R.I.P.: Steve Smith, Radio Programming Innovator

Steve Smith

The family of  longtime programmer and consultant Steve Smith has announced news of his death Thursday.

Smith had a career in broadcasting spanning decades, in that time earning multiple awards and building up radio stations as a programming director, reports The Focus.

The statement reads:

“The industry is mourning the devastating loss of veteran programmer and broadcast executive Steve Smith. Steve unexpectedly passed away peacefully at home, in his sleep, on July 7th, 2022. Steve’s highly successful career spanned 40 years and has broken countless records, won countless awards and has irrevocably changed the landscape of American radio for the better.”

After graduating with his JD from Pepperdine School of Law in 1986, Steve Smith ventured down a different path, pursuing a career in radio. A year after his graduation, he burst onto the radio scene, launching rhythmic KQHT (Hot 97.7)/San Jose and taking it to No. 1 in just three months. This would be the start of a lengthy and successful career in radio.

After two years with KQHT, Smith became the Vice President of Programming at KKFR-FM in Phoenix, Arizona. He was with the network from 1990 to 1993, before moving to New York to work with Emmis Communications. It was here that Steve Smith worked with Hot 97 New York.

Smith was the VP of Programming at Emmis and his work in the ’90s involved creating the hip-hop format on Hot 97 NY, turning Hiss-WRKS NY into a smooth R&B and classic soul station, as well as overseeing the bicoastal radio station Ran Power 106 LA and NYC. He built both stations to be No.1 in both cities.

Smith bounced between Clear Channel and CBS before founding his own company, Steve Smith Talent & Consulting in 1998. He later moved to Cox Media Group as a VP of Programming in 2011, not returning to his own company until January 2022.

Back in April 2022, Steve Smith and Tim Richards united to launch the radio consulting group, the Smith Richards Collective. They launched this group alongside Heidi McIvor-Allen. The Smith Richards Collective focused on podcast and radio talent coaching services, brand growth and strategy, music strategy and scheduling, production, and talent services.