Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Chicago Radio: Jeff Schwartz Joins Yahoo Sports Radio

Longtime Chicago radio executive Jeffrey Schwartz, best known as the architect of Disco Demolition, has joined Yahoo Sports Radio as executive vice president.

Jeff Schwartz
In his newly-created role, according to The Chicago Tribune, the 65-year-old  Schwartz will oversee business growth, partnerships and promotions at Houston-based Yahoo Sports Radio, a 24/7 online network that provides programming to 425 radio stations.

“Radio is too exciting to me not to take chances, and it was just an opportunity I couldn’t say no to,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz has had key roles at several Chicago radio stations during his 40-year career, including manager of sales and promotion at WLUP 97.9 FM The Loop and director of operations at WSCR 670 AM The Score.

Most recently, Schwartz was vice president of sales at Fox Sports Radio in Los Angeles, where he has been based since joining the network in 2010.  He will remain in Los Angeles for his new position with Yahoo Sports Radio.

“We are very excited to welcome Jeffrey to the team,” David Gow, CEO of Yahoo Sports Radio, said in a statement. “His revolutionary ideas, combined with his deep-seated history in both network and local radio, as well as his broad experience in management, will provide unmatched opportunities for our affiliate and advertising partners to thrive.”

On July 12, 1979, Schwartz, then general sales manager of The Loop, helped to mastermind Disco Demolition at Comiskey Park, where on-air personality Steve Dahl blew up disco records between games of a doubleheader between the White Sox and Detroit Tigers. Thousands of fans stormed the field and the second game was canceled.

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