Infinity Co-Founder Michael Wiener Dies

Condolences to family and friends of INFINITY BROADCASTING co-founder MICHAEL WIENER, who died SUNDAY (8/2) at 71, according to the NEW YORK TIMES. WIENER, a former radio account executive at METROMEDIA, and GERALD CARRUS bought KOME/SAN JOSE in 1972, added WBCN/BOSTON in 1979, and built the company into an industry giant with MEL KARMAZIN added as President in 1981. INFINITY was sold to WESTINGHOUSE in 1996 and merged into CBS RADIO.

"He was a very innovative guy who took a big risk in life," HOWARD STERN told the TIMES about WIENER. "They started in medium markets and worked their way into larger markets. People may say that is no big deal, but you can’t believe the number of radio stations that go under.... And they were smart enough to hire MEL and give him the freedom to do his thing. There were not a lot of people who would take a risk on me."

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