L.A.’s KFI cancels its evening talk show as AM radio woes mount

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iHeartMedia, a major radio and podcast company, has canceled the evening talk show “Later, With Mo’Kelly” on KFI-AM (640) as part of recent layoffs affecting the radio industry.

I was a big fan of Mo O’Kelly’s radio work! He’d been hosting his show for almost three years, and before that, he was a weekend anchor at KFI in Los Angeles for over ten years – he actually joined the station way back in 2011. It’s sad to see him go, but he definitely made a mark on the airwaves.

O’Kelly’s last night on the air was Oct. 6.

I really poured my heart and soul into the show, and honestly, I’m just so proud of what we accomplished. For me, it was all about creating talk radio that felt *real* – a place where you could hear from people whose voices usually get lost, and learn about perspectives and communities that rarely get the spotlight. That’s what I always aimed for.

Beyond O’Kelly, it’s unknown how many other KFI employees were affected by layoffs, including his producer and a marketing manager. Reports indicate these cuts were part of a bigger reorganization across the company.

Also, Karen Sharp, the host of “Love Songs on the Coast” on KOST-FM (103.5), retired on Friday after 38 years of playing dedications – a popular tradition for radio stations. In her farewell message, Sharp reflected on the personal moments listeners shared with her: “You told me about your heartbreaks, wedding plans, and losses. Most of all, you shared your hearts.”

When I reached out to iHeartMedia about this, the local president here in L.A. pointed me to their corporate office in New York. Unfortunately, they haven’t gotten back to me with a statement just yet.

Hollywood Inc.

This week, iHeartMedia’s KFI-AM (640) in Los Angeles reduced its staff by half, resulting in the layoff of thirteen employees.

I was really surprised to hear about the latest changes at KFI. It’s been less than a year since iHeart Media drastically cut the newsroom staff – they let go of more than half the team, including the news director who’d been there for years. It feels like another big blow to local news.

Local news sources like newspapers, TV, and radio are facing tough challenges. They’re losing significant advertising money as more people get their information online through platforms like YouTube and podcasts.

Public radio stations faced significant funding cuts this summer when Congress removed $1.1 billion previously promised for this year and 2026. This impacted several local stations, including LAist/KPCC-FM (89.3), KCRW-FM (89.9), and PBS stations KCET and KOCE, causing them to lose millions of dollars in expected funding.

Recently, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, after years of managing funds for over 1,500 public television and radio stations, closed its doors due to funding cuts.

O’Kelly noted that the radio industry has always experienced ups and downs, but these fluctuations are especially noticeable right now. He also believes that traditional AM radio is nearing its end.

He explained that the concept of needing a powerful 50,000-watt transmitter is outdated. Now, thanks to Bluetooth, people can easily listen to whatever they want, from anyone, anywhere, at any time, right in their cars.

Movies

According to a report by Greg Braxton about the controversy surrounding the film “Soul Plane” (“Bumpy Takeoff for ‘Soul Plane,’ May 28”), director Jessy Terrero explained that he aimed to create a funny movie for his generation, drawing from his background as a member of Generation X and the hip-hop community.

As a long-time radio and news fan, I was a little saddened to see the latest ratings for KFI. Garrett Searight, who really knows the radio business, pointed out that they continued to lose listeners in September. It’s tough to watch a station that used to be such a powerhouse in L.A. news struggle like this – it feels like they’re steadily losing their audience.

According to Searight, KFI is one of the most important and influential radio stations in Los Angeles, if not the most. He worries that the station’s current difficulties are a bad sign for the radio industry as a whole, given KFI’s long-standing reputation for excellence.

Besides KFI and KOST, iHeart Media also operates six more radio stations in Los Angeles, such as sports station KLAC-AM (570) and music station KIIS-FM (102.7).

Since early last week, fill-in hosts have been substituting for O’Kelly.

iHeartMedia is currently headed by Bob Pittman, who previously held leadership positions at MTV and AOL Time Warner. Six years ago, the company – formerly Clear Channel – successfully reorganized its finances after filing for bankruptcy. This process allowed them to lower their debt from over $10 billion to $5.75 billion.

The company’s $16.1 billion in debt before filing for bankruptcy stemmed from a leveraged buyout deal made with a private equity firm in 2008.

California

Employees at KION-TV and Telemundo 23 in Salinas were told to pack up on Tuesday.

In August, iHeartMedia announced that revenue for its multiplatform division—which includes over 800 radio stations—decreased by 5.4% to $545 million for the quarter. Overall, the company’s total revenue reached $934 million.

The company is expanding its podcast network, creating popular shows like “Stuff You Should Know,” “Questlove Supreme,” and “Drama Queens.” They also collaborate on podcasts with major brands, including Shondaland Audio featuring “The Laverne Cox Show,” as well as productions with the NFL and NBA.

World & Nation

Roger Stone, a friend and advisor to former President Trump, is facing criticism after using a racial slur during a conversation with a Black radio host.

The company’s latest annual report shows they finished last year with 10,100 employees across the country. This is a 10% decrease from the number of employees they had at the end of 2019.

O’Kelly announced the cancellation, explaining in a Facebook post that jobs are temporary and shouldn’t come at the expense of well-being. They expressed optimism about what’s next, stating there’s no reason to be upset about the change and that they are looking forward to the future.

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2025-10-15 13:31