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Clear Channel Cuts Include MJ Sidekick 'Joey B'

By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 21, 2009

TAMPA - They are calling it the Inauguration Day Massacre.

Radio giant Clear Channel Communications cut 1,850 jobs nationwide Tuesday, including an undisclosed number at eight Tampa stations that the company owns.

Among those let go locally was Clear Channel programming vice president Gabe Hobbs; on-air personality "Joey B" Bellardita, producer of the MJ Kelli morning show on WFLZ-FM; and Kay Long, a news reporter/producer at the station.

Most of the cuts came from the sales staff, according to company officials. The total reduction nationwide represents 9 percent of the company's workforce.

Clear Channel stations in Tampa include WFLA, 970 AM (news talk), WDAE, 620 AM (sports talk); WFLZ, 93.3 FM; WMTX, 100.7 FM; and WXTB, 97.9 FM.

Company CEO Mark Mays told employees that the cuts were the result of the economic downturn facing the entire media industry.

Hobbs, who has been with Clear Channel's Tampa operations for 25 years, says he knew that the company faced cutbacks and there was a 50-50 chance he would be let go.

"I fell on the wrong side of the 50," he says.

"But I already have offers on the table; I just hope I can stay in Tampa. I've had a long and fulfilling career here."

Hobbs discovered and hired Glenn Beck, who is now a nationally syndicated radio talk show host. He hired well-known Tampa personality Jack Harris and teamed him with Tedd Webb on the WFLA morning show. He also hired Todd Schnitt (MJ Kelli). And he turned WDAE into The Sports Animal, one of the top sports talk stations in the country.

Hobbs was director of news/talk/sports programming for 280 of the company's 1,200 stations. He was named news/talk radio executive of the year in 2008 by Radio and Records magazine.

The cuts at Clear Channel follow recent nationwide layoffs at CBS-owned radio stations, including more than 20 who were let go at the Tampa-based stations in November and December. Among them were on-air personalities "Marvelous Marvin" Boone, Bill Connolly, Jo Jo Walker, Rico Blanco and Mike Reeves at WRBQ, 104.7 FM.

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