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Radio legend Matthias Holtmann dies: a loss for Baden-Württemberg
Matthias Holtmann, radio legend from Esslingen, died on November 9, 2025. SWR mourns his unique influence.
Radio legend Matthias Holtmann dies: a loss for Baden-Württemberg
On November 9, 2025, the media world said goodbye to a true legend: Matthias Holtmann, long-time presenter at SWR, died in Esslingen at the age of 75. The SWR director Kai Gniffke described him as a “real radio legend” who shaped the sound of Südwestrundfunk for decades. Holtmann, a prominent face of SWR, was born in Kamen and grew up in Recklinghausen, where his love for music and radio began in his youth. After studying music, he started his career as a music editor at what was then called Süddeutscher Rundfunk in 1979.
From then on, things went uphill: first as head of music at SDR3, then also in his role at SWR3, he played a key role in shaping the station's music waves. His best-known formats include “So what?!”, “Extraspät” and “SWR3 – Ring frei”. His time as stadium announcer at VfB Stuttgart in the 1999/2000 season was also particularly well received, a task that he clearly enjoyed.
A life for music
With his unmistakable voice and his flair for program innovations, Holtmann managed to always be in direct contact with his audience. His love of music was not only a professional but also a personal passion: in the 1970s he was the drummer in the progressive rock band Triumvirat. The move to SWR1 Baden-Württemberg in 2005 gave him new opportunities to present shows such as “Guten Abend, Baden-Württemberg” and “Headphones”.
However, life took its toll. In 2009, Holtmann received the diagnosis of Parkinson's, which meant a significant turning point. Nevertheless, he didn't let it get him down and continued to moderate with passion until 2015 - at the age of 65. His last public appearance took place in May 2022 on Stuttgart's Schlossplatz.
Mourning and sympathy
The news of his death spread quickly and caused sadness in the media. Companions and colleagues, including SWR1 presenter Stefanie Anhalt and the band Pur, expressed their condolences. “We will not forget him,” said SWR director Gniffke, expressing the hearts of many fans and colleagues who witnessed Holtmann’s work over the decades.
The SWR and the fans mourn the loss of a person who was not only known as a presenter, but also as an innovator and friend of music. Matthias Holtmann leaves a big gap - a voice that was an integral part of radio for many generations. He will be remembered as a defining personality of Südwestrundfunk and as one of the last “Wild South”.