DETROIT – Several popular Detroit-area radio personalities have been fired during a major shakeup by Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.
Longtime WMXD-FM (92.3) host Frankie Darcell is among those let go. Darcell hosted the "Afternoon Mix" from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
She has been with WMXD for 11 years and with Clear Channel for 18 years.
Darcell told Local 4 she was "shocked" by the firing but that she "remains in good spirits."
"I walked out today and I stand on the fact that my tomorrow's gonna be greater," she said. "I'm not trying to jump off that bridge the governor is trying to build, so I'm good."
It's Darcell's witty sense of humor along with the smooth and sultry voice listeners in Detroit and across the country have enjoyed for 20 years.
"They made this home for me. Folks think I went to Osborn and Cass. They made me one of theirs," she said.
Darcell's ratings have been through the roof. However, Clear Channel told her it was letting her go. Industry insiders told Local 4 they are shocked because Darcell's show was so popular and she had just signed a three-year contract in September.
"Was I prepared for it? Absolutely not. Am I ready for it? Yes," she said. "Is there a sense of uneasy and sadness? When you love what you do, like I love what I do, I wouldn't be human if I didn't say there wasn't a sense of sadness there."
Other hosts let go during the shake up include Jag from 95.5, Dave Dahmer (The D 106.7), Eric Chase (WDFN), and Dan Watkins, Jenna Cork, Kristin Burns and Danielle Car all from WNIC.
Clear Channel released the following statement:
"Like every successful business, our strategy continues to evolve. As we move forward as a company, this creates some new jobs and unfortunately eliminates others. These are never easy decisions to make. In the process of making these changes, some employees were affected. We thank them for their services and wish them well in the future."