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From Radio Insight: Sheila Callahan & Friends Inc.’s Mountain Broadcasting signed-off its pair of stations in Missoula and Hamilton MT at the end of 2024. The company operated Hot AC “Mountain 102.5” KMSO Missoula/106.3 K292GH Hamilton and Classic Hits “107.9 The Drive” KHDV Darby/Hamilton and 103.7 K279CP/KMSO-HD2 Missoula. The company launched 102.5 in 1985 as Easy Listening KUEZ. It would change calls to KMSO in 1987 and then gradually evolve through 1990s to AC and then Hot AC. KHDV would sign-on in 2006 with Country before flipping to Classic Hits in 2013 and adding a simulcast on K279CP in 2015. Callahan has served as General Manager of the company for its 40 year history, with her husband/co-owner Max Murphy holding the roles of CFO and Sales Manager. Murphy is a second generation owner in the market as his father Chet Murphy co-founded 910 KYSS in 1959 and then added 94.9 KYSS-FM as the first FM in the market in 1969 until selling the stations in 1979. A statement on the KMSO website a message states, “Thank you, western Montana for forty wonderful years. As we say good-bye to our Mountain 102.5 FM family of wonderful staff, sponsors and listeners, please know that we are incredibly thrilled and humbled that you made us part of this community for four decades. It has been our pleasure to serve our listening area with news, information and entertainment. We have shared exciting fun, heartbreaking moments and historic events with you. We would not trade that time for anything. We send our very best wishes to all our friends, colleagues and clients. We wish you a wonderful New Year filled with health, happiness and prosperity.” more

From Radio Insight: After three and a half years in mornings, Ben Ealy exited Verstanding Broadcasting Country 104.7 WAYZ Hagerstown MD at the end of 2024. Ealy joined the company in September 2021 and took over mornings in May 2022. Ealy previously spent six months hosting middays at Withers Broadcasting Rock 106.7 WZZL Paducah KY prior to joining the company. Afternoon co-host Katy Dickinson, who co-hosted mornings at the station from 2010 to 2014 and then returned in 2023 as afternoon co-host, is now leading “Mornings with Katy”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Radio Ben (@radiobenonair) more

From Radio Insight: Longtime iHeartMedia Cleveland host Jimmy Malone is joining Media-Com Inc. Talk 100.1 WNIR Kent/Akron OH to host “Malone Mondays” on “The Morning Buzz” from 7-10am on Mondays. Malone will join WNIR’s rotating group of hosts that join Joyce Johnson and News Director Phil Ferguson each day. He previously spent 39 years at what became iHeartMedia Cleveland originally joining “Majic 105.7” WMJI as a contributor in 1985 before rising to morning co-host in 1991. He would remain on the WMJI morning show until February 2021 before moving to host a twice weekly morning show on sister 1350 WARF Akron and a Saturday morning show on WMJI for a year and then hosted the 9am hour on News/Talk 1100 WTAM Cleveland from April 2022 until his exit last August. more

From Radio Insight: I suppose it could have happened in the U.S. But it was listening to the UK?s Magic Radio on Christmas morning that I heard Sonall Shah say it. Much of the 11 a.m. hour was devoted to two things: listener shout outs to whoever was doing the cooking in the household and more highlights from a week-long interview with James Corden and Ruth Jones about the final episode of Gavin & Stacey airing that night. But Shah did tease that ?this year?s No. 1 Christmas song is on the way for you.? That was Wham!?s ?Last Christmas,? which, after famously losing the 1984 Christmas No. 1 battle to Band Aid?s ?Do They Know It?s Christmas?? was the Christmas No. 1 this year for the second year in a row. It now has nine weeks at No. 1 in the UK, although George Michael did not live to see them. In the U.S., ?Last Christmas? never charted at all in 1984. Columbia worked ?Do They Know It?s Christmas? to Top 40 radio, but since ?Careless Whisper? had just charted, and ?Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go? was only a few months old in America anyway, it did not promote ?Last Christmas? to radio. The only evidence I can find of a PD reporting “Last Christmas” is Tony Waitekus at WCIL Carbondale, Ill., and that was two years later. On Billboard?s Hot 100, ?Last Christmas? has only gotten to No. 3 in recent years, behind the juggernaut of Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee. At AC radio, however, it pulled into Mediabase?s No. 1 most-played gold title for the last week of the holiday season, displacing ?Feliz Navidad? by Jose Feliciano. (That song, with no significant other versions, has an advantage over ?Last Christmas,? where airplay could also be split by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, the Backstreet Boys, the Glee cast, and Jimmy Eat World.) Make no mistake, though. ?Last Christmas? was one of the inescapable records of Christmas 1984. My road trip that year was from Washington, D.C. to the Berkshires, and all three Wham! songs were unavoidable. Living in L.A. at the time, Wham were already a known entity that had been played on KIIS and even KROQ. In the rest of America, there was the excitement of three career singles within weeks of each other. A few other thoughts about ?Last Christmas? from 2025?s vantage point: It?s interesting to be hearing it just a few weeks after the ?yacht rock? documentary. The official keepers of the genre have never issued a ?Yacht or Nyacht? ruling, but if the bounciness of ?What a Fool Believes? is a key measurement in whether a song is ?Yacht Rock,? ?Last Christmas? certainly has that. There?s no ?70s rock or session player connection, another of their factors, but Wham! did make inroads at Urban radio far beyond any Doobie Brothers single, going to No. 8.* It probably couldn?t happen now. In 1984, Top 40 was the arbiter of new Christmas music. It didn?t contribute a major new song every year, but having two new Christmas songs explode on to contemporary radio was a big deal. With AC having assumed that role, only a few new songs (mostly covers) are given even a handful of spins every year. After a decade, streaming has made Kelly Clarkson?s ?Underneath the Tree? and Ariana Grande?s ?Santa, Tell Me? into top 10 songs in Billboard but only No. 84 and No. 211 respectively at AC. Top 40 was also in the peak year musically of its mid-?80s resurgence with the power to anoint a holiday song immediately. It was a different story in 1994 when Mariah Carey was one of the few superstars Top 40 had, and the format didn?t even exist in many markets. That?s why CHR was so grateful to have ?All I Want for Christmas (Is You)? at the time. When the format rebounded, it became a song of greater potency with each year. Or maybe it would happen now, but differently. ?Careless Whisper? was a fast-breaking hit during a time of year that is effectively closed off to new music now. In the streaming era, where singles come from albums less sequentially?no more ?Wake Me Up? in fall, ?Whisper? in winter, ?Everything She Wants? in Spring, ?Freedom? in summer?the first two Wham! hits would have happened in even shorter order. Perhaps ?Last Christmas? would happen now because of streaming and, unlike 1984, not off the chart radar. Who knows if ?Everything? and ?Freedom? would have been singles at all? Artist excitement means a lot, and we have less. Since the ?70s, a lot of new Christmas music has come from artists either in an imperial period (Elton John, Carey, Clarkson, Ed Sheeran) or bursting into it (Wham! Grande). Between ?Nonsense Christmas? and her Lindsey Stirling duet on ?You?re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,? Sabrina Carpenter didn?t really have any impetus to force a new holiday song in between two other chart climbers from ?Taste,? but imagine if she did. We?re going to have questions about Christmas music for the next month. It could certainly be the timing of December Nielsen PPM ratings measurement, which included a few less days than last year, but many stations were off by a few shares from last year. (It must now immediately note that those stations were still up sharply from November and a lot of stations would love to have only a 9-share.) Detractors have been expecting the all-holiday format to lose some of its potency in the streaming era for years. We?ll know more in a few weeks when the special Holiday ?23 ratings come out. Again, any discussion is almost certainly going to be about an 18-share vs. a 14-share. But there were a few prominent AC and Classic Hits stations that decided not to switch format this year, and a market (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale) where no station went all-Christmas. There?s no question that the 40-year-old ?Last Christmas? has relevance at holiday time, and so do the even older songs that join it in the top 10 from ?The Christmas Song? to ?Rockin? Around the Christmas Tree.? When streamers want ?Jingle Bell Rock,? they choose Bobby Helms over Daryl Hall & John Oates.* Still, recent years have seen many stations refreshing their holiday playlists only by going back to long-ago holiday albums by pre-rock crooners, ?60s MOR acts, or even Percy Faith and Ray Conniff. Many holiday stations added nothing new to the library this year. In the early days of the holiday radio takeover, a few stations tried a more contemporary Christmas, and the results were decisively against them. But it?s a generation later, and I still wonder if radio is right, or just in retrograde.* At this writing, the top 16 songs on the Hot 100 are holiday titles, none of them currents. Even though holiday music is not quite as big as last year, other contemporary formats, particularly Top 40, continue to suffer during the holidays, and having nothing new to play seems like a significant part of it. If there is an artist on a Sabrina-like hot streak next year, some thought should go in to creating a holiday song that can break through at Top 40, Hot AC, and AC. Otherwise, there’s a chance of the next Christmas classic starting as a streaming outlier. more

From Radio Online: In a strategic move to bolster its leadership ranks, Mid-West Family Madison has promoted Randy Hawke to General Manager and Lyndsey Bishop to Vice President of Business Development, effective immediately. These appointments are part of the company's broader initiative to enhance More...

From Radio Online: In the ever-evolving audio marketplace, terrestrial radio broadcasters continue to hold a significant presence despite the growing competition from digital audio platforms. The Federal Communications Commission's latest Communications Marketplace Report delves into these dynamics, highlighting key trends and More...

From Radio Online: Former WMJI-FM/Cleveland co-host Jimmy Malone is set to join WNIR-FM in Akron, OH as a regular feature on the "Morning Buzz" starting January 6. Known for his sharp wit and engaging humor, Malone will appear every Monday in a segment aptly named "Malone Mondays," from 7-10am. The veteran Cleveland More...

From Radio Online: Billy DiMaio, a 25-year-old Account Executive at Audacy in New York, was tragically killed in the Bourbon Street attack on January 1, when a man drove a truck into a crowd celebrating the new year. Fourteen people lost their lives in this horrific incident. DiMaio, remembered by his family as a deeply More...

From Radio Insight: The Society of Broadcast Engineers has hired Michael Downs as its new Executive Director. Downs joins the organization from Kiwanis International where he has served as Director of Conventions and Meetings since 2012 following a ten year run as Chief Staff Executive for Key Club International. He is also been President of the Indiana Society of Association Executives and Vice President of Meetings Professional International?s Indiana chapter. The SBE says his professional experience includes an extensive background in strategic plan development and deployment. SBE President Ted Hand said, “I welcome Mike to the SBE. His extensive association experience will be an asset to the Society as we look ahead to the coming year and continuing future. I look forward to working with him to continue furthering the goals of the SBE and providing superior services to our members. I also want to thank the members of the search committee, led by SBE Vice President Kevin Trueblood, for their work.” Downs succeeds Jim Ragsdale after he stepped down in October after 3 1/2 years at the organization. The SBE is the professional organization of television and radio engineers and those in related fields with nearly 4,000 members in 117 chapters across the United States, Hong Kong and Eastern Europe. more

From Radio Insight: Laura Dickerson has joined Cumulus Media CHR “Q99.7” WWWQ Atlanta as APD/midday host. Dickerson relocates from Houston where she has served as Music Director and night host at Cumulus’ 104.1 KRBE since March 2022 and will continue to track nights. She originally arrived in Houston in 2017 as midday host on Radio One CHR “Radio Now 92.1” KROI before rising to MD in 2019 until its flip to Gospel in 2021. She shortly thereafter joined KRBE as a weekend host. Dickerson began her career in her native Boston at CHR “Kiss 108” WXKS-FM and spent four years at ?Hot 97.5/103.9? KMVA/KZON Phoenix in multiple roles including morning show producer/co-host. She said, “I?m so grateful for the opportunity to challenge myself in a new role, in a career I have loved for the last 15 years, AND I still get to work alongside my radio partner in crime and mentor, Leslie Whittle! Truly a dream come true!” more

From Radio Insight: Townsquare Media CHR “Fun 107” WFHN Fairhaven/New Bedford MA has introduced Michaela Johnson as co-host of “Fun 107 in the Morning” alongside Michael Rock and Chris ‘Gazelle’ Arsenault. Johnson previously co-hosted “The Rhode Show” on WPRI-TV Providence from 2011 until the end of 2022 after beginning on the show as the winner of its “Search For A Star” contest. She also has been the in-arena host for the NHL’s Boston Bruins since 2016. Johnson fills the opening created by Maddie Levine’s move to 1-4pm at the end of September in order to have more time to focus on her work as a combat sports broadcaster. more

From Radio Insight: Good News Radio Inc. purchases Oldies 107.3 WDKR Maroa/Decatur IL for $140,000. The buyers operate the “Great News Radio” Christian network across Central Illinois. The sellers retain Country 99.3 WXFM-FM Mount Zion/Decatur and Full Service 95.9 WEFM Michigan City IN. Rob Evans and Wes Griffith’s Creek Media transfers AAA “100.9 The Creek” WNEX-FM Perry/Macon GA to non-profit Visit Macon, Inc. for $200,000. Jet Schuler?s 6102 Seawall LLC donates 92.1 KVFZ Benton/Shreveport LA to Educational Radio Foundation of East Texas, Inc. KVFZ has been operated by ERFET via LMA since 6102 Seawall closed on its purchase in September 2023 as part of its Spanish Christian “Fuzion” network. more

From Radio Online: WDSN (Sunny 106) in Du Bois, PA once again illuminated the hopes and dreams of children with critical illnesses by raising $114,500 during their 31st Annual Light Up a Child's Life campaign. This impressive sum will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and West More...

From Radio Online: In an act of kindness, the Greensboro morning show, "Jared and Katie in the Morning" on WKZL (1075 KZL), delivered an over-the-top Christmas surprise to a family devastated by a recent natural disaster. The Calloway family from Newland, NC experienced a Christmas miracle in 2024, courtesy of the show's More...

From Radio Insight: After becoming the first station in the market to go all-Christmas in November, Inland Northwest Broadcasting’s former Hot AC ?My Radio 102.5? KRAO-FM Colfax WA is currently running a loop promoting something new debuting on Monday, January 6 at 6am. Voiced by former cluster Operations Manager Steve Shannon, the messages are emphasizing “BIG changes coming to 102.5”. more

From Radio Online: In a significant expansion of its broadcast portfolio, Main Street Media LLC has finalized the acquisition of six radio stations in Crossville, Tennessee, from PEG Broadcasting LLC. The stations involved in the transaction include 1.4kW AC WPBX-FM (99.3), 9kw Country WOWF-FM (105.3), 1kW Talk WAEW-AM (1330), More...

From Radio Online: SiriusXM has announced a new addition to its lineup with the launch of "Holding Court," a weekly show hosted by tennis veteran Patrick McEnroe. The program is set to debut on January 4, ahead of the Australian Open, and will be available on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio. "Holding Court" will air every More...

From Radio Insight: New York based Audacy Enterprise and Performance Sales Account Executive Billy DiMaio was one of the fifteen victims of the New Year’s terrorist attack in New Orleans. The 25 year-old DiMaio was from Holmdel NJ. He had joined Audacy in March 2023 as Performance Sales Account Manager and had been promoted to his current role in November. At the time of the promotion, he wrote, “Excited to announce my promotion to Enterprise Account Executive at Audacy, Inc. Looking forward to contributing to both the Enterprise and Performance sides of the business. Grateful for this opportunity – let’s get to work! more

From Radio Online: "The Will Cain Show" is a new addition to the weekday lineup of AM 770 KTTH in Seattle from 7-8pm, starting January 2. Hosted by FOX News Radio's Will Cain, the program is set to deliver a mix of sharp political, cultural and current event commentary, contributing to the station's conservative talk lineup. More...

From Radio Online: Audacy appoints Scott Jameson as the new Brand Manager of Sports WJZ-FM (105.7 The Fan) in Baltimore, effective January 6. Jameson will be responsible for the station's content strategy, talent management, operations and branding initiatives. He joins 105.7 The Fan following a stint at Beasley Media Detroit, More...

From Radio Online: On Thursday, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) net neutrality rules, ruling that the agency does not possess the authority to regulate commercial broadband providers as common carriers. This decision challenges the efforts of the outgoing Biden More...

From Radio Insight: Bonneville Conservative Talk 770 KTTH Seattle has announced a revised evening lineup. With Westwood One’s cancellation of the Ben Shapiro and Michael Knowles (and Matt Walsh) shows at the end of 2024, KTTH will add Fox News Radio’s Will Cain Show for the 7pm hour slot that had been held by Shapiro. Mark Levin will move up an hour to run from 8-11pm, and “Fox Across America” with Jimmy Faila moves up to 11pm to 2am. “Rich Vald?s: America at Night” will add an hour to run from 2-5am. KTTH Program Director Jason Antebi said, “We?re excited to bring Will Cain to KTTH?s evening schedule. Will?s sharp insights, thoughtful perspectives, and engaging style will resonate deeply with our audience. This addition continues KTTH?s mission to deliver the best conservative talk programming in the nation.? Cain commented, “I?m incredibly excited to be joining the great voices of KTTH in Seattle. I?ve long been a fan of Jason Rantz, and I?m looking forward to bringing our unique approach to Seattle?s listeners.” KTTH will continue to feature Fox News Rundown from 5-6am, Armstrong & Getty from 6-9am, Guy Benson 12-3pm, and Jason Rantz 3-7pm. more

From Radio Insight: Bryan Broadcasting has flipped Southern Gospel “Gospel 97.3” 1510 KAGC/K247CS Bryan TX to Adult R&B “Magic 97.3“. Positioning as “Aggieland’s R&B and Throwbacks”, the new format will feature Premiere Networks’ Steve Harvey Morning Show and the WBLS New York based “Quiet Storm with Lenny Green” at night. Core artists will include Mary J. Blige, Usher, Luther Vandross, Aaliyah, October London, and Tony! Toni! Tone! The market previously has not had a station in the format with Brazos Valley Communications’ “101.9 The Beat” KBXT mixing R&B and Hip Hop. The new format launched at 12pm today with Tevin Campbell “Can We Talk”, Ginuwine “Differences”, H.E.R. “Damage”, Al B. Sure “Nite and Day”, and TLC “Red Light Special”. Bryan Broadcasting Programming Operations Manager Rob Mack said, ?We are thrilled to bring Magic 97.3 to the Bryan-College Station area! This will be a fantastic new radio choice for listeners, featuring several decades of timeless songs and the best of today?s R&B. As with all of our local radio stations, as we build Magic 97.3, we will be involved with our community as well, not just playing great music, but spotlighting things that are important to people who live here. Of course, it?s all free?just turn on Magic 97.3!? Regarding the Steve Harvey show he added, ?Steve Harvey and his team have the #1 morning show in America, and we are proud to bring this award-winning show to local listeners. Plus, one of the show?s hosts, Nephew Tommy, is an Aggie!? Bryan Broadcasting VP/GM Ben Downs commented, ?We?re always evaluating how our stations can best serve the community and attract the largest number of listeners. Over the years, we?ve changed formats to give us WTAW as a news talk station, KZNE as sports, and our Willy classic country stations. We believe that this new R&B format serves a part of the community that is underserved, and we hope to reach them with this new Magic music format. We will continue our pledge to serve the community with the new format for KAGC, and we believe we can attract a new group of listeners to the local, community radio Bryan Broadcasting is known for.? more

From Radio Insight: Former Beasley Media Detroit Operations Manager Scott Jameson is joining Audacy Sports “105.7 The Fan” WJZ-FM Catonsville/Baltimore MD as Brand Manager. Jameson most recently led Beasley Detroit, programmed Classic Rock 94.7 WCSX and was VP/National Content from July 2020 until taking a voluntary retirement contract buyout last May. He previously spent eight years as Operations Manager of Cumulus Minneapolis, PD of Classic Rock 92.5 KQRS and VP/Classic Rock for Cumulus and programmed was VP/Adult Rock for CBS Radio and PD of AAA ?92.9 Dave-FM? WZGC Atlanta from 2009-2012, spent fifteen years as OM/PD of Classic Rock ?Q95? WFBQ and Rock ?103X? WRZX Indianapolis, and PD of ?KY102? KYYS Kansas City. He said, “Audacy is the industry leader in sports audio, so I?m looking forward joining the team of content creators and talk talent at 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore. We?ll build on our passionate sports community with fun, energy and a rock-n-roll attitude. Game On. Thanks to Tracy Brandys, Mark Hannon and Jeff Sottolano. Special thanks to Mike Thomas and Chris Oliviero for their support.” SVP/Market Manager Tracy Brandys commented, “We are excited to welcome Scott to the 105.7 The Fan family. His impressive track record in radio programming and community engagement will be instrumental in driving our brand forward. Scott?s passion for sports and deep understanding of the media landscape make him the perfect fit to lead our team as we continue to deliver top-notch content to our listeners.? more

From Radio Insight: After promoting a flip to Spanish “Latino Radio Service” since it began stunting as the first all-Christmas station of the 2024 holiday season back on October 1, New Albany Broadcasting Company?s 1570 WLRS New Albany IN and 92.5 W223DK Louisville KY instead flipped to Oldies “Kentuckiana’s True Oldies” on New Year’s Eve. Operated by Pure Radio LLC via LMA, the station is utilizing programming from the “Scott Shannon’s True Oldies Channel” network but will also feature longtime Louisville area programmer/host Joe Fedele. Fedele most recently served as PD/morning host at Classic Hits 620 WAKY/103.5 WAKY-FM from 2014 until retiring at the end of 2022. He also has been heard in the market at 103.1 WRKA and had a 22 year run at 106.9 WVEZ. more

From Radio Insight: LA Communications has flipped “Hawk Rawk” 100.5 KDHK Decorah IA to Hot AC “100.5 The Hawk“. Positioning as both “90s To Now” and “The Tri-State’s Best Variety”, the station serves the northeast corner of Iowa and bits of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Demitre Ellis continues as Program Director for KDHK and sister Classic Hits 104.7 KVIK, while KVIK MD Olaf Johnson adds those duties for KDHK. more

From Radio Insight: AJG Corporation Hot AC “Fun 93.1” WFGM-FM Barrackville WV came out of Christmas music on December 26 with a new format. Rebranding as just 93.1 WFGM, the station flipped to Classic Hits while retaining its “Fairmont’s Great Music” positioning. Despite covering the larger Morgantown area, the station is keeping its focus on the smaller community of Fairmont. The station’s lineup features WOGL Philadelphia morning host Coop tracking mornings, “Big Tom’ Lawler in middays, Washington DC market stalwart Albie Dee in afternoons, and Tony Lorino’s “Throwback Nation Radio” at night. more

From Radio Insight: Average Quarter Hour Share for Persons 6+, Mon-Sun 6AM-Mid Top 50 Share NOV 24 DEC 24 Calls Name Market Format Owner 10.8 16.3 WMJI-FM Majic 105.7 CLEVELAND Classic Hits iHeartMedia 16.0 15.4 KJMS-FM V101 MEMPHIS Adult R&B iHeartMedia 17.2 14.2 WISN-AM NewsTalk 1130 WISN MILWAUKEE Conservative Talk iHeartMedia 8.8 13.1 WNIC-FM 100.3 WNIC DETROIT AC iHeartMedia 12.9 12.6 WQMG-FM 97.1 QMG GREENSBORO Adult R&B Audacy 10.2 12.5 WRCH-FM Lite 100.5 HARTFORD AC Audacy 8.3 12.3 KESZ-FM 99.9 KEZ PHOENIX AC iHeartMedia 11.7 12.1 WAMU-FM WAMU 88.5 WASHINGTON, DC Public News/Talk American University 7.7 12.0 WEJZ-FM 96.1 EJZ JACKSONVILLE AC Renda Broadcasting 5.8 11.8 WMAG-FM Mix 99.5 GREENSBORO AC iHeartMedia 10.4 11.6 WBNS-FM 97.1 The Fan COLUMBUS Sports Tegna 7.5 11.4 KSFI-FM FM 100.3 SALT LAKE CITY AC Bonneville 7.7 11.1 KODA-FM Sunny 99.1 HOUSTON AC iHeartMedia 11.0 11.1 KFXN-FM 100.3 KFAN MINNEAPOLIS Sports iHeartMedia 8.7 10.9 WYXB-FM B105.7 INDIANAPOLIS AC Urban One 9.2 10.9 WRVR-FM 104.5 The River MEMPHIS AC Audacy 7.4 10.8 KKCW-FM K103 PORTLAND AC iHeartMedia 6.8 10.7 KQQL-FM Kool 108 MINNEAPOLIS Classic Hits iHeartMedia 9.6 10.5 WRRK-FM 96.9 Bob FM PITTSBURGH Adult Hits Steel City Media 8.5 10.2 WJXA-FM Mix 92.9 NASHVILLE AC Midwest Communications 10.3 10.1 KQED-FM 88.5 KQED SAN FRANCISCO Public News/Talk Northern California Public Broadcasting 8.8 9.9 WWSW-FM 94.5 3WS PITTSBURGH Classic Hits iHeartMedia 11.0 9.9 WOCL-FM 105.9 Sunny FM ORLANDO Classic Hits Audacy 5.5 9.8 WLIT-FM 93.9 Lite FM CHICAGO Soft AC iHeartMedia 11.0 9.8 KCMO-FM 94.9 KCMO KANSAS CITY Classic Hits Cumulus 7.8 9.7 WLTW-FM 106.7 Lite FM NEW YORK AC iHeartMedia 9.4 9.7 WDVE-FM 102.5 DVE PITTSBURGH Rock iHeartMedia 5.5 9.6 KEZK-FM 102.5 KEZK ST. LOUIS AC Audacy 11.2 9.6 KBPA-FM 103.5 Bob FM AUSTIN Adult Hits Waterloo Media 8.6 9.6 KSNE-FM Sunny 106.5 LAS VEGAS AC iHeartMedia 7.4 9.6 WMGF-FM Magic 107.7 ORLANDO AC iHeartMedia 8.8 9.6 WWLI-FM Lite 105 PROVIDENCE AC Cumulus 10.0 9.6 KUT-FM KUT 90.5 AUSTIN Public News/Talk University of Texas 9.3 9.5 WVKL-FM 95.7 R&B NORFOLK Adult R&B Audacy 8.6 9.4 KYMX-FM Mix 96 SACRAMENTO AC Bonneville 9.4 9.3 WDUV-FM 105.5 The Dove TAMPA Soft AC Cox Media 7.1 9.3 KOSI-FM KOSI 101.1 DENVER AC Bonneville 8.6 9.2 WSMW-FM 98.7 Simon GREENSBORO Adult Hits Audacy 10.3 9.1 WSB-AM 95.5 WSB ATLANTA News/Talk Cox Media 8.9 9.0 WTOP-FM WTOP Radio WASHINGTON, DC News Hubbard 10.0 9.0 WZMX-FM Hot 93.7 HARTFORD Rhythmic CHR Audacy 10.2 8.9 KFBK-AM News 93.1 KFBK SACRAMENTO News/Talk iHeartMedia 8.9 8.8 WIBC-FM 93 WIBC INDIANAPOLIS News/Talk Urban One 9.9 8.7 WHQT-FM Hot 105 MIAMI Adult R&B Cox Media 9.6 8.7 KOLA-FM KOLA 99.9 RIVERSIDE Classic Hits Anaheim Broadcasting 9.6 8.7 WOKV-FM News 104.5 WOKV JACKSONVILLE News/Talk Cox Media 8.6 8.6 WGRR-FM 103.5 WGRR CINCINNATI Classic Hits Cumulus 7.9 8.5 KKLZ-FM 96.3 KKLZ LAS VEGAS Classic Hits Beasley 6.7 8.5 WTBV-FM 101.5 The Vibe TAMPA Adult R&B Cox Media 6.8 8.5 KLYY-FM Jose 97.5 y 107.1 RIVERSIDE Spanish Adult Hits Entravision 8.9 8.5 WCJK-FM 96.3 Jack FM NASHVILLE Adult Hits Midwest Communications 7.3 8.5 WCTK-FM Cat Country 98.1 PROVIDENCE Country Hall Communications 8.2 8.5 WFXC-FM Foxy 107/104 RALEIGH Adult R&B Urban One 9.9 8.5 WTKK-FM 106.1 FM Talk RALEIGH Conservative Talk iHeartMedia Top 50 CUME Dec '24 Cume Calls Name Market Format Owner 3,642,900 WLTW-FM 106.7 Lite FM NEW YORK AC iHeartMedia 2,440,200 KOST-FM KOST 103.5 LOS ANGELES AC iHeartMedia 2,240,100 WHTZ-FM Z100 NEW YORK CHR iHeartMedia 2,223,800 WKTU-FM 103.5 KTU NEW YORK Hot AC iHeartMedia 2,221,500 WCBS-FM 101.1 CBS-FM NEW YORK Classic Hits Audacy 2,156,000 WNEW-FM New 102.7 NEW YORK Hot AC Audacy 1,975,500 KODA-FM Sunny 99.1 HOUSTON AC iHeartMedia 1,932,600 KRTH-FM K-Earth 101 LOS ANGELES Classic Hits Audacy 1,675,500 KBIG-FM 104.3 MYfm LOS ANGELES Hot AC iHeartMedia 1,654,100 WSKQ-FM Mega 97.9 NEW YORK Spanish Tropical Spanish Broadcasting 1,613,600 WINS-FM 1010 WINS on 92.3 FM NEW YORK News Audacy 1,572,500 KIIS-FM 102.7 KIIS FM LOS ANGELES CHR iHeartMedia 1,501,600 WLIT-FM 93.9 Lite FM CHICAGO Soft AC iHeartMedia 1,493,600 WAXQ-FM Q104.3 NEW YORK Classic Rock iHeartMedia 1,348,000 KTWV-FM 94.7 The Wave LOS ANGELES Rhythmic AC Audacy 1,267,000 WBLS-FM 107.5 WBLS NEW YORK Adult R&B MediaCo 1,237,900 KDGE-FM Star 102.1 DALLAS AC iHeartMedia 1,149,800 KCBS-FM 93.1 Jack FM LOS ANGELES Adult Hits Audacy 1,082,600 WQHT-FM Hot 97 NEW YORK Rhythmic CHR MediaCo 1,075,200 KOIT-FM 96.5 KOIT SAN FRANCISCO AC Bonneville 1,064,600 WBEB-FM B101.1 PHILADELPHIA AC Audacy 1,039,800 WLS-FM 94.7 WLS-FM CHICAGO Classic Hits Cumulus 1,021,800 WNIC-FM 100.3 WNIC DETROIT AC iHeartMedia 1,002,600 KLOS-FM 95.5 KLOS LOS ANGELES Classic Rock Meruelo Group 998,700 WWPR-FM Power 105.1 NEW YORK Hip Hop/R&B iHeartMedia 966,500 KESZ-FM 99.9 KEZ PHOENIX AC iHeartMedia 937,600 KLVE-FM 107.5 Amor LOS ANGELES Spanish Contemporary Univision 937,600 WXNY-FM La X 96.3 NEW YORK Spanish Contemporary Univision 930,200 WPAT-FM 93.1 Amor NEW YORK Spanish Contemporary Spanish Broadcasting 914,200 WKSC-FM 103.5 Kiss FM CHICAGO CHR iHeartMedia 912,500 KNX-FM KNX News 97.1 LOS ANGELES News Audacy 899,700 WTMX-FM 101.9 The Mix CHICAGO Hot AC Hubbard 882,200 KKHH-FM 95.7 The Spot HOUSTON Adult Hits Audacy 881,000 KDMX-FM Mix 102.9 DALLAS Hot AC iHeartMedia 871,700 KROQ-FM 106.7 K-ROQ LOS ANGELES Alternative Audacy 871,200 WFAN-FM Sports Radio 101.9 WFAN NEW YORK Sports Audacy 867,700 KKBQ-FM 93Q HOUSTON Country Urban One 866,100 WDRV-FM 97.1 The Drive CHICAGO Classic Rock Hubbard 860,200 KYSR-FM Alt 98.7 LOS ANGELES Alternative iHeartMedia 856,800 KLAX-FM 97.9 La Raza LOS ANGELES Regional Mexican Spanish Broadcasting 853,200 KHKS-FM 106.1 Kiss FM DALLAS CHR iHeartMedia 841,800 KGLK-FM The Eagle 106.9 & 107.5 HOUSTON Classic Rock Urban One 826,500 KHMX-FM Mix 96.5 HOUSTON Hot AC Audacy 823,000 KSPF-FM 98.7 The Spot DALLAS Classic Hits Audacy 818,200 WASH-FM 97.1 WASH-FM WASHINGTON, DC AC iHeartMedia 810,700 KRBE-FM 104.1 KRBE HOUSTON CHR Cumulus 771,300 WUSN-FM US99 CHICAGO Country Audacy 766,900 WBBM-AM WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9 CHICAGO News Audacy 764,300 KRRL-FM Real 92.3 LOS ANGELES Hip Hop/R&B iHeartMedia 760,100 WXRT-FM 93XRT CHICAGO AAA Audacy All ratings are Copyright ? 2005-2024* The Nielsen Company. All rights reserved. Nielsen radio audience estimates and data are federally copyrighted by and proprietary to Nielsen. more

From Radio Insight: It took until nearly the end of 2024 for one of the biggest deals of the year to go down with Educational Media Foundation literally going fishing to acquire the majority of Salem Media Group’s Christian AC stations that mostly operate under the “Fish” brand. The deal will allow EMF to bring its “K-Love” network into many of the remaining large markets it had been either completely absent or relying on small translators or rimshots to serve or introduce or upgrade its “Air 1” and potentially recently acquired “Radio Nueva Vida“. From its launch of the first “Fish” KFSH in suburban Los Angeles in 2000 followed by the subsequent acquisition of KLTY Dallas later that year, Salem quickly established itself as one of the largest players in the Christian AC format with the company expanding it to nearly a dozen markets at its peak until the company began selling off the stations in 2023. By the late 2000s, EMF began its rapid expansion nationally, while other regional players such as Way-FM, both Family Life’s, Northwestern Media and Radio Training Network would grow as well. With Salem exiting the space, very few commercial Christian AC multi-market operators will remain. Pillar Media operating in Cincinnati, Denver, and suburban New York City being perhaps the largest. This is the third deal between the groups in the past seventeen months. EMF previously acquired three stations in Greenville/Spartanburg SC from Salem in August 2023 and then stations in Nashville and Honolulu in March. Another “Fish“, KKSP Little Rock was sold to the unrelated Educational Radio Foundation of East Texas that has begun expanding beyond its region. Here’s how the new acquisitions impact each market? AtlantaBy way of also becoming the market’s defacto secular Christmas music station, Salem’s “104.7 The Fish” WFSH-FM is one of the jewels of this acquisition. “K-Love” entered the market in 2019 on 106.7 WAKL thanks to its largest single acquisition of stations from Cumulus, but WFSH-FM remained a regular top 10 station in the market year-round and usually #1 in the Holiday monthly. The deal will allow “Air 1” to gain a full-market signal as opposed to its current home on 92.3 W222AF Marietta, which is one of the best performing coverage-wise translators in the city. The loss of local programming on the Fish will likely open the door for someone else to claim the Christmas music mantle in 2025. In a market without a full-powered Classic Hits or Hot AC station, any audience loss from WFSH to a secular station could lead to further changes in the market in a way that is doubtful in most of the other markets. ClevelandBoth of EMF’s primary brands are currently on translators in Cleveland and adjacent Akron. Now the organization adds what an in-market PD calls the best signal in the market for “K-Love“. Colorado Springs“Q102.7” KBIQ predates Salem’s acquisition launching on 96.1 in 1993 before moving to 102.7 a few years later. “K-Love” is currently on rimshot 106.9 KLCX mostly covering Pueblo and area south, translator 103.1 K276GG in the city proper, and 90.1 KLDV Denver covering areas to the north. “Air 1” is on one of the few AMs owned by EMF 780 KJME as well as its translator 96.5 K243AM. DallasThis is the big fish nabbed by EMF and it doesn’t even use the “Fish” branding. Since acquiring the KLUV call letters and the rights to the “K-Love” brand in the Dallas area from Audacy, it has been a matter of when, not if the organization enters the final top 10 market it does not operate in. In 94.9 KLTY Arlington, EMF gets the a brand that is one of the regular top performers in any format in the market. KLTY originally debuted on 94.9 in 1985 before its format would be relaunched and moved to 94.1 KOJO the following year before being able to claim the KLTY calls back in 1989. Salem would acquire the brand in January 2000 and first moved it to its rimshot on 100.7 before it moved back to its original home in December 2000. Dallas is also the most crowded market for Christian AC. In the just released December 2024 monthly, KLTY was eighth in the market with a 3.7 share. EMF’s “Air 1” on rimshot 101.7 KYDA has set a record high share for three consecutive months rising to a 3.5. First Dallas Media’s 90.9 KCBI-FM had a 2.4 share, while Hope Media Group’s “89.7 Way-FM” KAWA has slid recently down to a 1.2. If EMF had acquired any other station in the market, it would have made sense to place the KLUV call letters on it for their legacy in the market. However, KLTY means much more to the audience even if just heard once an hour. Los AngelesWith its deal to share the “K-Love” brand in Southern California with Univision’s established Spanish AC “107.5 K-Love” KLVE, EMF cannot market 100.3 KKLQ as “K-Love” directly. Instead all advertising says just “Positive & Encouraging 100.3“, while its legal ID calls it “K-Love For Christian Music“. With its full market signal, KKLQ’s 1.6 share in December outranked “95.9 The Fish” KFSH’s Orange County centered 0.7 share throughout the Los Angeles market. “Air 1” currently airs on a network of signals including trimulcast 92.7 KYLA covering Orange County, KYRA in the northwest San Fernando Valley, and KYZA in the High Desert as well as translators 91.9 K220HC in the San Fernando Valley and 92.7 K224EY in parts of LA proper. Those combined for a 0.6 share. This could lead to a big upgrade for “Radio Nueva Vida” which is on 91.1 K216EM which covers a fair share of the market from Mount Wilson, but not Orange County. Portland“104.1 The Fish” KFIS usually gains notoriety for being one of the first stations each year to go all-Christmas as it made the move this year on Halloween. But it doesn’t make much of an impact up against iHeartMedia AC “K103” KKCW as its 1.6 share this month trailed KKCW’s market-leading 10.8 share. EMF already has “K-Love” on a stronger signal as 97.9 KLVP is a Class C1 to KFIS’s Class 2. “Air 1” operates on rimshot 88.7 KZRI and a pair of translators making it likely to be upgraded. EMF may end up with an extra signal as it already has Radio Nueva Vida and Christian Hip Hop “Boost Radio” on owned translators. Sacramento“103.9 The Fish” KKFS Lincoln gives EMF another rimshot in Sacramento. KKFS seems targeted for “Air 1” to pair with northern rimshot 99.1 KARA. “K-Love” is on 99.5 KLVB, which covers more of Sacramento proper, as well as southern rimshot 89.7 KLRS. What’s Next For EMFShockingly there are still markets where “K-Love” has little or no coverage including PPM markets such as Baltimore, Orlando, St. Louis, and Tampa or are on rimshots that could use upgrading such as Charlotte and Miami. Some of those are markets where previously EMF would hesitate from entering due to another well-established non-commercial player in the format, but those days have ended. There’s also room to keep growing the other networks. However, there is reason to believe that EMF may not be as aggressive as it used to be. After being very quiet earlier this year on the acquisition front, the deal with Salem is the largest use of a promissory note by the organization to spread out payments over time. Is it simply a more corporatized approach by using debt to build equity or to simply spread out the cash outlay following the costly construction of its new Franklin TN headquarters and either relocating or replacing its former Rocklin CA staff. What’s Next For SalemThe sale of the music stations, new investor, and elimination of debt more-or-less completes Salem’s conversion from a Christian focused media company into a more digital and politically focused one. After selling many of non-core assets in recent years such as its publishing and church products, Salem retains its Conservative Talk stations and mostly time-brokered preaching stations many of which are on AMs that continue to decline in valuation that have brought Salem’s financials down as they took annual write-downs, which is why they are placing more emphasis on its streaming video Salem News Channel, podcasts, influencer marketing, and other digital services targeting Christian and right-wing audiences. For the past several months, rumors circulated that Salem would consider selling all of their major market FMs to pay down its debt. The new investment on top of the EMF deal brings an end to that necessity, but there are still a few non-core question marks that could still be divested. What happens now to Salem’s “Salem Music Network” division? Many of the programs were based at the stations being sold or its former Nashville cluster. One Christian AC remains with Salem as “95.9 The Fish” W240CX Columbus OH was not part of the deal. And how does owning a pair of Regional Mexican stations in “93.1 El Rey” KRYP and “1640 La Patrona” KDZR in Portland fit in with Salem’s core businesses? The remaining radio stations at least provide major market clearances for Salem’s syndication units and whose voices power the digital brands the company is emphasizing now so those provide synergy for now. But as more of the audience pivots completely away from the mostly AM signals it is inevitable that the remaining properties could by divested at some point to end the write-down necessitation. more

From Radio Insight: Krol Communications Classic Country “Real Country 1520” WMLM/105.9 W290DR St. Louis MI will cease broadcasting on December 31 at 11:59pm. The company will continue operating its three FMs in Michigan: Hot AC “Z92.5 The Castle” WJSZ Ashley, Classic Hits 93.5 WHMI-FM Howell, and Classic Rock “103.9 The Fox” WRSR Owasso/Flint. more