Locally produced sports-talk radio show “Query & Schultz,” which has been on the air since 2011, has been canceled.
The show, which filled the 3 p.m.-to-7 p.m. drive-time spot on WNDE-AM 1260 as part of the Fox Sports lineup, was hosted by Jake Query and Derek Schultz.
“After 8.5 years our numbers were finally called as part of a major corporate layoff,” Query said on Twitter on Tuesday. “On behalf of @Schultz975, thanks to all who supported our show. I have enjoyed giving voice in Indianapolis to those who may otherwise not be heard.”
Officials for iHeart Radio Indianapolis, which owns WNDE-AM, WFBQ-FM 94.7 and WRZX-FM 103.3, did not respond to messages Tuesday seeking comment about the cancellation.
WNDE began airing national Fox Sports content in the show’s time slot Tuesday.
“So, the rocketship has landed,” Schultz said on Twitter. “After 8 1/2 years, we were informed this morning that Query & Schultz wouldn’t continue on WNDE as part of massive corporate layoffs* (*See? It’s not just us!) Not going to do a twenty-part thread or anything. Just wanted to say thanks.”
“Query & Schultz” was part of the daytime Fox Sports lineup on WNDE, along with “Outkick the Coverage with Clay Travis” from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and “The Dan Patrick Show” from 9 a.m. to noon.
News reports about changes at iHeart stations in various markets began to appear Tuesday afternoon. The nation’s largest radio station owner confirmed in a press release that it was implementing “a new organizational structure for its Markets Group as it modernizes the company to take advantage of the significant investments it has made in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) and its unique scale and leadership position in the audio marketplace.”
Schultz, 37, told IBJ that he was “blindsided” by the cancellation.
“We found out this morning,” he said. “I don’t have a full scope of what is happening, but there are nationwide layoffs at iHeart, mostly on-air people. This wasn’t a local or regional decision. This was a restructure with iHeart corporate.”
Schultz said at least two other local on-air people were terminated.
“We weren’t aware this was coming,” he said. “We had a lot of things on the books for 2020. This blindsided, not just me and Jake, but the clusters themselves all over the country.”
Schultz said wants to stay in sports broadcasting—hopefully in the Indianapolis market. But he didn’t limit his future to radio
“You have to be open to anything and everything, which I am,” he said.
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That really, really stinks. So little local content left anymore. These guys had a great show. Always fun to listen to. They knew the City and always took the right angles.
I guess the bombastic sports shock jocks are the only ones who stay on the air these days.
This was the best local radio show, of any topic. Jake and Derek are, first and foremost, great people. This sucks for both of them. Hope they land on their feet, and quickly.
Somebody pick them up…so entertaining!
Oh no. What is the station thinking? These guys are fun, knowledgeable, and so attuned to local interests. Bad move for WNDE.
The exception that sadly ending up proving the rule. One of the few good original things about living here besides the low cost of living.
Total BS Query and Schultz canceled only Good Sports Talk Show in the city I heart has their head up their backside no question about it
Miss these guys already. Fun, funny, informative and with a heart and tongue in cheek humor. Never crude and loved Indy. Hope they get picked up quicker than 1260’s impossible signal.
IHeart? INot!
Makes no sense! These guys are what brought me back to radio. Always good for a laugh and full of timely correct content. Will be waiting for them to resurface soon!
This was really a great duo, and, in my mind, they were the very best of any of the local sports radio shows. They were not only entertaining with their “give and take” on one another, their range of knowledge about any sport at any level, but their interviews were the best Indy had……primarily due to their people skills and in contrast to most other sports shows, they were always prepared and had researched their interviewees and topics extremely well. So sorry to see them leave.
Tuddies and all, they were fun to listen to and made me want to listen more. Good guys. Hope they stay local and get another gig.
107.5 The Fan/Emmis needs to pick them up for 10a-12pm and replace LeBatard. That show is terrible. Keep it local from 7a-6pm.
Cerebral and witty commentary on sports and local events. Hopefully other stations in the city will move quickly to grab these two for a new radio program.
Always looked forward to 3pm weekdays because of these two…
Best radio show ever.
With Derek & Jake gone, I stopped listening to 1260 AM. I don’t think I’m the only one.
I❤️, you listening?
Support local radio and sign the petition:
https://www.change.org/p/iheartmedia-bring-back-query-and-schultz