Barnard Hanging Up His Headphones

• Twin Cities’ radio icon and Radio Hall of Famer Tom Barnard announced that he will retire from his longtime radio home, Cumulus Classic Rock 92 KQRS/Minneapolis, effective with his final broadcast on Friday, December 23, 2022.

Barnard, a Minneapolis native, began his radio career in 1971 and has been a fixture on KQRS since 1986. In 2017, he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and in 2018 entered the Pavek Museum, which honors Minnesota Broadcasters.

Brian Philips, Chief Content Officer, Cumulus Media, said, “Hometown hero Tom Barnard has defined morning radio stardom for the better part of many Minnesotans’ lifetimes. He’s the mastermind behind tens of thousands of hours of laughter, irreverence and thought-provoking conversation. We thank Tom for the glory he has brought KQRS during his remarkable run.”

Shelly Malecha Wilkes, VP/Market Manager, Cumulus Minneapolis, commented, “This is the end of an era. Tom dominated morning radio in the Twin Cities for decades. We are very appreciative of his innumerable contributions and wish him all the best in his next chapter.”