Cumulus and Townsquare Media both continue to shut down under-performing stations across the country.
Following its shutdown of “ESPN Quad Cities” 1170 KBOB/104.1 K281DB Davenport IA and Red Dirt Country 1280 KSLI Abilene TX in early March, Townsquare has taken three more stations off the air.
1400 WJZN/95.9 W240DH Augusta ME, which was previously silent from May 2023 to May 2024, once again has been taken off-the-air. When broadcasting, the stations were simulcasting Alternative 94.3 WCYY Biddeford/Portland and 103.7 WPKQ North Conway NH. In New Jersey a pair of signals most recently being used to expand the coverage areas of co-owned FMs were taken off the air.
1160 WJLK/104.1 W281CK Lakewood Township, had been used to expand Hot AC “94.3 The Point” WJLK-FM Asbury Park into Ocean County and 1310 WOBM/96.7 W244EE Asbury Park did the reverse for AC 92.7 WOBM-FM Toms River into Monmouth County both went silent.
Townsquare used the boilerplate comment in its STA filing with the FCC noting, “Due to economic conditions in the market, the licensee was forced to take the station off the air temporarily. The licensee respectfully requests special temporary authority for the station to remain silent. The licensee will promptly notify the Commission when it is able to resume station operations.”
Cumulus in particular has been very active on this front with an internal list privately shared with RadioInsight showing over 20 stations to be taken off the air within the company. Those shutdowns started on Friday, February 28 with 560 KZAC (formerly KSFO) San Francisco and “101.5 Jack-FM” WLXX Richmond/Lexington KY going off-the-air.
Six additional stations shut down last week, eleven are set to cease operations this weekend, and more to continue later this month.
The full story here: https://radioinsight.com/headlines/296690/
Lance Venta, Radio Insight (2025-03-15)