Southwestern Iowa radio duo KMA/960 (Shenandoah) and KMA-FM/99.1 (Clarinda) are getting new local owners, marking the first time in KMA’s 94-year history that it will not be owned by the May family.
KMALAND Broadcasting, LLC is buying the stations from Ed May Junior’s KMA Broadcasting L.P. for $2.9 million, according to an asset purchase agreement filed with the FCC. KMA was founded by Earl May in 1925; it was later passed it on to Ed May, Sr. and then Ed May, Jr.
KMA reported that May, Jr., who is turning 65, wants to spend more time travelling and with his family, and that none of his three children are interested in the business. The buyers say May sought out local owners for the station.
“We are excited about maintaining local ownership of KMA Broadcasting and humbled by the responsibility of maintaining the great tradition that has been KMA for the last 94 years. As local residents of the KMA listening area, we believe that KMA is part of the fabric of who we are,” the buyers wrote in a statement posted on KMA’s website.
KMALAND Broadcasting, LLC is owned by:
- Judith I. Wischik, Shenandoah (20%), board member
- Gregg Connell, Shenandoah (10%), board member
- Pam Ditmars, Shenandoah (10%)
- William Ditmars, Shenandoah (10%), board member
- James Doyle, Randolph (10%), board member
- Melonie Doyle, Randolph (10%)
- Jake McGargill, Imogene (10%), board member
- Pam McGargill, Imogene (10%)
- Nancy Maher, Shenandoah (10%)
KMA and KMA-FM simulcast a Farm/News/Talk format that consists of local information programming from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m., with syndicated talk from hosts such as Dave Ramsey and Jim Bohannan at other times. KMA’s 5kW signal reaches parts of four states day and night, while KMA-FM transmits with 100kW.
KMA has an interesting history, being one of two stations founded in Shenandoah by rival seed companies in the mid 1920’s: Earl May owned Earl May Seed and Nursery Company, while Henry Field of Henry Field Seed and Nursery founded KFNF. May’s station remains a commercial success decades later, while KFNF’s facilities were eventually assumed by non-commercial Family Radio station KYFR/920.
John Schneider wrote more about the stations’ rivalry in his article, “The Friendly Farmer Stations.”
Both seed companies remain in business, with the May family still owning 30 Earl May Garden Centers in four states. May Broadcasting also signed on KMTV, channel 3, in Omaha in 1949 and owned it until 1986.
Earl May was inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame in 2015: