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Radio hosts Kevin Ryder and Doug ‘Sluggo’ Roberts fired from KLOS-FM

BBG News

Radio hosts Kevin Ryder and Doug 'Sluggo' Roberts fired from KLOS-FM

As a long-time fan and admirer of Kevin Ryder and Doug “Sluggo” Roberts, I am deeply saddened by their sudden departure from KLOS-FM. Their unique chemistry, humor, and dedication to classic rock have been a staple of my daily commute for years.

95.5 KLOS-FM, the popular classic rock station based in Los Angeles, recently let go of their afternoon hosts Kevin Ryder and Douglas “Sluggo” Roberts.

On Friday, Ryder announced the dismissal of the duo via social media, jokingly referencing a recent marketing strategy they had introduced. “An amusing moment to kick off a ‘Where’s Kevin?’ campaign,” Ryder wrote on his platform, previously known as Twitter.

In an Instagram clip shared by Ryder, multiple individuals (including one man investigating beneath a desk) are seen questioning, “Where is Kevin?” The scene then transitions to Ryder, who extracts an ice cream pint and other treats from the freezer. Addressing the camera, the host states, “I’m no longer present,” implying that KLOS terminated his employment.

Attempts at contacting both Ryder and Roberts were unsuccessful, as no replies were received. We also couldn’t get hold of anyone from KLOS or its higher-level organization right away.

For several decades, Ryder has been a constant presence on local radio stations. Previously, he worked at KROQ-FM (106.7), where he co-hosted the morning show “Kevin and Bean” alongside his long-term broadcast partner, Gene “Bean” Baxter, for nearly three decades.

Following Baxter’s retirement in 2019, the show “Kevin & Bean” was rebranded as “Kevin in the Morning with Allie & Jensen,” reflecting its new hosts, Allie Mac Kay and Jensen Karp.

But in March 2020, Ryder and his team were abruptly fired from the station.

In the year after his comeback, Ryder was recruited by KLOS, where he teamed up with Roberts, who had started working at the station in 2019.

KLOS-FM, a radio station located in Burbank, has been broadcasting since the 1960s. In 2019, it was purchased by Alex Meruelo’s media company, Meruelo Media, for $43 million from Cumulus Media, a prominent radio corporation based in Atlanta.

As a passionate moviegoer, I’m always excited to share that among my favorite entertainment haunts are some fantastic local outposts, such as the pulsating rhythm of hip-hop stations KDAY-FM (93.5) and KPWR-FM (105.9), affectionately known as “Power 106.

Traditional land-based radio, once a staple for L.A.’s congested traffic, has faced significant financial strain in recent times due to competition from online music streaming and podcast platforms. This year, Meruelo Media reduced staff at their Los Angeles stations, resulting in the removal of midday DJs.

In conversation with Variety, Ryder expressed his thoughts on speculations that Meruelo might be planning to offload their radio stations, among them KLOS. “I sincerely hope they sell it to someone who values it,” he shared with the trade publication.

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2024-09-08 02:01

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