Townsquare axes Lite 98.7 afternoon host

UTICA-ROME — Minnesota-based voicetracker Jessica Williams has done her last show for Lite 98.7 (WLZW) and numerous other radio stations nationwide.

That’s the word from RadioInsight, which reports Williams said, “Today, I was called into an unexpected meeting” with Townsquare Media management, where she was informed her employment was terminated. “There was no chance to say goodbye on the air. No final song. No last ridiculous conversation.”

RadioInsight reports Williams had been voicetracking afternoons for “most of the company’s AC stations” from Y105 in Rochester, MN, where she was also that station’s Brand Manager.

Lite 98.7 is owned by Townsquare Media. In the Utica-Rome market, it appears all airshifts on the cluster’s three FM band music stations are now filled by syndicated fare or national voicetrackers, with the exception of morning drive on Lite 98.7 and country Big Frog 104 (WFRG).

As of 7:08 pm Monday, “Jessica on the Radio” is still listed on the lineup on Lite 98.7’s website.  The same website still lists Dave Wheeler as WLZW Brand Manager even though he left Townsquare in February to accept a position across town at locally-owned Roser Communications.