Westwood One Founder Norm Pattiz Dead at Age 79

Norm Pattiz

Westwood One founder Norm Pattiz died Sunday evening at age 79. He launched the radio programming and syndication network in 1976. After leaving the company in 2010, Pattiz then went on to launch Courtside Entertainment and then PodcastOne. Pattiz was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2009, and received the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation's Giants of Broadcasting in 2009.

"With Norm Pattiz' passing, we have lost a true media visionary," said Suzanne Grimes, President of Westwood One and EVP of Marketing for Cumulus Media. "He founded Westwood One, which grew to become the largest radio network in the United States and one of the top media companies in the world. His legacy lives on in all of us at Westwood One."

PodcastOne President Kit Gray commented, "Norm was a great innovator in the world of broadcast, and his contributions to the genre are immeasurable. He left an indelible impact on everyone that he met, and he will be deeply missed."

Latest Radio Stories

Cumulus Media Emerges from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Cumulus Media

Cumulus Media has completed its financial restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a privately held company, eliminating approximately $550 million in debt and significantly strengthening its balance sheet. The company announced that it received all required approvals, including More

Chris Jones Named GSM for Cox Media Group Atlanta

Chris Jones

Cox Media Group (CMG) has named Chris Jones General Sales Manager for its Atlanta radio cluster, which includes News/Talk WSBB (95.5 WSB), AC WSB-FM (B98.5), Classic Hits WSRV (97.1 The River) and Urban AC WALR-FM (Kiss 104.1). Jones joins CMG from iHeartMedia, where he served as Senior Vice President of More

Gap Broadcasting to Acquire Texarkana Stations for $300K

Gap Broadcasting

George Laughlin's Gap Broadcasting has reached an agreement to acquire six radio stations and five FM translators serving the Texarkana, TX-AR market from BTC USA Holdings Management and Frontier Media for $300,000. The properties are being sold through a court-supervised More

RAB: Distinctive Audio Builds Brand Recognition and Trust

Radio Advertising Bureau

As artificial intelligence makes advertising content easier to produce, distinctive sound and trusted human voices are becoming increasingly important tools for building brand recognition and consumer trust, according to a new Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) contribution to the Association of National More

Jahna Michal Joins Townsquare's NJ Morning Show

Jahna Michal

Townsquare Media has announced the addition of Jahna Michal to its "Hit Music Network" morning show in New Jersey, joining Chris Rollins and Joe Hyer for the newly branded "Chris, Jahna & Joe and the Morning Show." The program originates from CHR WPST-FM (94.5 PST) in Trenton and is also heard on Hot AC More

MIW to Host Free AI Webinar for Radio Content Creators

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW)

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) will host a free webinar, "AI for Content Creators," on Wednesday, October 28, at 2pm ET, focusing on how radio personalities and programmers are using artificial intelligence to enhance content development, streamline production and engage audiences across More

Return to Menu

Westwood One Founder Norm Pattiz Dead at Age 79

Latest Radio Stories

Follow us on:

Copyright © 1989-2026 RADIO ONLINE ^®

Westwood One Founder Norm Pattiz Dead at Age 79

Latest Radio Stories

Follow us on:

Copyright © 1989-2026 RADIO ONLINE ®

Copyright © 1989-2026 RADIO ONLINE ^®