Remembering Bill Mayne
• We’ve lost yet another legend — Bill Mayne, longtime music and radio industry executive and former Executive Director of CRB/CRS has passed away at the age of 72 after a courageous battle with a long-term illness.
Mayne’s illustrious career spanned nearly five decades, starting as a member of a band before transitioning into radio, where he served in on-air and programming roles across multiple formats. However, it was in Country radio that Mayne truly found his calling, as he launched KASE/Austin and went on to lead KZLA & KLAC/Los Angeles and KSCS & WBAP/Dallas.
The next chapter in Mayne’s career was a 15-year run with Warner Bros. Nashville in various roles, eventually rising to SVP/GM and VP of Promotion. Mayne later presided over Mayne Entertainment, an artist management company, and Mayne Street Consulting. Mayne was also devoted member of the CRB Board, eventually becoming Board VP before assuming the role of Executive Director in 2009, a position he held for a decade. In 2019, he received the organization’s prestigious President’s Award for significant contributions he’d made to the radio industry.
Beyond his professional achievements, Mayne was deeply involved in the industry’s charitable endeavors — he served as a former board member of the Country Music Association and spent over 35 years on the Academy of Country Music Board of Directors, including roles as Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the ACM. He also co-founded the St. Jude Country Cares for Kids program that has raised over $700 million for St. Jude since its inception in 1989. He held the role of National VP for MDA and was a distinguished member of Leadership Music and the Mayor’s Nashville Music Council.
Mayne is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Sallie Mayne, sons Bryant and Christopher, his grandchild, Everleigh Mayne, and mother-in-law, Helen Wood.
Details surrounding a public service honoring Bill Mayne’s life will be shared in the coming days if and when they become available. Donations can be made in Bill Mayne’s honor to St. Jude and ACM Lifting Lives.
