The West Coast’s highly popular talk radio “power couple,” Robin Bertolucci and her husband Don Martin have stepped away from their longtime positions with iHeartMedia 
(11/8) – Bertolucci as program director of heritage giant KFI AM 640, Los Angeles and Martin as EVP of programming, iHeartMedia Sports (which includes FOX Sports Radio) and PD of sports talk AM 570 KLAC, Los Angeles.After nearly a quarter century of exemplary service in these positions,
the ambiguous terms cited for the couple’s simultaneous departure do not mask the general industry observation that they were direct victims of the national radio cutbacks being affected by iHeartMedia as severe cost-cutting measures. Chris Berry, iHeartMedia EVP of news, will assume the role as interim program director of both KFI and KLAC.
In the New York City market, the morning team of generalist Michael Riedel and sports talker Len Berman has met a similar fate at the legendary AM 710 WOR.
Included in the cut – their show’s producer Terry Trahim, after more than 20 years of service to the station.
Multi-talented Scott Sands, 
iHM SVP of programming for the Ohio-West Virginia area and PD /afternoon host of WSPD, Toledo has also been let go.
Joe Pags impacted. 
In San Antonio, although he remains one of the most successful syndicated hosts in American talk radio with a rapidly growing roster of more than 170 stations coast to coast, Compass Media Networks star Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo‘s local highly-rated afternoon show of 19 years at his flagship WOAI (where he is a market legend) has been dropped from the lineup as a cost-cutting measure. Pags is one of talk radio’s most notable rising stars and will undoubtedly be okay – but his departure from WOAI is indicative of the wrecking ball nature of these types of budget-cutting measures.
There are more cutbacks being reported at iHM stations throughout the industry.
TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison states, “It is a dark moment in talk radio when the cutback ax falls on such good people who have devoted so much precious time, talent, and loyalty to their company, this industry and our professional community. I’m in no position to tell companies how to run their businesses and protect their embattled assets in times of financial distress… but on a human level – not to mention in recognition of the fragility of this historic cultural scene to which we all contribute and hold an emotional stake – it’s downright heartbreaking.”
To see a recent interview with Joe Pags conducted by Michael Harrison on the video podcast “Up Close Far Out,” please click here.