS-FM Promotion Dir. THERESA BEYER is out.

In addition, Sports WFAN-A/NEW YORK Promotions Director JOCELYN TAUB has exited. TAUB's radio experience includes stints at the old Alternative WDRE/LONG ISLAND and Rock WNEW/NEW YORK; she has also served as a promotions manager at EMI, IMAGO, ALMO SOUNDS, and TVT RECORDS. Get JOCELYN at nycjct@aol.com or (917) 562-8117.

In DALLAS, AC KVIL PD CHARLIE CONNOLLY has been downsized.

In HOUSTON, Smooth Jazz KHJZ PD MAXINE TODD exits; her duties has been absorbed by sister Country KILT PD JEFF GARRISON.

In LOS ANGELES, long-time market promo/marketing icon and current Oldies KRTH Dir./Marketing KAREN TOBIN is now on the beach.

Talk KLSX/LOS ANGELES Production Director RONN LIPKIN is also on the layoff list; the veteran audio and voiceover ace has been with KLSX since the early 90's and previously worked at sister WYSP/PHILADELPHIA, and his voice is featured on several radio spots airing throughout SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Reach RONN at whizkids90010@yahoo.com.

In CHICAGO, THE SUN-TIMES reports that AAA WXRT GM MICHAEL DAMSKY is out after 24 years.

In PITTSBURGH, VP/GM JIM MELTZER's position has reportedly been eliminated, along with that of a Local Sales Manager.

In CHARLOTTE, three GSM positions have said to have been cut.

At CBS/LAS VEGAS, Adult Hits KKJJ PD/MD CRAIG POWERS is out. Said POWERS, "I am open for new opportunities in Country, Classic Rock or AC formats. Please call (702) 456-6774." He can also be reached at mrcraigpowers@earthlink.net.

In CLEVELAND, AC WDOK PD SCOTT MILLER is out. Sister Hot AC PD DAVE POPOVICH steps in to oversee both stations.

Morning man BILL GARDNER exits Oldies KOOL/PHOENIX.

CBS RADIO wouldn't publicly confirm the names of any released employees at this time, but it did provide ALL ACCESS with this statement:

"With these actions, we continue to build on our strategy of deploying our assets to best grow our ratings and monetize the results. In the past months, CBS RADIO has streamlined its corporate management staff, and installed Market Managers and Directors of Sales in all of our markets. This change in operating structure has improved the way we do business by simplifying buying and selling transactions, speeding up the decision-making process and importantly -- allowing us to more effectively monetize the aggregate number of listeners who hear us on the radio and the Internet.

CBS RADIO also made significant programming improvements and considerably strengthened our digital assets in order to distribute our content on all available emerging platforms. As a result of our new focus, we’ve experienced substantial over-the-air ratings gains and sizable online-traffic growth. We believe the combination of a new senior management team, continued emphasis on strategic programming decisions, investments in interactive new media and continued attention to costs will best position CBS Radio for success in 2008 and beyond."