KCRW General Manager, Ruth Seymour, to Retire

Photo by Marc Goldstien

Photo by Marc Goldstien
She's that familiar voice--love it or hate it--that appears every six month at KCRW pledge drives asking you to subscribe. First a consultant, but quickly hired as KCRW's General Manager, Ruth Seymour has seen KCRW grow tremendously over the past 32 years. Yet all good things comes to an end. Last night she announced that she's moving on, with plans to retire in February. "I am leaving a station that is strong in its identity, a station like no other in the country," she said. "It's been an extraordinary privilege to serve as KCRW’s General Manager--a joy and source of great pride. That's a pretty good note on which to say goodbye."

When Seymour was hired in 1977, the station was located in a middle school playground, apparently using the oldest transmitter west of the Mississippi. Today, with its 13 transmitters, the Santa Monica-college based station can be found throughout Southern California and all over the internet.

Although ratings reports suggest that KCRW has a small share of listenership, KCRW enjoys one of the strongest public radio brands and loyal audiences in the nation. Seyour, no doubt, contributed to that as she also served as Program Director, overseeing such shows as Morning Becomes Eclectic, Which Way, L.A.? and others. "We have forged a strong bond with our listeners, one of trust and affection. They have come through for us time and time again," she said.

As Seymour prepares to leave, Santa Monica College, which is KCRW's licensee, will begin the search for her successor. Who wants the job?