XPost: alt.radio.broadcasting

RadioInsight

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KRTY Sets FM Sign-Off Date & Post Sale Plans

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 02:30 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/227518/krty-sets-fm-sign-off-date-post-sale-plans/



Empire Broadcasting Country 95.3 KRTY Los Gatos/San Jose has announced the
date it will sign-off from FM and the plans for its brand following its
sale to Educational Media Foundation.

KRTYs final day broadcasting on 95.3 will be Friday, June 17 ahead of EMF taking over. The station, however, will continue to operate in nearly its current form online at KRTY.com. The stations airstaff will remain in place with the move online. Morning host Gary Scott Thomas posted a video stating that they are planning on having multiple guests the first week online including Elle King.

KRTY currently leads the San Jose market with a 9.3 share in the April 2022 Nielsen Audio Ratings. Alpha Media launched Bay Country 94.5 KBAY to fill
the hole created by the upcoming flip at 95.3 on April 5.


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Audacy Rhythmic CHR Regional PD Mike Buhrman Announces Resignation

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 01:41 PM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/227524/audacy-rhythmic-chr-regional-pd-mike-buhrman-announces-resignation/



Michael Big Mic Buhrman has announced his resignation as Regional Brand
Manager for Audacys Rhythmic CHR stations.

Buhrman, based at 102.5 KSFM Sacramento where he also hosted afternoons,
also was responsible for KS 107.5 KQKS Denver, Hot 93.7 WZMX Hartford and
Power 93.5 KDGS Wichita. Buhrman joined KSFM as Program Director in May
2018 and later added oversight of CHR 106.5 The End KUDL prior to Audacys restructuring of the CHR formats to regional management. Prior to moving to Sacramento, Buhrman spent seventeen years at KQKS rising from weekend host
to APD/MD. He also programmed Comedy 103.1 K276FK/KQKS-HD2 during his
tenure in Denver.

In a social media post announcing his departure, Buhrman writes, Sometimes
the hardest decisions that hurt the most are still the best decisions.
Almost 4 years ago to the day I made THE toughest decision of my life as I
left my home of Denver and drove to Sacramento for what became 4 of the
most fulfilling and rewarding years of my life. 4 years later and as my
career hits drinking age of 21 years this week from Audacy/Entercom/Lincoln Financial Media/Jefferson Pilot Communications, I made the 2nd hardest
decision of my life and I have submitted my letter of resignation earlier
this week from Audacy as Regional Brand Manager. My Audacy Sacramento
family is SO DAMN amazingthe impact they made on me in 4 years will stick
with me forever. He will be staying with the cluster to assist with their upcoming move to a new studio facility, but intends to relocate back to
Denver by the end of July.












View this post on Instagram
























A post shared by Big Mic (@bigmicradio)






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Latino Media Network To Acquire Univision Radio Properties In Ten Markets

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 09:56 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/227505/latino-media-network-to-acquire-univision-radio-properties-in-ten-markets/



Latino Media Network, a new media company founded by social entrepreneurs Stephanie Valencia and Jess Morales Rocketto and backed by several Latino luminaries has announced it will acquire TelevisaUnivisions radio
properties in ten markets for $60 million.

The deal includes eighteen stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago,
Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, McAllen, Fresno, and Las Vegas. The company has not yet specified what stations are included as
TelevisaUnivision owns 39 stations across those ten markets.

The stations included in the deal are:

New York Spanish News/Talk 1280 WADO
Los Angeles Spanish News/Talk 1020 KTNQ
Chicago Spanish Sports TUDN 1200 WRTO
Dallas Spanish Sports TUDN 1270 KFLC Benbrook and Regional Mexican 99.1
Zona MX KFZO Denton
Houston Spanish Sports TUDN 1010 KLAT
Miami Spanish News/Talk Radio Mambi 710 WAQI and Spanish Sports TUDN 1140
WQBA
San Antonio Tejano 1350 KXTN
Las Vegas Spanish CHR Latino Mix 99.3 KRGT Sunrise Manor, Regional Mexican Zona MX 103.5 KISF Las Vegas, and Spanish Sports TUDN 870 KLSQ Whitney
Fresno Spanish AC Amor 92.1 KRDA Clovis, Spanish Oldies 107.5 La Jefa KOND Hanford, and Regional Mexican 107.9 Zona MX KLLE North Fork

McAllen Spanish Sports TUDN 1530 KGBT Harlingen, Spanish Oldies Recuerdo
96.1 KBTQ, and Regional Mexican La Jefa 98.5 KGBT-FM McAllen



Univision will retain its other stations in those markets plus its stations
in Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Austin. The company recently announced a deal to divest their radio properties in Puerto Rico.

Today, Latino Media Network (LMN), a media company focused on content
creation, talent incubation, and distribution across multiple platforms announced its formation. Founded by social entrepreneurs Stephanie Valencia
and Jess Morales Rocketto and backed by several Latino luminaries, they
also announced their first major deal with Univision to acquire a set of
radio assets to reach nearly a third of the US Latino population.

In one of the largest capital raises of a Latina owned & operated startup
in the U.S with over $80m in capital raised from a diverse set of
investors, Latino Media Network will be a media company serving the Latino community, owned by Latinos for Latinos. Its mission is to help Latinos
make sense of the world and their place in it by inspiring, informing and celebrating Hispanics through an audio focused multimedia network. The
network will embrace cultural pride by telling Latino stories, addressing community concerns and talking about opportunities for a better future.

Board members, investors and advisors include:

Maria Elena Salinas: Award winning journalist and author, including
co-anchor of Univisions evening news for more than 30 years. Principal MES Mult-Media LLC.
Eva Longoria: Director, Actor, Activist, Philanthropist and Businesswoman.
CEO and Founder, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and Founder, Casa del Sol
Tequila.
Dr. Eduardo Padron: Dr. Eduardo Padrón: President Emeritus, Miami Dade College; Strategic Corporate Advisor; Board, Urban Institute. Recipient of
the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Al Cardenas: Board member Coral Gables Trust Co., Investor and Treasurer, American Business Immigration Coalition; former long time Chair of the Republican Party of Florida, and former Chair of the American Conservative Union.
Maria Contreras Sweet: Co-Founder Pro-America Bank; former US Administrator
of the Small Business Administration; former Secretary of Business and Transportation for the State of California.
Monica Lozano: Former publisher and CEO of La Opinión and CEO of its parent company, ImpreMedia, LLC. Currently board of Walt Disney Corporation,
Apple, Inc. and Target Corporation.
Henry R. Muñoz III: An American activist, business leader, designer & philanthropist. He has launched national movements including Momento
Latino, TheDream.US and Latino Victory to support the Latino community
through awareness, college funding and electoral support.
Luis Ubiñas: Investor, advisor, and corporate board member. Former
President Ford Foundation, Senior Partner McKinsey and Company. Current corporate director at AT&T, Chairman, Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.
Tom Castro: Founder and CEO El Dorado Capital: radio entrepreneur,
investor, and corporate director. Has bought and sold over 50 radio
stations serving the Latino community. Currently on the boards of Neilsen
and Cumulus Media. Former Director of Time Warner.
Juleyka Lantigua: Founder/CEO, LWC Studios: Peabody-nominated audio
creator, former NPR, Atlantic Media, and Random House.
Tom Chavez: Hi-tech entrepreneur, author and co-founder of super{set}, a startup studio that builds and funds software companies.
Christy Haubegger: Founder, Latina magazine and current Executive Vice President, Chief Enterprise Inclusion Officer and Head of Marketing & Communications, at WarnerMedia.
Alicia Bassuk: Founder of Ubica Leadership Strategies, advising senior executives including public, private and nonprofit sectors, and
championship sports franchises globally. Bassuk is a partner and investor
in several ventures, including Kinzie Capital Partners and Core Innovation Capital.
Jess Morales Rocketto: Chief of Moonshot Strategies at Equis. Co-Founder of Families Belong Together, Poderistas, and Supermajority. Formerly National Domestic Workers Alliance, Hillary for America, Obama for America.
Stephanie Valencia: Co-Founder and President at Equis. Co-founder of Poderistas, Latino Talent Initiative, The Latina Collective, and Latinos44. Formerly Google, Obama White House, United States Congress.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Sidley Austin LLP, Fletcher Heald, and Herrera Arellano all advised on the deal.


To coincide with its launch, LMN also announced that they have signed a definitive agreement with TelevisaUnivision to purchase 18 radio stations
in 10 cities from coast to coast in a $60 million all cash deal. This deal
is one of the largest single acquisitions of stations by a Latino owned and operated company in history.

LMN has secured equity investments from leading Latino investors, and debt financing for the acquisition from Lakestar Finance LLC, an investment
entity affiliated with Soros Fund Management LLC.

“As Latinos drive population growth in the United States they continue to navigate the ocean of information on what is happening in the world and
their place in it. With minority media on the decline, now is the time to
be investing in more resources to create content for Latinos by Latinos. Through the unique combination of creative content and new and existing
media platforms to serve our community, we can embrace cultural pride and collectively empower Latinos,” said LMN Founder Stephanie Valencia. “I want to thank TelevisaUnivision for the great work they have done building these stations in Latino communities and entrusting us to grow them moving forward.”

“Our company, and these stations, are for our community,” said LMN Founder Jess Morales Rocketto. “We believe in the power and reach of radio and it remains a main source of media for a significant number of our community.
We hope to create relevant content for radio and other audio platforms with content that our community can trust and rely on. Latino Media Network is
going to ensure that the Latino community continues to be served with the
news and information that local communities deserve.”

“This is such an exciting day for the media landscape,” said Eva Longoria. “My mission is to tell and amplify all of our community’s stories so the world can see the joy, the power, and the heart of our community in ways
that are still all too rare. Media can make a difference and real change in
our world. I’m so proud to be a part of Latino Media Network as together we will ensure that our media includes narratives that uplift our voices.”

“Stephanie and Jess have lined up a truly impressive network of supporters and capital behind their creative vision,” said LMN Board Member Luis Ubiñas. “LMN has the financial resources to not just close the TelevisaUnivision deal, but to build on it to create a nationwide network.”

“Latino journalism is essential because it is critical that we tell our own stories and provide a platform for diverse Latino voices,” said Maria Elena Salinas. “I am proud to be involved with Stephanie and Jess on such a
unique project dedicated to informing and empowering our community and
focusing on issues that matter to them.”

“In an era of ever growing media consolidation Latino media ownership is essential,” said Monica Lozano. “It is groundbreaking for a Latina startup to raise this much capital to ensure that these local radio stations
continue to serve their communities.”

The 18 stations in the deal are a combined set of AM and FM stations in the largest US markets, and 8 of the top 10 Latino markets, reaching 33% of
U.S. Latinos: LA, NYC, Miami, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, San Antonio,
McAllen, Fresno, and Las Vegas. These stations primarily consist of sports, entertainment and music programming.

Transition of the stations will happen following FCC approval and a one
year transition agreement between TelevisaUnivision and Latino Media
Network, which is expected to conclude in Q4 of 2023. LMN is in the process
of recruiting outstanding talent and will make an announcement about the
senior management team later this year. LMN intends to retain current TelevisaUnivision employees who work at the stations included in this acquisition.

More about The Founders/Majority Owners:

Stephanie Valencia is a social entrepreneur, public servant, and author.
She is the founder of Equis and has held leadership roles in tech,
philanthropy and government. She has successfully founded and grown a
number of organizations. A native of the border community of Las Cruces,
New Mexico, Stephanie has been serving the Latino community for decades. Stephanie is a passionate mentor and has worked to increase the Latino
talent pipeline in multiple industries, supporting many Latinos in the
public and private sectors.

Jess Morales Rocketto is a social entrepreneur and civil society leader.
She is Chief of Moonshots at Equis and has spent her career fighting for workers and women of color at civil society and political organizations. A native of Norwalk, California, Jess is most proud of her work to reunite children separated from their families at the border.


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Thunder & Lightning Strike La Junta

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 07:51 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/227490/thunder-lightning-strike-la-junta/



Following the closing of their $275,000 purchase of News/Talk 1400
KBLJ/104.3 K282BX and Classic Country “Big Country 92.1” KTHN La Junta CO on June 1, Robin Greg Reed’s Thunder Media has relaunched both stations.

KTHN has returned to its heritage Thunder Country 92.1 identity. The
station continues to focus on music from the 1980s through early 2000s plus some Texas/Red Dirt Country. KTHN flipped from current based Country to
Classic Country following its sale to now former owner 25/7 Media in 2018.

KBLJ has also returned to the format it held prior to that sale returning
to a broad Classic Hits format with a new moniker of Lightning 1400.


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The New 107.9 Sacramento Sets Format Launch Time

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 05:00 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/225082/may-the-fourth-be-with-107-9-sacramentos-return/



Update 6/3:On the one month anniversary of the start of stunting ahead of launch, iHeartMedias The New 107.9 KSTE-FM Sacramento is now promoting it
will debut its permanent identity on Wednesday, June 8 at 12pm.

KSTE-FM has gone through multiple round of stunting over the past month including blocks of looping similar themed songs over and over, clips of peoples smart speakers listening to them, people sending messages through
the iHeartRadio apps talkback feature, and daily formats for people to vote
for the new format.

We have reported on multiple rounds of domain registrations made for
KSTE-FM since shortly after the auction last August.

Recapping the various stunts so far:

Wednesday, May 4 launched with a loop of the theme from Star Wars
Thursday, May 5 brought WARs Cinco de Mayo
Friday, May 6 featured Rebecca Blacks Friday
Saturday, May 7 featured Chicagos Saturday In The Park
Sunday, May 8 featured an hour-long loop of songs about mothers for Mothers
Day including songs such as Three Dog Night Mama Told Me Not To Come, Boyz
II Men A Song For Mama, ABBA Mamma Mia, Fountains of Wayne Stacys Mom,
Carrie Underwood Mamas Song, Loggins and Messina Your Mama Dont Dance, and
The Shirelles Mama Said
Monday, May 9 featured The Bangles Manic Monday
Tuesday, May 10 through Sunday, May 15 featured clips of people talking
themed around smart speakers listening
Monday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 18 used clips promoting the
iHeartRadio apps Talkback feature.
Thursday, May 19 featured Christmas Music
Friday, May 20 featured music from iHearts LBGTQ+ targeted Pride Radio Saturday, May 21 utilized a Top 40 playlist
Sunday, May 22 featured Christian AC
Monday, May 23 featured 90s Alternative Rock
Tuesday, May 24 featured Spanish Pop Hits
Wednesday, May 25 was Classic Country
Thursday, May 26 focused on 1990s Dance Music
Friday, May 27 was Throwback Jams of mostly 90s Classic Hip Hop
Saturday, May 28 played Yacht Rock
Sunday, May 29 featured 80s Hits
Monday, May 30 moved to 90s Hits
Tuesday, May 31 featured 2000s Hits
Wednesday, June 1 brought Country
Thursday, June 2 was Pop Hits, albeit different from the Top 40 from May 21 Friday, June 3 featured The Biggest Party Songs of the Past 25 years.



Update 5/16: After six days of the smart speaker listening back part of the pre-launch stunt, iHeartMedias 107.9 KSTE-FM Sacramento has moved on to
another new phase.

KSTE-FM is now promoting the recently launched Talkback feature on the iHeartRadio app featuring listeners leaving messages and song requests.
Clips heard include people making suggestions for the new format, a guy
giving Sacramento history lessons, and statements about current events.

Update 5/10: After six days of looping one or a group of songs, the
stunting on iHeartMedias 107.9 KSTE-FM Sacramento moves in a completely different direction.

The station is acting today as if its monitoring peoples smart speakers and airing their recordings with gaps of silence in between. Sweepers are emphasizing listening such as Listening with anticipation, The New 107.9
and Listening so closely you can almost feel it. A brief edited clip
removing the longer silence gaps in-between is attached. document.createElement('audio'); https://radioinsight.com/wp-content/images/2022/05/1079kstefm-05102022.mp3

Original Report 5/4: After Entercom surrendered the license for 107.9 KDND Sacramento in February 2017 rather than risk having its license renewal
hearing hold up the then-pending acquisition of CBS Radio, iHeartMedia has brought the allocation back on the air for the first time since.

iHeart, which won the rights to what is currently 107.9 KSTE-FM Sacramento
in FCC Auction 109 last summer for $6,146,000, resumed operations today
with a May 4 oriented loop of the Star Wars theme.

This posting includes a media file: https://radioinsight.com/wp-content/images/2022/05/1079kstefm-05102022.mp3

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Chris Duel Show Comes To An End At KTKR/KVET As Duel Moves To WOAI

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 04:45 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/227452/chris-duel-show-comes-to-an-end-at-ktkr-kvet-as-duel-moves-to-woai/



iHeartMedia has dropped its local morning show on Sports Ticket 760 KTKR
San Antonio and 1300 The Zone KVET Austin

The show, which also featured Shannon Salty Sweeney and Jeremy Kozak,
completed its run on Friday, May 28. Duel and soundscape stylist Kozak have moved over to iHearts News/Talk 1200 WOAI San Antonio to join Charlie
Parker, Tim Merryman, and Charity McCurdy on San Antonios First News from 5-9am. Duel also hosts Spurs NetCenter and the post-game Spurs React on
WOAI following San Antonio Spurs games. The move marks a return to WOAI for Duel, who began his career at the station in 1997. He would work at 550
KTSA and ESPN 1250 KZDC from 2004 to 2012, before joining KTKR as afternoon host in 2015. He and Mike Taylor would swap dayparts in early 2020 moving
to mornings on both stations.

Fox Sports Radios 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe is now airing in mornings at both KTKR and KVET. Both stations carry identical lineups featuring Fox Sports
Radio programming, The Sports Grind hosted by Calvin Casey from 2-4pm, and
Mike Taylor from 4-7pm.

My sincere thanks to everyone at @ticket760 and @am1300thezone including my friends @ShannonBSweeney & @JeremyKolok

Thanks to our listeners, viewers and sponsors.

See you next week on @1200WOAI pic.twitter.com/pQe5vk0Mum

- Chris Duel (@ChrisDuel) May 27, 2022




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Station Sales Week of 6/3

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 04:30 AM PDT https://radioinsight.com/headlines/227466/station-sales-week-of-6-3/



Dennis Lucas Carpenters Carpenter Broadcasting will acquire the 75% stake
in three license holding companies held by the D.M. Peters Family Trust for
$2 million. The Carpenters currently hold the other 25% equity and 100%
voting rights in Lakes Broadcasting Companys 95.9 WLKX-FM Forest Lake, Milestone Radio IIs 107.5 KBGY Faribault, and Milestone Radios 1300 WQPM Princeton/107.5 W298CE Big Lake and 106.1 KLCI Elk River MN. All of the stations are part of the Classic Country Bob Total Country network.

Lewis Clark State College will transfer 88.9 KLCZ Lewiston ID to Boise
State Universitys Boise State Public Radio for no consideration.

Martha Whitmans Iseleta Radio Company sells Silent 1080 KEMR/102.1 K271DC Moriarty NM to Don Davis for $10. Davis owns five other stations around Albuquerque.

Just Because Inc. sells Classic Hits 940 The Lake WGFP/99.3 W257EH Webster
MA to Kurt Jacksons Quinebaug Valley Broadcasting LLC for $75,000 minus
$600 to cover half the cost of a transmitter repair.

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