Tony Salvadore, the radio executive who flipped KFOG’s format in 1982 from beautiful music to adult alternative and turned it into a ratings powerhouse, has lost his job in what’s described as a cost-cutting move.

Salvadore was Cumulus Broadcasting’s vp and SF market manager in charge of KFOG, KNBR and KSAN (“The Bone”). He’s been a major figure in the Bay Area radio industry for decades.

Rich “Big Vinny” Lieberman, a blogger for SFGate.com, broke the story Thursday of Salvador’s termination. Lieberman says program director Lee Hammer has been named interim GM.

Lieberman says anybody making over $200K at Cumulus has been under intense scrutiny by CEO Lew Dickey.