A Longtime Chicago Radio Exec Dies At 77

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Kelly Seaton, who served as GM of the former WFYR-FM 103.5 in Chicago and led the sales departments at storied AMs WLS-AM 890 and WGN-AM 720 in the Windy City, has died.


Seaton passed away April 5, 2017, after a series of illnesses.

Her death was just reported by local media.

A native of Burlington, Iowa, Seaton arrived in Chicago in 1968 to pursue a career in advertising.

Along the way in Chicago, she broke though the female management barrier at some of the largest companies in the industry before it was commonplace.

Seaton began as a Buyer at McCann Erickson and left there as an Associate Media Director. She was Media Planner/Buyer and associate Media Director at Lee King Advertising, where she met her late husband, Jack Seaton.

Prior to being named NSM and subsequently GSM at WGN Radio, Seaton honed her craft at Ogilvy & Mather and ABC Radio Network Chicago.

Under Seaton’s leadership, WGN Radio catapulted into the largest revenue-producing radio station in the country.

She was at the forefront of the WGN Radio broadcast partnerships with DePaul, Notre Dame, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears.

In 1989, Seaton became GM of Tribune Co.’s WFYR and of WICC-AM in Bridgeport, Conn.

Seaton’s later career was focused on securing the best and most efficient media plan for General Motors/Chevrolet as a Broadcast Supervisor at LCI, Starcom/GM Planworks and finally, as VP/Media Director at Select Marketing Group, where she worked until her recent retirement.

Seaton was preceded in death by her husband in 1995.

A celebration of Seaton’s life will be held in June.