After Seven and a Half Years as the Morning DJ

After seven and a half years as the morning DJ at R&B oldies station Magic 92.5 (XHRM-FM), Greg Cook was released from the station October 29. The Magic 92.5 is now without a live morning DJ. And their afternoon DJ, "Javier the X-Man," was told his contract would not be renewed when it expires next month. Javier's afternoon show is number one in San Diego in its time slot among listeners aged 25--54.

The probable reason for the Magic 92.5 cutbacks is that Clear Channel San Diego is preparing to spin off 5 of its 13 local stations because a ruling by the Third District Court of Appeals in August determined that they are in violation of the FCC rule that says no single owner can control more than 8 stations per city. Clear Channel owns 8 locally in the U.S. and also operates 5 in Mexico, including 91X, Magic 92.5, Z90, Kool 99.3, and XTRA Sports 690 AM. Insiders say that Clear Channel is looking to divest itself of the 5 Mexican stations it leases.

A request for a statement prompted a "no comment" from Clear Channel manager Kelly Kibler.

Jim Richards, Clear Channel vice president of programming, admitted that Javier the X-Man's contract is not being renewed. "But that doesn't mean he is fired.... There are many, many people who work [at Clear Channel] without contracts."

Insiders say John Lynch, who runs Mighty 1090 and formerly operated 91X and XTRA Sports, may be in the running to take over all of Clear Channel's Mexican stations. Lynch did not return a request for comment. Lynch was responsible for making 91X an alternative music station in 1983.