A career in Hines' sight: Radio legend retires

After more than four decades on the air, a mainstay of Minnesota radio is retiring. For the last nine years, John Hines has worked at news-talk station WCCO. Since 1973, he's been on Twin Cities stations broadcasting everything from Top 40 to country, and has survived many format and ownership changes. The end of the Minnesota State Fair on Monday will mark the end of daily radio for Hines.

MPR News All Things Considered host Tom Crann asked Hines why he's choosing to retire at a time when there's so much in the news to talk about on the air.

"It's time," Hines said. "I'm in good health. How nice to go when you're healthy, and to be able to enjoy that time. That's what I'm looking forward to.

Hines was known for some legendary stunts in his early days as a DJ, including broadcasting from billboards and spending two days buried in a coffin in a gambit to raise money for food shelves.

"There was a phone right next to my head, and I could call in and be on the air throughout the 48 hours. Sometimes now it gives me the creeps thinking about it, but I can fly coach now so much more comfortably."

There have been seismic shifts in the broadcasting business over the last 45 years, including ownership consolidation and competition from satellite radio and podcasting. But old-fashioned AM-FM radio endures for a simple reason, Hines said.

"Familiarity and that instant connection. If you're in your car and the sky turns green, rather than listening to Sirius/XM, you're going to switch to the Good Neighbor to get the details and get the calls coming in from all over the state to hear what's happening in other places."