Kearney Radio Stations Cut Jobs After Usher Acquisition

Longtime morning host Steven Franzman and others lose positions at stations now owned by Usher

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:50pm

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a vintage radio microphone and a small stack of radio station business cards, symbolizing the corporate changes behind job losses at local radio stations.The acquisition of local radio stations by larger companies often leads to job cuts and the loss of familiar on-air personalities.Kearney Today

Radio stations in Kearney and Grand Island, Nebraska have cut staff, including longtime morning host Steven Franzman, after being acquired by new owner Alan Usher. Usher confirmed that all employees at the Kearney and Grand Island locations were let go as part of the transition.

Why it matters

The job cuts at the Kearney and Grand Island radio stations reflect the broader trend of consolidation in the radio industry, where larger companies like Usher's are acquiring smaller local stations and making staffing changes. This can impact long-standing local personalities and programming that listeners have grown accustomed to.

The details

According to Usher, all staff were released from the Kearney and Grand Island radio stations that he recently acquired. This included the dismissal of Steven Franzman, a popular morning host who had helped listeners in Grand Island start their days for many years.

  • The job cuts occurred on Monday, April 8, 2026 after Usher took over the stations.

The players

Alan Usher

The new owner of the Kearney and Grand Island radio stations that made the staffing cuts.

Steven Franzman

A longtime morning radio host in Grand Island who lost his job in the cuts.

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What they’re saying

“They released all staff for both the Kearney locations and the Grand Island locations that they have. I took over after that on Monday morning.”

— Alan Usher, New Owner

The takeaway

The job cuts at the Kearney and Grand Island radio stations are a reflection of the broader consolidation happening in the radio industry, where larger companies are acquiring smaller local stations and making staffing changes that can impact long-standing local personalities and programming.