Journal Broadcast Group fired three people from classic R&B station KGMG 106.3-FM Wednesday morning: Program director Ken Carr, Rosemary Watson, who handled mid-days and weekend DJ "Dino" Dan Nespoli. Management broke the news to the employees at an 8:30 a.m. meeting.
Carr, who was on-air during the mornings and afternoons, said he received a severance package.
"I can only speculate that they are going to do something else with the station that doesn't involve the three of us," Carr said.
Carr is optimistic about his search for a new job. He'd like to stay in Tucson, where he's lived since 2001, when he worked at KRQQ 93.7-FM and 104.1-FM when it was KZPT. When the station shifted formats from adult contemporary to talk in 2006, changing to KQTH, Carr moved to 106.3.
"I've just begun the process of finding another job. It would be wonderful to stay in Tucson, so I wouldn't have to pay the cost of moving," Carr said. "I've been in the radio business for 24 years, and if there's anything I have expertise in, that's certainly it."
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Carr said 106.3 has struggled in the ratings, and he attributes much of the difficulty to problems with its signal. In January, Journal added a power boost that improved its reliability, but Carr said the station wasn't able to use that to draw significantly more listeners.
"I gave it my best shot," Carr said. "Seventy-hour work weeks."
Journal sent out this email to staff Wednesday:
"As many know, the company has invested in intensive technical upgrades and market research to more clearly define a strategic operating direction for KGMG-FM. As a result of this directive, the KGMG-FM operating staff is being released effective today.
"Ken Carr, Rosemary Watson, and "Dino" Dan Nespoli have been great champions for this station over the past several years here in Tucson, and we will greatly miss their contributions and talent for our team. We wish them the very best in their future endeavors."
Contact reporter Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 or pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
