Two Birmingham Country Radio DJs Out Amid Nationwide iHeart Cuts

Two on-air personalities at Birmingham country station 102.5 The Bull are out as part of a nationwide round of layoffs at iHeartMedia, described as one of the largest workforce reductions in radio history.

Spencer Graves, who has hosted mornings on WDXB-FM since April 2023, and Madison Reeves, the station's longtime afternoon host, have both been let go, according to trade publications RadioInsight, Barrett Media, and RAMP.

The duo also held some duties at other iHeart-owned stations. Graves hosted mornings at 102.1 WDRM in Huntsville, while Reeves carried roles at Whistle 100.5 in Greenville, South Carolina, and Cities 97.1 in Minneapolis, RadioInsight reported. Reeves co-hosted mornings at The Bull from 2009 to 2022 before moving to afternoons.

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The Birmingham cuts are part of a restructuring iHeartMedia announced to staff on June 23. In a memo published in part by several industry trade outlets, iHeartMedia Multi Platform Group CEO Ann Marie Licata and Chief Programming Officer Tom Poleman wrote that the company is changing how it programs its stations to move faster and lean more heavily on technology developed in recent years. The memo acknowledged that some positions would be eliminated as part of the transition.

In Tuscaloosa, the immediate impact is limited, according to a letter sent this week to local advertisers by David DuBose, the market president of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, which owns the Tuscaloosa Thread.

In his letter, DuBose said iHeartMedia has eliminated all local programming, management, and services in the Tuscaloosa market over the past three years.

"Our thoughts are with the talented broadcasters and their families who have been affected by these changes," DuBose wrote. "We recognize that this is a difficult time for those impacted by the continued nationalization of radio programming."

DuBose used the letter to reaffirm Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa's own commitment to local programming - locally, Townsquare operates seven radio brands as well as Tuscaloosa Thread.

DuBose wrote that the letter was "not intended as criticism of iHeartMedia," but rather "a reminder of the value that local content, local personalities, community involvement, local news, and local weather coverage bring to both listeners and advertisers."

DuBose wrote that Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa "remain[s] firmly committed to local programming and local talent" across its seven radio brands and pointed to the continued growth of the Tuscaloosa Thread, which he described as "the number one local news source in West Alabama."

Townsquare Tuscaloosa is the home of the Steve & DC Morning Show on 95.3 the Bear, the Big Dawg DreDay Show on 105.1 the Block, and Mary K on the number-one rated 92.9 WTUG and much more. Our sports talk station, Tide 100.9, also hosts 13 hours of live radio shows about University of Alabama athletics every single weekday. All this is done from studios in Tuscaloosa manned by people who live here.

For more exclusive coverage of local businesses, restaurants, and retailers in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.