The broadcast radio industry is mourning the loss of longtime Utah radio executive Steve Johnson, former President and CEO of Broadway Media, who has passed away at the age of 74.
For decades, Johnson stood as one of the defining figures in Salt Lake City broadcasting, helping shape the sound, business, and future of radio across the region. From his years helping lead Simmons Media to eventually guiding Broadway Media following its 2014 launch, Johnson became widely respected not just for his business success, but for the way he treated people.
Throughout his career, he oversaw influential stations including KUDD, KXRK, KUUU, KALL, KNAH, KOVO, and KYMV, while mentoring broadcasters, programmers, sales executives, and future leaders along the way.
Broadway Media remembered Johnson as a leader defined by integrity, humor, mentorship, and genuine compassion — a description echoed by many throughout the industry following news of his passing.
For me personally, Steve Johnson was always someone I held in very high regard.
Over the course of my career, I had the privilege of working on two special projects involving Steve, and every single interaction reflected professionalism at the highest level. Steve was careful, intentional, respectful, and incredibly detail-oriented in all of our dealings. In an industry where conversations can sometimes become rushed or transactional, Steve operated differently. He valued relationships. He respected the process. And he always carried himself with class.
That stayed with me.
People like Steve Johnson helped build radio into more than a business. They built culture. They built trust inside their companies and inside their communities. They understood that local radio mattered because local people mattered.
His influence stretched far beyond station walls and executive offices. His fingerprints remain on generations of broadcasters who learned from him, worked alongside him, or simply observed the way he carried himself professionally.
Steve Johnson leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured only in ratings books or revenue sheets. His true legacy lives in the respect he earned from people throughout this business.
On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.