On October 5, 1973, trade publication Radio and Records debuted. Nancy Hoff was there, in a chief role within the advertising department. Except for a brief absence in the 1980s, Hoff remained a vital presence at the Los Angeles-based R&R, serving as Office Manager and, eventually, Advertising Coordinator, until the publication’s demise under Nielsen ownership.
Hoff died late Wednesday (9/11) in Southern California, her husband, a local real estate agent confirmed via Facebook.
Although R&R formally disappeared a decade ago and was largely transformed under Nielsen ownership from mid-August 2006, following the layoff of nearly 80 staff members, industry veterans including Lon Helton — a Country radio stalwart who today is co-host of the Westwood One syndicated Country Countdown USA — took to Facebook to express their condolences. “She was loved,” he wrote.
Barry O’Brien, now residing in West Palm Beach, was National Sales Director and, later VP/Sales, East for R&R. He told RBR+TVBR, “She was there from the very beginning, and if she upped and quit without any notice the publication would have been f-ed with out her! She ruled the roost on advertising, with key positions up to her.”
According to AllAccess Music Group, Hoff suffered from a brief bout with cancer.
AllAccess President and Publisher and R&R alum Joel Denver said, “Nancy was one of the sweetest and smartest people. She was an invaluable part of the company assisting Publishers Bob Wilson and [now-Radio Advertising Bureau CEO] Erica Farber … to make it all happen. During my 14 years at R&R we were very close friends and her guidance and wisdom were a blessing for all that knew her.”
Funeral arrangements are pending.
RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief Adam R Jacobson worked with Nancy Hoff for 11 years as a R&R staff member. On behalf of everyone at Radio Ink and the Radio & Television Business Report, we express our deepest condolences to Bob Hoff and the entire family in Manhattan Beach, Calif.
