Lee Clear replaced
Of the St. Louis American
A senior executive of Clear Channel Communications says that its commitment to the African-American community will not change now that Lee Clear, one of the region’s most powerful black executives, has been replaced.
The departed Clear (who is not an owner of the company) announced to the media that he was no longer in charge of the Clear Channel’s six St. Louis-area radio properties last week.
Bruce Demps, senior vice president, Mid America Region, told the American on Tuesday that Clear Channel “is as committed to super-serving the black community as it ever has been.”
“It is not like we were pro-black community, and now we are going to be anti-black community. That obviously would be a real bad thing to do.”
Among Clear Channel’s six St. Louis area properties, three are targeted to African-American listeners.
Dennis Lamme, who is white, replaced Clear, one of St. Louis’ highest-ranking black executives.
Demps, who is black, said it was “a tough decision” replacing Clear, who had served the St. Louis region for almost a decade.
“I have a high degree of sensitivity to (the importance of having African-American executives) and that made the decision to make changes that much more difficult,” Demps said.
He said Clear was replaced “to get a new pair of eyes and ears on this project.”
He said Clear had done nothing wrong and that he still has high respect for the former Clear Channel regional vice president.
“I just think we need a fresh and new perspective in order to get a better performance. No one is being maligned for work they did, it is just time for new ideas,” Demps said.
“I’m sure that Lee would be hired soon “if not by this company, by another media group.”
While Clear helped made the six-station package of Clear Channel a dominant force in St. Louis radio, his name and departure from the position of regional vice president and St. Louis market manager were not mentioned in a press statement released from Clear Channel that introduced Lamme.
A native of Memphis, Clear had been operating the St. Louis market for Clear Channel and its preceding companies since 1996.
Clear Channel’s St. Louis properties are KMJM “MAJIC” 104.9, KSD “The Bull” 93.7, KSLZ 107.7, KLOU 103.3, KATZ “The Beat” 100.3 and KATZ-AM 1600.
