Cumulus Media has confirmed that Kevin Metheny, operations manager for San Francisco’s KGO(AM) and KSFO(AM), passed away Friday, at the age of 60.
The Chicago Tribune reports that he died of a heart attack.
In reaction, John Dickey, Cumulus EVP of programming and content, released this statement:
“Kevin Metheny’s sudden passing this afternoon is a devastating personal and professional loss for his broadcasting family at Cumulus, and for the entire radio industry. Kevin was a legendary broadcasting talent who touched many lives in his remarkable 44-year career, and whose successes made an indelible mark on radio. His reputation and accomplishments are simply unparalleled and we are grateful for having had the opportunity to work with him as PD of WJR in Detroit and most recently, as operations manager of KGO and KSFO in San Francisco. His Cumulus family extends our deepest sympathies to Kevin’s loved ones. We will miss him profoundly.”
Metheny served in various on-air, programming and management roles for both TV and radio broadcast, according to his LinkedIn profile. His career included stints as program director at Chicago’s WGN(AM) and PD for WJR(AM) in Detroit. He also indicated that he has worked in the Seattle, San Diego, Philadelphia, St. Louis, New York, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Francisco, Twin Cities and Cleveland markets.
Metheny also found himself ridiculed as “Pig Virus” and “Pig Vomit” by a young Howard Stern, who had not taken kindly to Metheny’s suggested improvements at New York’s WNBC(AM). The New York Daily News notes in its obituary, “Metheny defended his directives at WNBC, saying he was just trying to improve the station, but conceded that Stern’s own style had ‘obviously proven quite successful.’”
The Hollywood Reporter has more here.
Darryl Parks offers a remembrance here.
