Award-winning Music Director Wayne Webster is set to retire from Stingray’s boom 97.3 (CHBM-FM) at the end of the summer after nearly five decades in Toronto radio.
Webster started his 48-year career in 1977 as an intern at Q107 (CILQ-FM) after graduating from Humber College. His internship as a Music Coordinator eventually turned into a full-time job as Music Director at CHUM-FM from 1979-87.
From there, Webster joined CKFM as music director and Assistant Program Director, which evolved into Mix 99.9 where he spent a total of 21 years. He additionally programmed the music on SiriusXM Canadian rock channel, Iceberg Radio.
Webster landed at boom predecessor EZ Rock 97.3 in 2007, staying with the station for just two years, before rejoining the Virgin Radio-rebranded CKFM. He’s been boom 97.3’s Music Director since 2009.
“You would be hard-pressed to find a more Zen individual than Wayne Webster,” wrote boom Program Director Troy McCallum, in Webster’s retirement announcement. “He’s a hard worker with a great eye for detail and music knowledge that would make Beethoven blush. He’s a dedicated family man, as his wife Tracey and kids Zach and Dakota can attest to. Broadcaster, musical mastermind, husband, father, grandfather, Blue Jays fan, concert addict, t-shirt collector, and all-around great guy, Wayne Webster is irreplaceable.”
Webster was recognized with the Allan Waters Hall of Fame Award in 2023 at Radiodays North America. At the induction ceremony, he brought along his first transistor radio, which ignited his enduring excitement for new music at age 10.
He was also named Music Director of the Year (Large Market) in Broadcast Dialogue’s Canadian Radio Awards in 2020.
