Tom Barnard

Thomas 'Tom' Mark Paul Barnard (born November 7, 1951) is an American radio host and former voice-over talent. He was released by Cumulus from the host of The KQ92 Morning Show on 92.5 KQRS in Minneapolis at the end of 2022 after hosting mornings for 37 years.[1] He currently hosts The Tom Barnard Podcast, which is produced by Hubbard Broadcasting.[2]

Personal

Barnard was born in Long Prairie, Minnesota and raised in North Minneapolis. He and his wife Kathryn Brandt live in Edina, Minnesota.

Career

Before coming to KQRS, Barnard worked at numerous stations including WDGY and KSTP (as "The Catman"). Until 1986, he was the booth announcer for KSTP-TV.[3]

Barnard, and then-partner Dan Culhane, started the "Tom and Dan" show in 1986 featuring sports reports from WCCO-TV sports anchor Mark Rosen. At one point, the team of Barnard and Culhane spearheaded a write-in campaign to elect Rosen For Governor of Minnesota.[4] Culhane was eventually pushed out of the broadcast in a personnel move, while Rosen was "persuaded" by WCCO TV's parent company to move his morning sports to WCCO-AM.

Barnard gave an in-depth interview to the St. Paul Pioneer Press in which he discussed his strained relationship with his deceased father and compared his radio persona to that of his actual personality. Earlier in his career, Barnard and Culhane were guests with two other Twin Cities radio show duos on a local morning television show in 1988.

Although he is semi-retired from voice-over work, Barnard can currently be heard in radio ads for Home Depot. For many years Barnard's voice was heard in various markets, introducing shows and appearing on commercials.

On September 29, 2009's Morning Show wrap-up, Barnard casually mentioned that he's planning to retire from live radio on December 21, 2012. Tom specifically said Terri would take over the Morning show, moments later the discussion moved to a "play off" for host during the year 2012. Tom explained that the 21st is a Friday and it's just before Christmas.

On March 29, 2013, Barnard announced on the air that he would be entering treatment for issues in regard to anger, not substance abuse as previously reported.[5]

In February 2020, Barnard and Cumulus Media announced Barnard had signed an 8 year extension to remain at KQRS until 2028, when he will be 76 years old.[6] In a 2021 interview with KSTP-TV he has announced his retirement. His final show was December 23, 2022. The KQ Morning Show continues with Steve Gorman of The Black Crowes replacing Bernard.

Several weeks after retiring from KQRS-FM, Barnard began a weekday three-hour podcast, produced by Hubbard Broadcasting. The third hour of the podcast was also heard on 105 The Ticket from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. As of February 2014, the podcast was no longer broadcast on 105 The Ticket.[7]

Controversy

Barnard has long prided himself on what he refers to as his "insensitive" humor,[8] notably in 1998 when, while working for KQRS, he made racist statements on-air following an influx in Hmong refugee immigration to the Twin Cities and subsequently declared Hmong immigrants should "assimilate or hit the goddamn road."[9] After receiving criticism for his statements, Barnard responded on-air on October 20, 1998: “I will attack who I want to attack.”[10]

Following Barnard's remarks, Hmong activists formed Community Action Against Racism (CAAR), a "multiracial coalition of whites, Latinos, and Asian and African Americans",[11] which organized and drew attention to the issue. CAAR demanded an apology and "successfully organized an economic boycott of the station."[12][13] While KQRS issued an apology, many in the Twin Cities still called for Barnard's termination as Barnard had continued to make offensive and derogatory statements about "Somalis, African Americans, Mexican Americans and Native Americans" on air.[14]

Awards

Barnard won the 2006 Marconi award for Large Market Personality of the Year.[15]

Barnard was inducted into the radio Hall of Fame in 2017, and the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2018.

The Marconi awards recognize excellence in radio broadcasting.

References
  1. InsideRadio.com "Tom Barnard to Retire" July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2023
  2. InsideRadio.com "Not Done Yet After 37 Years, Tom Barnard to Launch Morning Podcast" Jan. 11, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023
  3. "The 2010 Minnesota Profile: Getting serious with radio kingpin Tom Barnard". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  4. "Looking Back: Mark Rosen Runs For Governor, Changes MN Politics". 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  5. KQ's Tom Barnard says he'll get treatment but remain on air
  6. Uren, Adam (6 February 2020). "KQRS signs Morning Show host Tom Barnard to new long-term contract". Bring Me The News. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  7. "The Family".
  8. Karnowski, Steve. "Popular Radio Host Draws Fire". APNews.com. Associated Press News.
  9. Brauer, David (4 October 2012). "Mike Gelfand's 'KQ Morning Show' confessions". MinnPost.com. MinnPost.
  10. Evans, Melanie. "'Free speech' wins in KQRS case". The Minnesota Daily.com. The Minnesota Daily.
  11. Lee, Erika (16 August 2016). The Making of Asian America: A History. New York, NY.: Simon & Schuster. p. 351. ISBN 9781476739410.
  12. Lee, Erika (16 August 2016). The Making of Asian America: A History. New York, NY.: Simon & Schuster. p. 351. ISBN 9781476739410.
  13. Uren, Adam (6 February 2020). "KQRS signs Morning Show host Tom Barnard to new long-term contract". Bring Me the News.com. Bring Me the News.
  14. Evans-Nash, Vickie (13 December 2007). "KQRS bigotry unites communities of color". Twin Cities Daily Planet.com. Twin Cities Daily Planet.
  15. "Large Market Personality of the Year". Archived from the original on November 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  • KQRS Morning Show (official site)
  • Radiotapes.com Aircheck samples of Tom Barnard's radio career including WDGY-AM as "Catman," KQRS "Cat and Kincaid" and additional current airchecks from the KQRS Morning Show.
  • Star Tribune Profile of Tom Barnard from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 10, 2010.
  • Tom Barnard Podcast (official site)
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