Bob Moore, a respected executive who spent several decades shaping southern California radio, died Nov. 10 in Los Angeles. He was 81.
“In a business that has undergone enormous changes in ownership, technology, distribution and audience behavior, Bob Moore represented a generation of radio executives who understood that success ultimately came down to people and ideas,” his obituary read.
He was regularly ranked among the top 10 of radio executives in annual surveys conducted by LARadio.com.
Moore was a native of Oshkosh, Wis., who made his way to the West Coast and joined Greater Media. There, he initially oversaw KHTZ(FM), KLSX(FM) and KRLA(AM), according to his obituary.
In 1986, he helped form KLSX’s classic rock identity, repositioning the station in a competitive Los Angeles market.
His career took a turn in 1991 when he joined Westwood One as executive vice president of its stations group. In that role, he oversaw KQLZ(FM), known as “Pirate Radio,” which made its mark on the market’s rock music landscape.
Moore returned to KLSX and KRLA in late 1994. Arguably his career-defining achievement came in August 1995, when he led the format flip of KLSX from classic rock to FM talk.
At that time, FM talk was unconventional and KLSX’s new lineup was adventurous. Moore was instrumental in Howard Stern’s entry into the Los Angeles market, assembling an initial lineup that included Stern, Kato Kaelin, Susan Olsen, Ken Ober and The Regular Guys, among others.
The move, by all accounts, was a success. KLSX billed $47 million in Los Angeles in 2000, according to an interview Moore gave R&R, placing it among the top 10 billing stations nationally.
Moore considered the opportunity to work with such personalities and industry figures one of the great blessings of his career.
He continued his broadcasting career with senior management responsibilities within the CBS Radio organization, including a return to the Los Angeles market’s larger management structure.
Most recently, Moore served as president of Sports USA Media from 2013–2022, a syndicator of NFL/NCAA football play-by-play audio, according to his LinkedIn page.
He is survived by his wife Helen, daughter Daron, son-in-law Dan, grandchildren Bode and Jovi and his dog Lupin.
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