Emmis cuts staffers

From the world of deaths, we go into... layoffs.

Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications cut staffers nationwide today, reducing 7.5 percent of its workforce, including seven employees at its two Chicago outlets: alternative WKQX-FM (Q101) and classic rocker The Loop (WLUP-FM).

The layoffs were due to the deteriorating economy and the soft ad market, according to company officials.

Emmis is also merging its Chicago and St. Louis stations' branding, imaging, and programming with management shuffling back and forth between the two markets.

Among those who got the ax were: brand manager Tisa LaSorte, Q101 PD Marc Young, and imaging director Mark Tammany.

On-air personalities who were dumped were WLUP midday jock Erin Carmen and sportscaster Bruce Wolf.

Pete McMurray takes over middays at The Loop tomorrow, but John Kempf takes over the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. time slot beginning on Monday, with McMurray relocating to Kempf's old evening slot, at least for the time being.

At Q101, Alex Quigley and Ryan and Kevin Manno exchanging time slots, with Quigley going over to evenings and the duo heading to afternoon drive.

Meanwhile, there is increasing speculation that Jonathan Brandmeier might not be back once his contract at The Loop is up. Brandmeier has yet to sign a new deal at the station, with the terrible economy one of the main sticking points. With today's layoffs at Emmis, Brandmeier's chances at staying put with a pay increase don't look very good.

Sad as all of this may seem, look at it this way: at least nobody died. We've had enough of those this past week.