Chicago radio executive Jeffrey Schwartz joins Yahoo Sports Radio

Longtime Chicago radio executive Jeffrey Schwartz, best known as the architect of Disco Demolition, has joined Yahoo Sports Radio as executive vice president.

In his newly-created role, announced Monday, Schwartz, 65, will oversee business growth, partnerships and promotions at Houston-based Yahoo Sports Radio, a 24/7 online network that provides programming to 425 radio stations.

“Radio is too exciting to me not to take chances, and it was just an opportunity I couldn’t say no to,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz has had key roles at several Chicago radio stations during his 40-year career, including manager of sales and promotion at WLUP-FM 97.9 (The Loop) and director of operations at WSCR-AM 670 (The Score).

Most recently, Schwartz was vice president of sales at Fox Sports Radio in Los Angeles, where he has been based since joining the network in 2010.  He will remain in Los Angeles for his new position with Yahoo Sports Radio.

“We are very excited to welcome Jeffrey to the team,” David Gow, CEO of Yahoo Sports Radio, said in a statement. “His revolutionary ideas, combined with his deep-seated history in both network and local radio, as well as his broad experience in management, will provide unmatched opportunities for our affiliate and advertising partners to thrive.”

On July 12, 1979, Schwartz, then general sales manager of The Loop, helped to mastermind Disco Demolition at Comiskey Park, where on-air personality Steve Dahl blew up disco records between games of a doubleheader between the White Sox and Detroit Tigers. Thousands of fans stormed the field and the second game was canceled.

Now 35 years later, Schwartz sees Disco Demolition as a promotional highlight of his career, and one that could never be duplicated in the modern world of corporate radio.

“It wouldn’t happen today,” Schwartz said. “There’s too many lawyers.”