STEVE SMITH

Steve Smith was a radio programming executive and consultant whose four-decade career reshaped popular music formats in major U.S. markets on radio.  He began programming full-time in the late 1980’s at Hot 97.7 in San José, CA. He quickly rose to prominence by launching rhythmic and hip‑hop music formats that became cultural touchstones   From 1990–1993, he took KKFR (Power 92) in Phoenix to No. 1 before joining to Emmis Communications, where he oversaw flagship stations like WQHT-FM (Hot 97) in New York and KPWR -FM (Power 106) in Los Angeles, establishing both as top urban music brands. 

Smith later held executive programming roles at AM/FM, Inc., Clear Channel/iHeartMedia, CBS Radio, and from 2011 to 2021 served as Vice President of Programming for Cox Media Group nationwide.  

Little known was the fact that Steve Smith attended Pepperdine University and left as a Law School graduate.   A two‑time Billboard Magazine “Consultant of the Year,” he was known for “bootcamps” that sharpened talent and ratings strategy alike. 

At the time of his passing, he operated the Smith Richards Collective alongside Tim Richards and Heidi McIvor‑Allen, a white‑glove consulting firm offering programming, brand strategy, and audience targeting services across multiple formats founded in 2022.   He was 62 at the time of his passing.

In 2025, Steve Smith received a Legends Induction into the Radio Hall of Fame.