Is iHeartMedia cutting Palm Beach County radio staff? What to know

• iHeartMedia has announced a new round of workforce reductions as part of a corporate restructuring.
• The company's new strategy focuses on technology and aims for significant cost savings.
• The full impact on the 13-station cluster in the West Palm Beach market is not yet known.

The Palm Beach County radio airwaves may be in for a shakeup as the parent company of several local stations revealed it is going through significant changes.

An internal corporate memo reported that iHeartMedia, which bills itself as the nation's No. 1 radio company, is weathering a wave of corporate restructuring that includes spending reductions and a sweeping operational shift.

Stations like NewsRadio WJNO 1290, the area's hub for local news, and 98.7 The Gator, South Florida's premier classic rock outlet, are among iHeartMedia's local holdings, and their programming teams are bracing for the fallout.The restructuring hinges on a "faster is better" strategy based on scaled technology capabilities the company has developed over the last several years. In a joint statement distributed to staff by Tom Poleman, chief programming officer and president of iHeartMedia, and Ann Marie Licata, CEO of the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group, they emphasized a "Guaranteed Human" philosophy, writing that "real voices and real talent strengthen our real connection and commitment to our communities."

However, the memo acknowledges the human cost of the technological pivot: "While we will be creating new roles to support our future needs, we also recognize that some colleagues and existing positions will be impacted as part of these changes."

The cuts are tied to a forthcoming $50 million cost-savings program expected to roll out in the second half of this year, coming on top of an estimated $100 million in cost reductions already planned or carried out in 2026.

Uncertainty in the Palm Beach market

While long-time radio broadcasters in markets like Miami, Pensacola and Fort Myers have already begun taking to social media to announce their sudden departures, no specific names or positions have been confirmed as eliminated within the Palm Beach market.

The corporate cluster manages a massive 13-station lineup that covers the entire county.

The localized dial spans a diverse array of formats, including legacy news and talk outlets like NewsRadio WJNO 1290 and Real Radio 92.1 (WZZR), mainstream mainstays like 98.7 The Gator (WKGR) and Wild 95.5 (WLDI), and Spanish-language Top 40 programming on Mia 94.3 (WRLX).

A history of local cuts

The sudden corporate tightening is familiar for the South Florida radio community, which has borne its share of the brunt of iHeartMedia's nationwide budget contractions over the last several years.

Just two months ago, in April 2026, a separate wave of iHeartMedia programming cuts directly hit the West Palm Beach studios. That round resulted in the exit of Meagan "Spaghetti" Lahti, a popular local air talent who had been serving as the afternoon host for WILD 95.5 and tracking midday shifts for 98.7 The Gator and WAVE 92.7 (Stuart/Vero Beach).

At the time of her layoff, Lahti broke the news directly to her local listeners via Instagram, writing, “I am no longer with iHeartRadio. To my listeners, you are no longer subject to my lame jokes.”

Following the news of the latest June cuts, Lahti took to her Instagram story to express solidarity with her former coworkers who are now facing the same sudden exit.

"I am so sorry for all of the amazing talents that I have gotten to work with over the years that have been affected by this, like myself," Lahti posted.

Whether the current June "faster is better" strategy will claim more local voices on the Palm Beach airwaves remains to be seen as the restructuring continues to unfold.

Emmy Bailey is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.