Radio legend Antony Cumia is preparing to make his return to terrestrial radio Sunday, March 9 on the biggest AM talk station, 77 WABC. Cumia has made a name for himself as a “shock jock” since the 1990’s with Gregg “Opie” Hughes and Jim Norton, broadcasting on WAAF in Boston and the legendary 102.7 WNEW in New York. Cumia and company had low brow humour and bits, many of which were sexual in nature. As years went on, Cumia was more vocal on his views on politics and race. In 2014, he was fired for tweeting his anger among a certain group of people and their behavior after he was attacked in the middle of the night in Times Square.
Since that incident in Times Square, Cumia has been even more open, honest and vocal on racial issues. In 2024 he appeared at the American Renaissance convention which has been (falsely) accused of being a white supremacist, white nationalist gathering. He laid out what is wrong with the radio industry.
Radio is going through some tough times. Podcasting is absolutely destroying the industry. Then; the corporations who own the stations will only syndicate their talent under contract. And the days of the “shock jock” has gone the way of the teletype from WINS. Add to the fact competition from everywhere and car companies are not installing radios with the AM dial!
Over the years, radio stations have been bought ought by conglomerates: CBS, Clearchannel (I heart radio) Cumulus, and a handful of others. The Station Managers, and Program Directors cant do what they want anymore. Andy Travis today would have to listen to the people who own WKRP to the letter. The talent could only stay between the lines of what they can talk about. One talent in DC I spoke to said he was never told what he could or could not say. It may be true, but he stays within his lane. Nothing about race issues, nothing sexual, nothing that will get someone fired. Years ago when a personality got fired, their colleagues would rally around them. Today; dead silence. This is for two reasons: first; the other personalities are too afraid to stick their necks out so they won’t get canned. The second reason is because they are trying to get that gig!
As for us, we have talked about g-strings, men using tampons, picking up women in nursing homes and accusing a politician of sexually abusing horses! And this was only in August!
Is Anthony Cumia the answer to saving talk radio? Probably not. But he is the shot in the arm that us in the industry desperately needs!
SEVEN FIVE RADIO 