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

Judge Blocks Trump Order to Defund NPR, PBS

US courthouse and news coverage

A federal judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump's executive order to cut off federal funding to public broadcasters NPR and PBS violates the First Amendment, declaring the action unconstitutional and unenforceable. U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, More

Connoisseur Media to Acquire Lincoln Radio Cluster

Connoisseur Media

Connoisseur Media has entered into an agreement to acquire a group of stations in Lincoln, NE from NRG Media, expanding its presence in the Midwest. The deal includes KBBK-FM (B107.3), KLIN-AM and translator K257GN (News Talk 1400/99.3), KLNC-FM (105.3 The Bone), K233AN (Red 94.5), all licensed to More

iHeartMedia Names Jamie Cutburth EVP of Marketing

Jamie Cutburth

iHeartMedia has appointed media veteran Jamie Cutburth as Executive Vice President of Marketing. In the newly created role, Cutburth will oversee the development and execution of iHeartMedia's marketing strategy, including positioning, go-to-market planning, sales enablement, cross-platform packaging and More

iHeart Leads Triton February Podcast Ranker

Triton Digital

Triton Digital has released its February 2026 U.S. Podcast Ranker, covering the reporting period from February 2 through March 1, based on its Podcast Metrics measurement service. In the Top Sales Network Report, the iHeart Audience Network remained in the top position with 70.8 More

Michael Shawn Returns to WRNB Philadelphia

Michael Shawn

Urban One has announced that comedian and radio personality Michael Shawn will return to Radio One Philadelphia's WRNB 100.3, beginning Saturday, April 4. He'll host a new weekend program airing Saturdays from 3-6pm and Sundays from 4-7pm, marking his return to the Philadelphia airwaves where he first built More

Devan Kaney Exits WIP Amid Audacy Layoffs

Devan Kaney

Devan Kaney has exited SportsRadio 94.1 WIP in Philadelphia following a new round of layoffs by parent company Audacy, according to multiple media reports. Kaney joined WIP in 2022 and was a regular contributor to the station's morning show alongside Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie. She later expanded her role, 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 ^®