Industry Mourns Passing Of Bill Tanner
• UPDATED: Legendary programmer, air talent and consultant Bill Tanner, EVP of Programming for SummitMedia, LLC, died at his home in Birmingham, AL on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the age of 75. We understand that he had been dealing with some health issues for the past few years.
As a judge of talent, Tanner is credited by dozens of longtime air personalities and broadcasting executives as being instrumental in launching their careers. “I had the honor of working alongside Bill since the early ’90s from our days together at Heftel Broadcasting,” said SummitMedia CEO Carl Parmer. “His knowledge of the industry and loyalty as a friend continued as we worked to build SummitMedia together. All those who knew Bill came to respect his skills and watch in awe of how he connected with listeners. We will all truly miss him.”
Tanner got his start at WJDX/Jackson, MS, and his career really took off in 1974 when he was named PD and host of Tanner in the Morning at WHYI (Y-100)/Miami, and was later promoted to VP of Programming for Heftel Broadcasting, headed at the time by Pres./Co-CEO Carl Parmer. In 1983, Mr. Tanner went to Washington as PD/mornings for Metromedia’s WASH-FM. Two years later he returned to Miami to launch one of the industry’s first Urban Contemporary stations, WHQT (Hot 105). The following year he crossed the street as the inaugural PD and morning personality for WPOW (Power 96).
Tanner entered the world of Spanish-language radio in 1992, leading the team that launched WXDJ/Miami, working with a young Pio Ferro, who rose from overnights to PD. Based on that success, in 1994 Tanner was hired by Heftel Broadcasting Corporation as VP of Programming, and in 1995, under his direction, the company’s KLVE/Los Angeles rose to the top of the ratings. In 1997, Tanner helped develop the format for KSCA/Los Angeles, which also rose to No. 1. That same year Tanner reunited with Parmer at H&P Radio, LLC to launch two Urban stations in Birmingham, AL. In 2013, Parmer and Tanner joined forces in SummitMedia LLC, formed to purchase a number of radio stations being divested by Cox Radio and later, added a 20-station acquisition from Scripps. Today, the company has grown to include all formats in 10 markets.
SummitMedia’s Randy Chase said, “We will miss Bill’s incessant enthusiasm, his love for our business, and his desire to always put the consumer first. But we will carry on with the fierceness he demonstrated and his passion for building an emotional connection with the listener.” Tanner is survived by his son Scott and two grandchildren, Tessa and Ryan.
• I received this note from my friend and former Gavin colleague Quincy McCoy, who worked with Tanner at Y-100 from 1974-77 — “Bill Tanner’s dream was to be a symphony conductor. He did become a conductor — but a different type,” he said. “As a program director and consultant, Tanner guided many radio stations to ratings success and powerful creative achievement. One station in particular will always be the hallmark of his career: Y-100, ‘The Amazing FM.’
Y-100 became one of the first FM stations in the country to dethrone a dominant, heritage AM Top 40. Y-100 quickly became a household name in South Florida, thanks in large part to a format that Bill Tanner called ‘predictable unpredictability.’ The predictable: The person tuning in got hit music along with a sense that something was always going on at Y-100. The unpredictable: Outrages from the jocks, craziness, full-blown personality radio. Y-Guys were a close-knit group that connected to each other and to our audience on an emotional level. We were paid to entertain, we worked hard, and Y-100 became an institution in South Florida.”
McCoy added, “I leave you with this brilliant quote from Tanner, who us Y-Guys will always remember fondly as our conductor, teacher, and mentor — ‘How does research marry art? It is here where a good programmer’s sense of the art of radio can produce the winning edge. Your magic, your concept, your dazzle can combine with what you’ve learned and interpreted from what your market says about your station. The challenge today, like it was at Y-100 years ago, is to win. It is what you do with research that will make your station great.'” McCoy shared this vintage Y-100 photo of Tanner (back row, center) with the Bay City Rollers and friends. That’s McCoy’s photo on the wall, above, left.
