Chris Booker out as Q102 a.m. man
Even with No. 1 ratings he's shown the door at the top-40 station, as are producer, sidekick.
After pushing back against demands to play more music, Chris Booker has been pushed out as morning host at Q102.
The top-40 radio station also confirmed that producer Blaire Galaton and sidekick Angi Taylor also were let go. Sidekick Diego Ramos, a 16-year Q102 veteran, will remain at the station, but the show will not carry his name.
Booker expressed surprise at the loss of his show.
"I've been fired before for low ratings, but never for being No. 1," Booker said.
A station source said he had a year left on his contract, and would be paid.
In the April Arbitron ratings released Wednesday, Booker had the largest cumulative audience among both women ages 18 to 34 and men and women ages 18 to 34, though rival station B101 was tops in terms of audience share.
Booker's show was fourth in audience share among all listeners ages 18 to 34, while his weekly cumulative audience among 18-to-34s - estimated at 150,000 - was No. 1, higher than even market leader
Preston & Steve
on WMMR (93.3).
Booker, who joined the station two years ago, was informed after yesterday's show.
Booker now will have more time to spend with girlfriend Alycia Lane, also out of work since her firing in January after a run-in with New York police. She has since been cleared.