Jason Bailey, on his subscription-based podcast Friday, called a storyline provided by the Rock 100.5 program director on why Bailey was fired in October “defamation of character.”
Axel Lowe, the program director, took over the station in 2019, repositioning the music, and last fall got rid of Bailey and female sidekick Brandi Britain for different reasons. (Producer “DIgi-Dude” Nate Hanson around the same time left for Mexico and was not given the option to work remotely. Another producer NickyD Wooten was let go earlier this month.)
Lowe, a veteran radio DJ in town for three decades who was also doing afternoon drive, took over mornings for a brief time with “Southside” Steve Rickman after Bailey’s departure. But last week, Lowe announced in a staff memo that he and Rickman were moving to afternoons for what would be a “personality-based” show. The show debuted this week.
While on the air earlier this week, Lowe explained the changes by noting that people on air (without specifying names) in October “didn’t want to be there.”
Bailey, who was Rock 100.5′s morning show lead guy for seven years and guided the on-air content, took umbrage to that spin.
“I didn’t want to be there because of your [expletive] and a lot of other people’s [expletive] and lies,” Bailey said. “I didn’t want to be there because you were already looking for a replacement. Your EVP was in Chicago actively looking to replace me publicly.”
He added, “I wanted to be there. I wanted to make it work... I liked the company until you turned heel on me.” He said he and Lowe had “forced” weekly conversations and Lowe would “trash the guy you’re working with now,” meaning Rickman.
Bailey didn’t mention Rickman specifically by name, instead, nicknaming him “dumb dumb” during the podcast.
Rickman, he noted, has 10 months left on his contract and Lowe told Bailey before he was fired that Rickman’s future was tenuous at Rock 100.5. “I feel bad for” Rickman, Bailey said. “He’s working with a guy who’s going to fire him in 10 months.”
He did acknowledge that Rickman is popular with listeners and brings in money for the station through endorsements.
Last October, Bailey said when the show did hit big ratings a few years ago, Rock 100.5 didn’t take full advantage of their popularity. “There was no incentive,” he said. “There was no exploitation of the success of the show. It was just going nowhere. That bothered me. I worked too [expletive] hard. All the [expletive] bits were my idea. All the planning was mine. It was just worthless. It was pointless. It was all for nothing. I wasn’t appreciated.”
Addressing Lowe by his real first name, Bailey on his podcast Friday said, “Andy, do your thing. I wish you all the luck. I want you not in my life ever again. Don’t go on the air and lie. That’s what bothers me. That’s defamation of character.”
He does not think Lowe is a particularly interesting or compelling personality, noting to the station: “You’ve got the wrong guy driving the bus.”
Bailey said he wonders why Lowe doesn’t just admit he wasn’t good in morning radio. He himself said he worked for 10 months at 92.9/The Game talking sports and readily admitted he was horrible at it.
Lowe did not respond to a text seeking comment. Neither did Rickman. Their boss Sean Shannon, who in the past has said he doesn’t comment about personnel matters per Atlanta-based Cumulus Media policy, repeated that again in a text: “We don’t comment on former employees. Personally I wish him well.”
“Those guys aren’t allowed to say the truth,” Bailey said.
Bailey also said many of the station’s recent moves reveal a lack of planning. He found it strange that management didn’t already have immediate replacements for Bailey or his female sidekick after they were let go last fall. He also wondered why the station moved Lowe and Rickman to afternoons without having a set morning show in place.
Since he left Rock 100.5, Bailey has been operating a podcast operation out of his house that features some free content but consists mostly of daily subscription-based shows including the one that ran Friday. He is charging $4.99 a month.
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