Dark Cumulus Clouds

Remember how the Susquehanna-to-Cumulus (spell that three times fast) switch was going to go oh-so-smooth? Um, notsomuch. The Cumulus folks officially take over Susquehanna’s metroplex radio empire today, and things, they are a changin’. Just in the last week, for example, former Susquehanna senior vice president and general manager of group operations Dan Halyburton and KPLX-AM (99.5, The Wolf) vice president and general manager Lon Bason got their walking papers. That leaves Dan Bennett, who recently brokered the Dallas Cowboys-to-The Ticket deal for KTCK-AM (1310) in charge of The Ticket, The Wolf, KDBN-FM (93.3, The Bone) and KLIF-AM (570).

As for changes you might actually care about, soon gone from the airwaves will be Wolf morning-show host Bobby Mitchell and Bone morning host Humble Billy Hayes. On The Ticket’s BaD Radio noon to 3 p.m. show, you will no longer hear mid-day ticker guy Jimmy Christopher. Those changes are likely just the beginning of Cumulus’ cost-cutting storm. But if Cumulus and The Ticket are really serious about saving loot, they would ax Norm Hitzges, save a bundle of cash and “virtually” keep him by just playing his hilarious drops every day. Settle, Norm, I jest. –Richie Whitt