Brother Wease out at WCMF

     For more than 20 years, Rochester woke up to Brother Wease on CMF.  An opinionated talk show host, Wease was best known for saying what's on his mind.  CMF owner, Entercom, said it had every intention to keep Wease on the airwaves.  The two sides were in contract negotiations for more than a month.  Radio analyst Scott Fybush says in the end it came down to money.  "He brought a tremendous amount of revenue in for that station.  He really sort of made that station what it was and I can see his side too where he deserves to make a piece of what they were making off him," said Fybush.

     Fybush says the radio industry as a whole has been pinching pennies all over the place.  The only other radio group around is owned by Clear Channel, who doesn't have a budget to hire him right now.  "There are big companies that are freezing hiring.  Companies freezing promotions.  That's sort of the pickle Wease got himself into," said Fybush.  

    So could Wease end up on another radio station in Rochester?  Fybush says it's tough to imagine anyone in the market being able to pay Wease what he's used to making.  But he also says Wease may be able to find a way in.  "I can't imagine him staying silent forever.  He'll find some way even if it's just a webcast or doing something in TV.  He's got to get back on the air somehow," said Fybush.

     I spoke with brother Wease' wife on the phone Thursday evening.  She says her husband is mourning his career.  She says the decision has been very difficult on him.  I asked about Brother Wease' future plans.  Right now, they're up in the air.

     Entercom is keeping Wease's on-air crew in place.  But, the morning show is no longer "Radio Free Wease," as of Friday it's called "The Men's Room."  In a statement to News 8, Entercom Regional Vice President Michael Doyle says “We are excited by the prospect of taking the show in a different direction with some new stars.”  Entercom only recently acquired CMF along with several other Rochester radio stations from CBS radio.