Courtesy Crain's Detroit

(January 4, 2010) Jay Towers, co-host of morning-drive talk show Motor City Mornings on CBS Radio’s 97.1 FM The Ticket, has taken a still-unspecified job at rival Clear Channel in Detroit because he and the station couldn't reach terms on a new contract, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Bill McAllister remains host of Motor City Mornings. Neither radio group has made an announcement about the situation.

Towers is also a Sunday morning television host on WJBK-Fox 2. He spent time as the co-host of afternoon drive-time talk show Motor City Middays on 97.1 until October 2007, when the station flipped to primarily sports content. He spent a few months as assistant program director and host of the midday slot on oldies sister station WOMC 104.3 FM until the morning show gig on 97.1.

It's the second local morning radio shake-up in 12 months. A year ago, duo Jeff Deminski and Bill Doyle, who spent 8 years on the air at WXYT until their contract wasn’t renewed (and then spent a year off-air as part of as no-compete deal), replaced J.J. and Lynne in the 6-10 a.m. slot on Greater Media Inc.-owened WCSX 94.7 FM.

In Detroit, Clear Channel owns WJLB 97.9 FM (urban/Hip-Hop), WMXD 92.3 FM (urban adult contemporary), WKQI 95.5 FM (Top 40), WNIC 100.3 FM (adult contemporary), WDTW 106.7 FM (country), WDTW AM 1310 AM (talk) and WDFN 1130 AM (sports talk).

CBS Radio also owns locally WWJ 950 AM (news/talk), WYCD 99.5 FM (country) and WVMV 98.7 FM (Top 40).

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