The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the new contract is for five years keeping Barnard at KQRS through the end of 2019. Barnard will also have additional, unannounced duties at Cumulus in Minneapolis.
Original Report 12/3: Longtime 92.5 KQRS Minneapolis morning host Tom Barnard has signed a long-term contract extension with the Cumulus Classic Rock station.
Barnard, who has been with KQRS since 1986, doesn’t state how long the contract will run for, but insinuates it will allow KQRS to be the only station he ever hosted mornings for. “I will be eternally grateful to the listeners of KQRS for supporting the KQ Morning Show for the past 29 years. It is a local kid’s dream come true. I am very excited to know ALL of my years as a morning show host will be spent at KQRS. I am honored to work with the fine people at Cumulus who believe in me, support me and trust me with the morning show at the greatest radio station in the world.”
Cumulus announces that it has re-signed long-running KQRS Minneapolis morning show personality Tom Barnard to a multi-year contract. Barnard, a Minneapolis native, is one of the most popular morning show hosts in America and has been a morning radio fixture on KQ92 since 1986. The KQ92 Morning Show airs weekdays from 5:40 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Barnard was recognized for broadcasting excellence in 2006 with a Marconi Award for Large Market Personality of the Year. He is known for his trademark humor and candor on a broad range of topics. Barnard began his radio career in 1971, and has also had a successful voiceover career.
John Dickey, Executive Vice President of Content and Programming for Cumulus said: “Tom Barnard is a legend in Twin Cities radio—and a national treasure we are proud to call our own. We are very pleased to recognize Tom’s talent and ongoing contribution to KQ92 with a long-term contract with the industry’s very best talent.”