Lamont Hollywood criticizes Cumulus Media after radio layoff

Lamont Hollywood, a veteran Bay Area radio host with a 37-year career, has criticized his former employer following his layoff from 107.7 The Bone. In a social media post, Hollywood attributed his job loss to debt-fueled media consolidation and corporate restructuring at Cumulus Media, the parent company.

Hollywood alleged that the company is replacing live talent with automated voice-tracking and syndicated feeds to prioritize paying down debt and preserving executive bonuses. He argued that such moves destroy the authentic human connection and community trust essential to the radio medium.

Cumulus Media, which operates 394 radio stations, filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas in March as part of a restructuring plan to address $697 million in debt. The company cited competition from streaming services, shifts in the advertising market, and declining radio audiences as contributing factors. This follows a previous bankruptcy filing by the company in 2017.