CNY radio personality finds out his job is being eliminated during his show: Cumulus Media calls it ‘transition’ for The Rebel

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story referred to Cumulus Media as Columbus.

A longtime staple in Central New York classic rock radio has been taken off the air.

Radio personality DJ Dave Frisina was told his job at The Rebel radio streaming had been eliminated.

The Rebel is owned by Cumulus Media.

Frisina told CNYCentral that Cumulus told him during the final hours of his show on Monday that the station would be ‘going through a transition’ and that his position would be eliminated.

Worse yet, he’d have no more than an hour or so to tell listeners.

“I spent yesterday trying in vain to negotiate a way that I could remain in the limited capacity of just hosting Soulshine and Soundcheck on Sundays,” Frisina told CNYCentral. “I was flatly rejected.”

He was denied the opportunity to do a final send-off or retirement show, despite being with the station for a decade.

“Thanks to all the area musicians who continue to blow my mind with world-class music,” Frisina added. “I only regret that I wasn’t allowed to do a proper final Soundcheck to show my appreciation and gratitude for creating the longest-running local music broadcast in the world.”

Staff Report

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