NYC Icon Jim Kerr Extends For Five Years
• Jim Kerr‘s remarkable half-century radio career will continue for at least another five years, as iHeartMedia Classic Rock WAXQ (Q104.3)/New York announced a five-year contract extension for the market’s already longest-running morning radio personality.
Radio Hall Of Famer Kerr has done mornings on six New York City stations, most notably 23 years at Q104.3 and 15 years before that at the late WPLJ, where he became the market’s youngest morning show host at 21 years old. Kerr’s lifelong connection to radio started while on a second-grade field trip to WWJ-AM/Detroit. At the age of 14 he was already working in radio Ypsilanti, Michigan, and has been on the air ever since, with an impressive early career resume that includes WDAI-FM and WLS-AM/Chicago, WKNR-AM/Detroit, and WORJ-FM/Orlando.
“Jim Kerr and I were young radio guys together in the 1970s, and we’ve been friends ever since,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman & CEO of iHeartMedia. “Today, Jim is legendary as the longest-running morning radio personality in New York City history. We’re pleased and proud that he is staying with us at Q104.3, extending his deep bond with his audience as an iconic voice of New York City. Jim has made an indelible impact on this city, on our industry, and in the lives of Q104.3 listeners as a trusted voice and friend to millions of New Yorkers for almost 52 years, and we’re delighted that he’ll continue to call iHeart and Q104.3 home.”
“Jim Kerr is synonymous with New York radio. His passion, his connection with listeners, and his unwavering commitment to excellence make him a true icon,” said Thea Mitchem, EVP of Programming for iHeartMedia. “We’re proud to continue this incredible partnership and excited for what the next five years will bring to Q104.3 and to New Yorkers who wake up with Jim every morning.”
Reflecting on his half-century of amazing radio success, Kerr noted, “I’m so very lucky, my entire adult life, I’ve been able to do what I dreamt about doing as a little kid listening to the radio on top of the refrigerator before school. I decided then that I wanted to be that man on the radio in the morning. So every day, I get up, I come to work, and I spend time with my friends but also, most importantly, I spend time with my friends who are in their cars, or their trucks, or an Uber, or a taxi, or at the gym, or at their workplace, or at home in the kitchen, like I was,” he said Kerr. “In 1975, in Newsday, I said, ‘People think I’m crazy, but I really believe I have half a million friends.’ I still believe that! Every morning, I feel fortunate to do something that I love, with all of my friends.”
Pictured, (l-r): Eric Wellman (Q104.3 PD); Bernie Weiss (Chief Operating Officer, Market Groups); Jim Kerr (Living Legend); Thea Mitchem (EVP of Programming); and Steve De Lusant (Market President, iHeart NYC) [Photo Credit: Liam Winn]
