Boston, MA — The hosts of Kiss 108’s “Billy & Lisa in the Morning” broke their silence Tuesday on the unexpected departure of Winnie Akoury, a longtime producer and co-host who was let go as part of nationwide layoffs at iHeartMedia.
Akoury’s sudden disappearance from the airwaves last week left fans confused and concerned. Since then, listeners have flooded social media platforms like Reddit and Facebook with questions about her absence from the popular Boston morning show.
Co-Hosts Shocked by the News
During a brief segment on Tuesday’s broadcast, co-hosts Billy Costa, Lisa Donovan, and Justin Aguirre addressed the news, saying they were caught off guard by Akoury’s layoff.
Costa revealed he learned of “big changes nationally” at iHeartMedia while on vacation in Africa, noting that other prominent on-air personalities were also impacted, including DJ 4eign from JAM’N 94.5.
“It happened overnight, we didn’t see anything coming,” Costa said. “That’s what’s happening a lot across the country and the world with large companies, large corporations. It was news to me.”
The layoffs, first reported by Boston.com, are part of a larger corporate restructuring at iHeartMedia, the nation’s largest radio station owner with more than 870 stations across 160 markets.
Listeners and Co-Hosts React
Akoury had been a core member of the morning team since 2022, when longtime host Matt Siegel retired, ending the era of “Matty in the Morning.” After Siegel’s departure, the show was rebranded as “Billy & Lisa in the Morning,” with Akoury serving as a producer and on-air personality alongside Costa, Donovan, and Aguirre.
Aguirre acknowledged the show had felt “a little weird” since her absence, apologizing to fans for the abrupt transition.
“We know things have been a little bit weird for our listeners and we do apologize for that. It’s been a little all over the place,” Aguirre said.
Costa also took a moment to express his admiration for Akoury’s talent and impact on the team.
“If you’re listening, Winnie, we already miss you and you are extremely talented and I’m sure you’re going to land on your feet in a very big way,” Costa said.
From Intern to On-Air Personality
Akoury’s journey at Kiss 108 began during her senior year at Framingham State University, where she interned at iHeartMedia in 2015. She later managed social media operations for three iHeart stations before taking on a full-time production role. Her career was profiled in a 2021 FSU Alumni Magazine feature, where she reflected on working with the very personalities she grew up listening to.
“Sometimes it feels surreal,” Akoury told the magazine. “I grew up in Quincy listening to everyone on that show. Now they are my colleagues and friends.”
Her experience also gave her perspective on the unpredictable nature of the radio industry.
“Radio is so unpredictable, but I feel like I’ve set myself up to be able to transition to a number of different career tracks,” she said in the 2021 interview.
Fans Voice Disappointment
News of Akoury’s departure has drawn disappointment from loyal fans, many of whom praised her humor and authenticity on air.
“National company ruining a great regional product,” one user wrote on Reddit.
“I’ve listened from across the country for years, and recently Winnie was the on-air presence I most looked forward to,” another commented.
Though iHeartMedia has not issued a public statement, industry analysts say the layoffs reflect ongoing cutbacks across U.S. media as corporations consolidate operations amid declining radio revenues.
What are your thoughts on the layoffs and how they impact local radio? Share your views in the comments below.
