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December 7, 2022 6:59 pm  #1


Radio Pioneer Behind "American Top 40" Passes

His name was Norm Pattiz and without him, you may never have heard Casey Kasem or Larry King. He founded Westwood One, one of the biggest radio syndicators in North America. 

"Westwood One grew rapidly and went public in the 1980s. The company acquired the Mutual Broadcasting System, which carried Larry King's syndicated talk radio program. Pattiz also bought the NBC Radio Network from NBC's owner at the time, General Electric.

"Pattiz scored a major coup in 1988 by luring "American Top 40" host Casey Kasem away from ABC Radio to join Westwood One as host of a new music countdown show. The company eventually gained the rights to "American Top 40" as well."


Norman Pattiz, media entrepreneur who founded radio network Westwood One, dies at 79