In February 2021, a former SVP overseeing Emmis Communications’ radio stations in St. Louis was appointed Market President for the iHeartMedia cluster in the Gateway City, later adding Area President duties for Indianapolis.
Now, he’s embarked on what the company calls “the next chapter of his career.”
A leadership transition is underway, as John Beck took time on Tuesday to “sincerely thank” his colleagues and iHeartMedia corporate leadership “for giving me a chance to make a difference in St. Louis and Indianapolis.”
He commented, “It has been an amazing four years full of accomplishments. I will truly miss working with my iHeart family. I will now have more time to devote to my own family, consulting business, legislative advocacy and the various charities civic organizations that mean so much to me.”
John Karpinski, Division President for iHeartMedia, remarked, “We are deeply grateful for John’s remarkable contributions to iHeartMedia. His leadership has boosted ratings, enhanced our culture and improved revenue in both St. Louis and Indianapolis. He has also been a fierce advocate for the entire radio industry, championing our cause in state capitols and Washington, D.C. We appreciate all he has done for us and his communities.”
In January 2018, Emmis revealed that it was exiting St. Louis, one of its most profitable markets, for $60 million. Among the stations under Beck’s purview: Legendary Rocker KSHE-FM. By the end of 2018, Beck had transitioned to radio station co-owner. As RBR+TVBR reported, Beck had teamed with Joe Schwartz and Dana Withers in the purchase of a group of stations serving Northern Arizona under the name Stone Canyon Radio and Marketing.
Yet, Beck remains best-known for his nearly 35 years at Emmis, which saw him not only lead KSHE-FM but also KIHT-FM (now KNOU-FM), KPNT-FM & KFTK-FM. He also had oversight of WRDA-FM 104.1 under Emmis ownership. Beck joined Emmis in March 1984 to oversee KSHE after some two years at Golden West Broadcasters’ KKCI-AM & FM in Kansas City. He began his career at WFFM in Pittsburgh.
Beck will continue operating his media consulting service, John Beck Media Strategies. He will also remain a trustee of the National Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (NABPAC).
Beck served as the President of the Missouri Broadcasters Association (MBA) from 1999-2000 and currently chairs its Legislative Affairs Committee. He has also served on the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Board and sat on the NAB Executive Committee as the Radio Board First Vice-Chair from 2012 through 2014.
He’s also been honored with an array of awards, including being named one of America’s Top 10 Radio Managers by Radio Ink Magazine.
He was named The Radio Wayne Market Manager of the Year by the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), inducted into the St. Louis Radio Hall of Fame in 2017 and received the 2017 Chairman’s award by the NABPAC and Lifetime Achievement Award by Heat-Up & Cool-Down St. Louis.
In addition, Beck is deeply involved in his community, and has served on the board and supported the St. Louis Regional Chamber of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
