Several Milwaukee Radio Alliance stations have begun to wind down their formats after news that two of the group’s stations are being sold.
An asset purchase agreement filed with the FCC on August 25 indicates K-Love Inc., which operates the national “K-Love” and “Air1” non-commercial Christian music networks, has agreed to pay $4 million for WLDB/93.3 (Milwaukee) and WLUM-FM/102.1 (Milwaukee). The deal includes the stations’ licenses and transmission equipment but not their studio facilities.
On Aug. 29, Joe Krauss and Julie Davidson gave farewells during an extended version of their “B93.3” morning show, including goodbyes from hosts from other Milwaukee Radio Alliance stations and behind-the-scenes workers.
After playing “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men, the Adult Contemporary station made its annual flip to All-Christmas music a few months earlier than usual. A post on the station’s Facebook page said the Christmas music would continue “until the end.”
Meanwhile, WLUM confirmed on-air August 26 that the sale will mean the end of its current Alternative format in about a month, with a celebration of its 19-year history until it ends.
The deal does not include the seller’s WZTI/1290 (Greenfield-Milwaukee) or FM translators W262CJ/100.3 (Milwaukee) and W297BY/107.3 (Franklin), which currently receive their programming from WLDB-HD3.
Country Aircheck reports that the “Froggy” Country format heard on W262CJ and W297BY will end before its first anniversary in November.
And WZTI, which carries a “Fonz” Oldies format, recently informed the FCC that it was forced off the air by flooding on Aug. 9-10. “Fonz” continues to stream online and the station’s notification said another filing will be submitted if it’s unable to return to the air by Sept. 9.
“K-Love” is currently heard in Milwaukee on the network’s WLVE/105.3 (Mukwonago).
Filing of the deal raises questions about whether K-Love Inc. will spin off one of the three signals, since the group typically only runs two signals per market. Formerly known as the Educational Media Foundation, the network has been on a buying spree over the last decade, purchasing former major commercial stations in cities including Chicago.
The Milwaukee Radio Alliance is currently one of five owners of Milwaukee-licensed class B FM commercial signals, competing with Audacy, Good Karma Brands, iHeartMedia, and Saga. Several other groups including Bustos Media, Civic Media, and Magnum Media operate suburban or smaller signals.
RELATED: Milwaukee Radio Stations
This item was first posted Aug. 25 and was updated Aug. 26. It was then rewritten Aug. 28 to reflect new developments, with another update on Aug. 29.