Sam has been called the “renaissance man of radio” (Norm Winer, August 2002). Since the late sixties, when he helped draw the roadmap for progressive rock broadcasting, through today, he has continuously innovated and delivered unparalleled creative content.

As the original rock program director at WBCN in Boston, Sam helped design one of the first successful FM formats. His eye for talent enabled him to spot and hire such future radio legends as J.J. Jackson, Charles Laquidara, Norm Winer, and Tommy Hadges.

Throughout the late 70’s and 80’s, his Starfleet Productions produced and mixed live presentations by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Talking Heads, The Kinks, Muddy Waters, Bob Marley, and Roger Waters.  Delivering the earliest of these live-to-air shows to one station at a time, Sam then led the rebirth of entertainment radio networking by utilizing satellite delivery. In the summer of ‘85, he produced the worldwide radio feed of Live Aid. During his time with Westwood One, Sam handled the production of the Live From The Apollo series as well as Amnesty International’s all-day Concert for Conscious.

In 1991 Kopper designed a new format called “The Big Niche.” Triple A radio is something like it. By 2004, Sam evolved the Big Niche into “The Natural.” It’s something like a merging of  Triple A with the recently evolved “we play anything” formats. No terrestrial radio station or satellite channel has yet really gotten it. Between May of 2005 and February ‘06, Sam superimposed The Natural over a deep Classic Rock station, WCOO-FM/The Bridge in Charleston, SC. His innovations there have been met with overwhelmingly popular response and the station’s best ARBs in more than a year. His own mid-day program‘s ratings were the highest on the station.

For over three decades, Kopper has worked to shape and energize his industry. And, as radio begins a new phase, his work will continue to illuminate the landscape of broadcasting.

March 2006