Longtime Myrtle Beach Radio Hosts Lose Jobs in Recent Cutting

Radio veterans bid farewell

Scott Mann and Dave Priest, two veteran radio hosts who have been familiar voices to the community for several decades, lost their jobs in recent cuts at the Dick Broadcasting Co., a North Carolina-based company operating five stations in the Myrtle Beach area.

The unexpected job loss

Both Mann and Priest were taken aback by the news. Mann, whose career in the local market spanned over 25 years, spent more than 22 of those at Wave 104.1. Priest, who has been on air since 1987 and joined the ‘Hot Talk’ morning show on WRNN 99.5 shortly after the 9/11 terror attacks, had a dedicated following. He was the constant factor with a host of various co-hosts and iterations of ‘Hot Talk’. The pair were reportedly told the cuts were budgeting decisions and were unrelated to performance issues.

Community response

The community reacted, upset and disheartened by the news of the departures of Mann and Priest. Priest, in particular, noted the heartening response from listeners. “It kind of makes you feel like what you’ve been doing all these years matters, that people actually like what you had to say,” he said. During his radio career, Priest was known for his extensive interviews with celebrities, backstage meetings with bands such as R.E.M, Van Halen, and Aerosmith, and even interviews with then presidential candidates Barack Obama and Donald Trump, making his departure significant.

Mann’s farewell in light of JerryFest 19

Mann, despite having initially declined to host JerryFest 19 after receiving the news of his job cut, opted to participate. JerryFest, an annual free event honoring the birthday of the late Grateful Dead guitarist and singer, Jerry Garcia, is a tradition Mann had spearheaded for 19 years. “This is just a big family reunion,” Mann said at the event. “Why would I turn away from the people who love me at a tough time?”

Future prospects

Like all changes, these departures come with questions about the future. The remaining local hosts have had to discuss the impact on air. Both Mann and Priest have expressed gratitude for the opportunities their time on air provided them and have indicated that they are ready to take on the future, whatever it may hold.

Despite these cuts at the broadcasting company, the local stations including Wave 104.1 (classic rock), WKZQ 96.1 (alternative rock), WRNN 99.5 (talk show), Energy 92.1 (Top 40), and Hank 105.5 (classic country) will continue to provide content to their listeners. Though the voices may have changed, it is hoped that the long-standing dedication and commitment to the community will continue in their absence.

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