Cumulus Media cuts staff as it prepares to exit bankruptcy

Cumulus Media is implementing a new round of layoffs affecting sales and programming positions while it awaits formal emergence from its pre‑packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The cuts span stations in Washington, DC, Columbia, SC, Mobile, AL and Shreveport, LA, and include senior staff such as former VP of Podcast Operations Jay Soderberg, SVP of Marketing and Podcasting Carolyn Chauncey and Executive Producer Tanya Bustos. The company filed for Chapter 11 in March and had its reorganization plan approved in April; it now seeks FCC approval to complete the process, which would give Alden Global Capital President Heath Freeman roughly a 32 % voting stake in the reorganized entity. The layoffs occur amid a broader industry trend, with iHeartMedia also reducing staff to cut costs.