Weekday Mornings: 6am–10am on WXRV/92.5 the River | Boston, MA
Randi Kirshbaum is a radio original.
Long before women were a common presence behind the microphone at rock radio, Randi Kirshbaum walked into Minneapolis’ KQRS at the age of 16 and essentially told them they needed a woman on the air. They agreed. In 1970, she became the first full-time female rock DJ in the Twin Cities. It was the beginning of a remarkable career that would take her from Minneapolis to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and ultimately to Boston, where she landed her dream job at legendary rock station WBCN.
At WBCN, Randi became part of the extraordinary Boston radio scene of the 1970s and 80’s, spending five years at the iconic station and forming relationships with many of the musicians who helped define the city’s rock culture. She fondly recalls hanging out with J. Geils Band frontman Peter Wolf during those years — and still considers J. Geils one of her favorite Boston bands.
In 1982, Randi moved to Maine, where she would spend the next several decades building an equally impressive career. She became a longtime force at Saga Communications’ Portland stations, working on the air while also serving in programming and management roles. Her career there ultimately spanned 38 years, making her not only one of Maine radio’s most recognizable voices, but also an influential mentor to generations of broadcasters.
Randi’s accomplishments have been recognized throughout the broadcasting industry. She was inducted into the Maine Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2006, was named one of Radio Ink’s Top 10 Program Directors in the country, and received a Marconi Award for Adult Contemporary Station of the Year in 2011.
Today, Randi is back in Boston, bringing decades of experience, an encyclopedic knowledge of music and an unmistakably authentic personality to the morning airwaves of WXRV/92.5 the River. She hosts The River Morning Show Monday through Friday from 6–10 a.m., connecting with listeners through music, stories, humor and the kind of conversational intimacy that can only come from someone who has spent a lifetime behind a microphone.
But for all the career milestones, awards and legendary radio stations on her résumé, Randi’s philosophy about broadcasting remains remarkably simple. She says she’s never really had a “real” job — she started in radio at 16 and has essentially spent her life sitting in a studio playing music for her friends. That may be Randi’s greatest gift: after more than five decades in radio, she still sounds like someone who is having way too much fun doing exactly what she always wanted to do. And that’s why Randi Kirshbaum isn’t just a veteran broadcaster. She’s a piece of American rock radio history — and she’s still on the air.
SAMPLES OF LIVE READS AND ADVERTISER ENDORSEMENTS
Commercial Voiceover Sample
Lake Champlain Chocolates Live Read Endorsement
City Market Live Read Endorsement
Cape Integrative Health Live Read Endorsement
