Scott Shannon, one of the leading DJs and programmers of the last five decades abruptly announced he was leaving New York’s WPLJ(FM) on Friday. He was noncommittal on his future plans.
Shannon had been co-hosting the long-running “Scott & Todd in the Morning” show. According to a release, the show was currently the longest running show in New York at 22 years.
The show will continue as “The Todd Show,” with co-host Todd Pettengill taking over solo.
Shannon said, “Of course I’ll miss being a part of the morning show here on PLJ and I might even pop back in from time to time and try to get Todd to play a Rascals song or two.”
WPLJ is owned by Cumulus Media. Cumulus EVP and Co-COO John Dickey said, “Scott’s contributions to the industry and the station are incalculable and we thank him for his many years of amazing service and dedication to his many morning listeners.”
That would almost be an understatement. Like many in the radio business, much of Shannon’s career has been as a vagabond. He’s worked in tiny AMs and in larger markets such as Nashville, Tampa, Fla., Los Angeles, New York and Washington — including successful stops at major powerhouses such as WPGC(FM), Washington, and WHTZ(FM), New York.
He has a reputation as a turnaround artist, able to take moribund stations and push them to the top as a DJ and as a manager. He is given credit as a founding developer (and practitioner) of the “Morning Zoo” program format.
Shannon also has worked syndicated shows, currently helming Cumulus-syndicated “The True Oldies Channel.” He’s also the announcer for “The Sean Hannity Show.”
