Budget cuts put an end to the 39-year-old Baltimore Morning Show

Laurie DeYoung will end her more than 39-year run as morning host on iHeartMedia’s 93.1 WPOC in Baltimore at the end of the week. “I’m not retiring, it wasn’t my decision,” DeYoung said in response to a comment on her show. Facebook page.

She has been a fixture in Baltimore radio since joining WPOC in September 1985. She started at WMUZ in Detroit in 1975, working in several markets in between – including KBST in San Diego, WKLQ in Grand Rapids and WSHN in Fremont. Laurie DeYoung was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2010 and has been nominated for the Radio Hall of Fame several times.

She added that fans will still hear her voice on the station, saying: “From February I will be doing a short weekend show. I will also be at some station events here and there possibly. There have been several budget cuts in the company, I’m not the only one .”

In November, ahead of its third-quarter earnings call, iHeartMedia made significant layoffs, including several on-air talent, programmers and regional and market managers. These changes are expected to save iHeart $150 million.

On December 18, iHeartMedia Region Senior Vice President of Programming Jeff Kapugi announced that afternoon host Michael J will take over as morning host alongside Bethany Linderman on January 6.