Boston Radio: Matt Siegel Announces His Retirement

Iconic Boston Morning Host Matty Siegel

Matt Siegel, host of the longtime “Matty in the Morning” show on WXKS Kiss 108 FM, told listeners Tuesday morning that he’s retiring, reports The Boston Globe.

“As of now, I’m retired,” Siegel said, “and starting my new life as a mediocre golfer.”

Siegel, 72, has helmed the “Matty” show since it first went on the air in 1981, and he was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2012. His many accolades have included two Marconi awards for “Personality of the Year — Major Market.”

While commuting to work or dropping kids off at school, listeners for decades tuned in faithfully not for the Top 40 format, but to hear Siegel’s comforting chatter — a mix of sly humor, snark, and occasional sweetness. “Matty in the Morning” routinely ranked No. 1 among women in the coveted 18-to-49 demographic.

But more recently Siegel’s been dogged by controversy, due to his unforced errors on the mic.

In May 2021, he abruptly stormed off the air after being told to stop discussing pop star Demi Lovato’s announcement that they are non-binary; Siegel earlier told listeners, “It’s a joke, the whole binary thing.” The operatic mic drop — punctuated by Siegel declaring “Matty out” — stunned listeners and sponsors, but didn’t spell the end for the show. Siegel returned to the big chair the next day, telling listeners, “I’m here. Good morning.”

There was continued scrutiny the following month, however, when Rebekah “Bex” Maroun bailed from the show.

Maroun, a show co-host and executive producer, announced in June 2021 that she was leaving to move home to her native Philadelphia. During the earlier Lovato controversy, she’d been subjected to an abusive on air-rant by Seigel, who told her that “you work for me” after higher-ups advised her not to post show content referencing Lovato online.

Siegel apologized for his behavior on the May 21, 2021, episode of his show, but Maroun wasn’t on air to accept the apology.

Siegels been off the air since April 20, and one day earlier he told listeners he visited the doctor the previous day to get his prostate checked.