Date |
Event |
1 |
Red Eye Radio and the Midnight Trucking Radio Network merge into one show, with the Midnight Trucking hosts (Eric Harley and Gary McNamara from WBAP/Dallas) broadcasting under the Red Eye name and previous Red Eye host Doug McIntyre being reassigned to a local show in Los Angeles. The weekend version, hosted by Marc Germain, would ultimately be dropped. Cumulus has since cleared Red Eye on many of their news/talk stations, in most cases, dropping Coast to Coast AM in the process. |
Rhythmic Top 40 KHTC/Minneapolis-St. Paul flips to Adult Top 40 and adopts the call letters KTWN.[1] |
A pair of Cumulus Media outlets flip formats, as WZRR/Birmingham drops Classic Rock for Top 40/CHR as "99.5 The Vibe"[2] and WNNF/Cincinnati dropping Adult Top 40 for Country, thus launching the "Great Country" brand that Cumulus would later expand to its sister outlets.[3] |
Cherry Creek makes a frequency swap in Missoula Top 40 KXDR to the stronger signal of 106.7 FM formerly held by clustermate KBQQ, which moves its main signal from 106.7 to 96.9 FM and its translator to KXDR's former signal at 98.7 FM for better coverage in the Missoula metropolitan area. |
2 |
KTWI/Omaha flips New Country "Twister 93.3" to Classic Country as "93.3 The Wolf".[4] |
WMTI/New Orleans flips from Oldies to Sports.[5] |
As part of a frequency swap, 95.7 FM in Cedar Rapids officially switches from country (which had moved to 96.5 FM on December 27, 2011) to simulcasting WMT's AM signal; on January 17, the call letters change to KWMG-FM. |
3 |
The Buffalo Bills Radio Network ends its relationship with Cumulus Media (purchasers of Citadel Broadcasting's assets, including former flagship WGRF and four other network affiliates) and signs a deal with Entercom Communications; as a result, the network's new flagship becomes Entercom's WGR (who already has the Sabres Hockey Network as well) effective that summer.[6] |
4 |
More post-New Year's Day format flips take place: WPLZ/Chattanooga from News/Talk to Country,[7] and both Oldies WKAD/Cadillac and Adult Standards sister station WMBN/Petoskey (both in Michigan) flip to Sports.[8] |
5 |
The owners of KMVV/Anchorage, which exited the Rhythmic AC MOViN' format in November 2011 before signing off December 31, 2011, announced it plans to return to the air with a Smooth Jazz format as "104.9 The Oasis".[9] |
6 |
KTFW/Fort Worth rebrands its country format, dropping the "Country Legends" name for country variety "Hank FM".[10] |
WXTL/Syracuse drops the talk format after two years for Classic Rock as "105.9 The Rebel".[11] |
WHTI/Richmond shifts directions from Rhythmic Top 40 to Top 40/CHR, keeping the "Hot 100.9" name.[12] |
After spending nearly two years with a conventional Top 40/CHR direction, CKHZ/Halifax, Nova Scotia overhauls the format (and along with it, the airstaff[13]), by returning to its Top 40/Dance roots as "Energy 103.5", mirroring its sister station in Winnipeg, CHWE.[14] |
Family Radio files papers with the FCC to change the licensing status of WFME/Newark-New York City from non-commercial to commercial, preparing it for a possible sale.[15] |
9 |
WDOK/Cleveland revamps its Adult Contemporary format, dropping both longtime midday host Nancy Alden and Delilah, and rebranding itself as "The New 102".[16] |
iHeartRadio announces a deal to bring Greater Media's 22 outlets to its streaming platform, starting in April.[17] |
12 |
KEXX/Phoenix drops Alternative rock "X 1039" for "Generation X"-style Classic rock, going as "My 103.9".[18] |
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Classic Rocker CKQK flips to Top 40/CHR as "Hot 105.5."[19] |
Veteran voiceover artist Bill St. James announces he would stepping down as host of Cumulus Media Networks' syndicated classic rock series Flashback effective immediately; Matt Pinfield (host of MTV/MTV2's 120 Minutes) would replace St. James as host of the program.[20][21] |
13 |
Clear Channel Communications changes the name of its radio division to Clear Channel Media & Entertainment.[22] |
15 |
WOLT/Greenville adjusts its Classic Hits/brokered programming format with the addition of Dance Top 40 hits and remixes, using Jamtraxx's Spin-FM service.[23] |
19 |
The bandwagon of FM sports talk stops in Missoula, Montana as Cherry Creek installs a simulcast of AM KGRZ at 92.7 fm the former home of CHR top 40 KXDR which displaced KBQQ's 106.7 signal. |
20 |
Three stations make format changes; KLZR/Lawrence-Topeka, Kansas drops Adult Top 40 for Top 40/CHR as "105.9 Kiss-FM,"[24] WMHX/Harrisburg drops 90s hits to return to Country as "The New Z 106.7,"[25] and KFLX/Flagstaff, Arizona drops Adult Top 40 for 80s Retro hits as "Rewind 92.5 & 104.1".[26] |
23 |
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has ruled that College-run radio stations in Canada can no longer use students as on-air DJs. This move will mean that CKIC/Winnipeg will be the first station to be forced off the air due to this decision.[27] |
24 |
Sirius XM Radio offers a free 3-month subscription to anyone who buys a used vehicle that was equipped with a satellite radio feature that was made by the Chrysler Group LLC.[28] |
27 |
The 97.9 signal that was the former home of WPKX/Springfield, Massachusetts is relaunched in Hartford, Connecticut as an ESPN Radio affiliate.[29] |
Date |
Event |
3 |
KSZR/Tucson drops Adult Hits for Top 40/CHR as "i97.5".[30] |
5 |
KCKS/Chico, California returns to Fox Sports Radio after nearly a year as a Top 40/CHR.[31] |
8 |
The Spanish Top 40 format of XHGTS-FM/Nuevo Laredo, Mexico moves over to KQUR/Laredo, Texas, displacing KQUR's Active Rock format, which moves over to the internet.[32] |
10 |
WFGZ/Nashville flips from Christian Contemporary to Classic Hits as "Hippy Radio 94.5" and takes the call letters WHPY-FM.[33] |
14 |
A pair of format flips occur, with CJGV-FM/Winnipeg flipping from AC to Adult Top 40 as "99.1 Fresh FM",[34] and KOAZ/Isleta, New Mexico dropped Country to target Albuquerque with a Smooth Jazz format as "103.7 The Oasis."[35] |
15 |
WWPW/Louisville returns to the air as an 80's-based AC and takes call letters of WLUE, which once resided at 100.5 from 2005 to 2009.[36] |
17 |
After 52 years of being owned by the Dittman family, WABB-FM/Mobile is sold to Educational Media Foundation. The station flipped from its longtime Top 40/CHR format to the K-Love format on March 1.[37] At the same time, Cumulus Media flipped its Jack FM format in the area and resurrected the Top 40 station as WABD.[38] |
Fort Walton Beach, Florida outlets WFFY and WMXZ adjusts formats, with WFFY shifting from Rhythmic Top 40 to Top 40/CHR as "Q92." WMXZ flipped from Adult Top 40 to Rock on March 2 and adopting the moniker "103.1 The Blaze."[39] |
20 |
The Quad Cities picks up another Top 40/CHR, as KUUL drops its oldies format (which had been in place since 1989) to become "101.3 KISS-FM."[40] Several of KUUL's former syndicated programs are shuffled to sister-station KMXG to create a "retro/oldies" weekend programming block at that station. In response to the format switch, another FM station in the Quad Cities' market, WYEC (93.9 FM), expands its oldies programming by rebranding itself "Rewind 93.9" and adding a block of 50s and 60s music on Fridays. |
22 |
WFNL/Raleigh returns to the air with programming from 24/7 Comedy Radio. The station, formerly classic country WQDR, had been silent for ten months after its tower was destroyed by a tornado in April 2011.[41] |
24 |
Cumulus Media expands the "Great Country" branding to current Country outlet WSJR/Wilkes-Barre,[42] and former Top 40/CHR WKOS/Kingsport.[43] |
Date |
Event |
1 |
KVWE/Missoula, Montana changes to simulcast of KGVO-AM leaving western Montana and Missoula once again without a Soft Adult Contemporary station and the third station to attempt and drop the format. |
2 |
KJMK/Joplin drops Adult Contemporary for Classic Hits under the name "Classic Hits 93.9".[44] |
3 |
WIOP/Charleston, South Carolina evolves from AC to Adult Top 40 as "Mix 95.9." It is expected to also pick up the call letters of its now Rock-formatted sister station WMXZ/Fort Walton Beach.[45] |
4 |
A series of advertisers including LegalZoom, Citrix, Sleep Number, The Sleep Train, ProFlowers, Quicken Loans and Carbonite, drop or suspend their sponsorship of The Rush Limbaugh Show after host Rush Limbaugh made derogatory remarks toward activist Sandra Fluke, who testified in favor of a rule requiring religious institutions to pay for birth control as part of their health insurance plans.[46] The Sleep Train asked to resume advertising four days later, but Limbaugh refused.[47] |
5 |
KUDL/Kansas City ends its classical music format and begins carrying business programming; the classical format originated as KXTR on 96.5 FM in the 1950s but had been on AM since 2000.[48] |
8 |
Cumulus Media announced that they are dropping Billy Bush's nighttime program from their Top 40/CHR outlets. Cumulus, which had an agreement with Westwood One to carry the show (and several other of the network's offerings), acquired the former ABC Radio Networks in fall 2011 and began phasing out programs from Westwood One (which merged with Dial Global at the same time) on its stations.[49] |
9 |
Entercom purchases KBLX/San Francisco from Inner City Broadcasting for 25 million. The deal comes in the wake of Inner City's bankruptcy and to prevent an attempt by Cumulus Media to acquire the Urban AC outlet.[50] |
KBJX/Idaho Falls flips its format from '80s-based Adult Hits to Easy Listening as "Easy Rock 106". |
KRMX/Waco, Texas flips formats from Hot AC to Country as "Shooter FM" |
KRXX/Kodiak, Alaska flips its format from Adult Hits to Top 40/CHR as "Hot FM". |
13 |
Curtis Media Group shuffles its talk programming in the Piedmont Triad and Research Triangle, dropping the format from WZTK/Burlington, North Carolina. Some of WZTK's programming moves to WSJS/Winston-Salem and WPTK/Raleigh, ending the oldies format of WKIX AM; WPTK also inherits most of WPTF's talk programming as that station moves to an emphasis on news programming.[51][52] |
15 |
Federated Media announces that it will simulcast Fort Wayne talk station WOWO on the FM dial starting April 1, displacing classic rock WFWI. The simulcast actually starts on March 28.[53][54] |
16 |
Montreal-based Astral Media announces an agreement to merge its assets with Bell Media for $3.38 billion; among the assets included in the sale are 85 Astral-owned radio stations in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.[55] |
WXKR/Toledo flips its second HD Radio subchannel from Top 40/CHR as "100.7 The Vibe" to Alternative as "The Zone". |
KRWK/Fargo's flips its format from classic rock to news/talk under the branding KFGO-FM. |
19 |
WWWM/Toledo flips from AC to Top 40/CHR, retaining the "Star 105.5" moniker. It also replaced the FM translator at 100.7, which returned to Alternative.[56] |
22 |
Cumulus Media expands the AC formatted "Warm" brand to two markets: Alternative KYNF/Fayetteville, Arkansas,[57] and Jack FM formatted KBIU/Lake Charles, Louisiana[58] |
23 |
More format changes taking place in Florida: WFJO/Jacksonville flips from Gospel to a simulcast of Sports Talk AM WJXL;[59] and in nearby Daytona Beach, WLOV-FM debuts with a soft AC format.[60] |
24 |
The number of Mainstream Top 40s in Spokane increases to Three as Clear Channel Country outlet KIXZ joins the fray as "Hits 96.1."[61] |
26 |
KLIF/Dallas begins a transition from talk to an all-news format, debuting news-intensive blocks in both morning and afternoon drive as "News/Information 570.".[62] |
29 |
The number of Top 40s in San Diego increases to three as CBS Radio Modern Hot AC outlet KSCF morphs into the upbeat and Rhythmic-leaning "Energy 103.7."[63] |
30 |
KDHT-FM/Denver flips from Top 40/CHR to Dance.[64] |
Date |
Event |
1 |
WARG/Summit, Illinois a student and volunteer run radio outlet operated by Argo Community High School and whose signal covers the southwestern portions of Chicago and Cook County, dropped the Alternative format after 36 years in favor of Dance, with most of the music provided by internet broadcaster Fusion Radio. The station's staff and volunteers were retained, as well as their programming lineup when Dance music is not aired.[65] |
WCMQ-FM/Miami flips from Spanish Oldies to Salsa and adopts the "Zeta" moniker that was once used at WINZ and WZTA.[66] |
2 |
Bloomington, Illinois becomes the latest radio market to see two stations flip formats within 72 hours of each other, with WVMG dropping AC for Top 40/CHR as "Hits 100.7" WWHX,[67] and WZIM dropping Classic Hits for Sports Talk on April 5.[68] |
4 |
Clear Channel expand its Top 40 roster, and adds a three-way race in two markets: WVMA/Norfolk,[69] and KVJM/Bryan-College Station, Texas.[70] |
9 |
Another Clear Channel outlet flips to Top 40/CHR, as WMRV/Binghamton, New York returns to the format after spending time as an Adult Top 40 but continues to bill itself as "Star 105.7."[71] |
10 |
CBS Radio sells their West Palm Beach cluster of Rhythmic Top 40 WMBX, Adult Top 40 WPBZ, AC WEAT, Country WIRK and Adult R&B WHFS to locally based Palm Beach Broadcasting LLC (the owners of WRMF; and headed by GoodRadio.TV chairman Dean Goodman) for $50 Million, pending FCC approval.[72] WEAT and WHFS will be resold to a third party along with plans to move WEAT's format and call letters to WPBZ and a possible frequency relocation for WEAT's 104.3 signal into the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area; the WHFS call letters will remain with CBS.[73] |
As a result of Canada's Conservative Government's announced plan to make a $115 million (CDN) reduction in funding over the next three years, The CBC announces that it will eliminate 650 jobs and for the first time since 1975 will begin airing commercials on their stations, but limiting it to their music outlets only.[74] |
11 |
Double O Radio sells their Panama City, Florida cluster of Rhythmic Top 40 WPFM, Classic Rock WRBA, Bob FM formatted WASJ and Country WAKT to Powell Broadcasting for $950,000. No changes will be made under the turnover.[75][76] |
13 |
Cumulus Media makes more formatic adjustments: KQHN/Shreveport drops Adult Top 40 for Top 40/CHR as i97.3[77] and WGVX-WGVY-WGVZ/Minneapolis-St. Paul shifts from Oldies to AC.[78] |
16 |
After 43 years, WKDN/Philadelphia ceases its broadcast of Family Radio following its sale to Merlin Media. The station launched a news talk format on May 7 under the new call letters WWIQ.[79] |
17 |
Howard Stern loses his lawsuit against Sirius XM Radio in which Stern sought $300 million in stock from the company for meeting benchmarks. The ruling determined Stern did not meet those benchmarks and resulted in the case being dismissed with prejudice.[80] |
WQTL/Tallahassee goes from Oldies "Q106.1" to a hybrid Classic Rock/AAA format as "106.1 The Path."[81] |
18 |
WJGH/Jacksonville trades Classic Hits "Magic 107.3" for Adult Hits Jack FM.[82] |
23 |
Keeping "The Bone" name in tact, WHPT/Tampa makes the shift from Classic Rock to Hot Talk.[83] |
After less than eight months on the air, Cumulus Media drops the 80s/90s "Journey" format from WJLQ/Pensacola in favor of a simulcast of news/talk WCOA.[84] |
24 |
In a partial reversal of Merlin Media's switch of heritage modern rock "Q101" WKQX/Chicago to all-news as WIQI, Merlin announces a LMA with WLFM-LP channel 6 - the audio of which operates as a de facto radio station at 87.75 MHz - effective April 30.[85][86] Merlin then files paperwork to change WLFM's call letters to WKQX, and flipped the station's format from smooth jazz to modern rock on May 7 as "Q87.7."[87] It will not have any connection to the previous station or carry the "Q101" brand, which was sold to Broadcast Barter Radio Network upon WKQX's initial demise (Broadcast Barter subsequently began leasing time on Elmhurst-licensed daytimer WJJG as "Q101 on 1530," hours before "Q87.7" launched).[88] |
26 |
ESPN Radio announces that it will be taking over Emmis' New York urban AC WRKS starting April 30 via a LMA. ESPN's flagship station, WEPN, will simulcast, and eventually move to, the 98.7 frequency (retitled WEPN-FM on May 14).[89] Emmis then announced that they would be selling off the intellectual property of "98.7 Kiss" to YMF Media, slated to take over WRKS's main competitor WBLS, along with WLIB, from Inner City Broadcasting.[90][91] |
30 |
Townsquare Media and Cumulus Media swap 65 stations in 13 US radio markets in a deal worth $116 million. With this deal, Cumulus enters Peoria and Bloomington, Illinois while Townsquare enters 11 small markets as part of the trade.[92] |
Date |
Event |
7 |
FM 107.3 in South Bristol, New York resumes independent operations, ending its simulcast of WHTK/Rocheser and adopting an oldies format as WODX.[93] |
16 |
The Boston Phoenix announces on their blog that their co-owned Alternative outlet WFNX/Boston will be sold to Clear Channel Communications for $11 Million.[94] The station flipped to Adult Hits two months later and adopted new call letters as WHBA.[95] |
Albuquerque, New Mexico adds yet another Top 40/CHR, as KLQT drops AC to become "Channel 95.1".[96] |
The Larry H. Miller Group acquires KZNS-AM & FM from the SLC Divesture Trust, which was set up to spin off stations that was placed on sale from Simmons Broadcasting after it purchased Mill Creek Broadcasting in 2010. The Sports Talk combo will become the new broadcast home for the Utah Jazz, which is owned by Miller.[97] |
17 |
WNUE/Orlando flips from Spanish Adult Hits to Salsa as "Salsa 98.1".[98] |
18 |
KDMX/Dallas changes their Hot AC format to Adult Top 40 and rebrands their moniker from "Mix 102.9" to "102.9 NOW," with emphasis on currents.[99] |
23 |
WSGX/St. Louis flips from "Gen-X" Hot AC to 80s-focused Classic Rock as "100.3 The Brew."[100] |
24 |
"She 103.5" returns to Miami as WMIB moves to Adult Hits, leaving behind Spanish AC "Super X." The "She" name was used at the station previously until 1995.[101] |
25 |
WXKT/Athens drops Talk for Classic Hits as "103.7 Chuck FM".[102] |
29 |
Cumulus Media flips WYAY/Atlanta's format from classic hits to all-news, marking the third attempt at the format in the market's recent history. Former KDKA/Pittsburgh program director Marshall Adams was tabbed by Cumulus for like duties at the new station.[103][104] |
30 |
Two stations make post Memorial Day format flips: WLER/Butler, Pennsylvania drops Adult Top 40 for Active Rock;[105] and WGBZ/Anniston, Alabama drops Urban for Classic Rock.[106] |
Date |
Event |
1 |
Palm Beach Radio makes a series of changes in South Florida, all triggered by the sale of CBS Radio's West Palm Beach, Florida cluster to Palm Beach Broadcasting, LLC. Country-formatted WIRK moves from its 107.9 frequency to 103.1, replacing Adult Top 40 WPBZ. Adult contemporary station WEAT moves from its longtime home at 104.3 to the 107.9 frequency. The 104.3 signal officially changed its COL from West Palm Beach to Miramar, targeting Miami with a Smooth AC format under the new call letters WMSF. It is expected to be a temporary placement until Palm Beach Broadcasting finds a buyer for the station.[107] |
4 |
Federated Media flips its four Indiana stations WFGA, WLEG, WAOR and WNIL to Sports.[108] |
6 |
KXLI/Las Vegas is sold to Radio Activo Broadcasting. A format change to Spanish CHR occurred on July 1.[109] |
7 |
KEXX/Phoenix makes the transition from Adult Hits to Adult Top 40.[110] |
11 |
The Glenn Beck Program is renewed for another five years on Premiere Networks as Premiere and host Glenn Beck reach a contract extension that runs through 2017.[111] |
12 |
KOGM/Lafayette, Louisiana drops Classic Hits for Adult Top 40 as "Mix 107.1".[112] |
13 |
Bernard Radio sold WRBP/Youngstown, Ohio to Educational Media Foundation for $500,000. The station will flip from urban contemporary to Christian Music.[113] On Jan 24 2013, call letters were changed to WYLR. |
14 |
WTDA and WMNI/Columbus flip their formats to all-news, branded as "NewsRadio 103.9 and 920". The flip also reduces the number of Oldies/Classic Hits outlets in Columbus from five stations to three.[114] |
WOBE/Iron Mountain, Michigan flips from Classic Hits to Top 40/CHR, branded "100.7 Radio Now".[115] |
18 |
Urban AC KRMP/Oklahoma City adds a FM translator at 92.1 and rebrands its moniker from "1140 The Touch" to "Heart & Soul 92.1 & 1140," thus allowing the AM daytimer to broadcast around the clock.[116] |
25 |
Spanish AC WRMA/Miami flips to bilingual Dance Top 40 as "DJ 106.7," with former crosstown Rhythmic Top 40 WPOW morning host DJ Laz adding similar duties via voicetracking from sister station KXOL/Los Angeles starting July 4.[117] |
Boston.com, the website of The Boston Globe, announces the launching of an internet Alternative radio station, employing the former air staff of WFNX, which was sold to Clear Channel in May.[118] |
WLFN/La Crosse, Wisconsin flips from Adult Standards to All Talk as "Today's Talk 1190".[119] |
26 |
iHeartRadio announces that Cox Radio and Emmis Communications will join the platform.[120] Two days later, the same two companies, along with Entercom, also signed a similar deal with TuneIn to add their stations to the platform.[121] |
28 |
The number of Top 40s in Boston increased to three as CBS Radio flipped WODS to "103.3 AMP Radio." The move brings the Top 40/CHR format back to the 103.3 frequency after 24 years, when its predecessor WEEI-EM (later WHTT) had programmed the format from 1982 to 1986.[122] However, the Oldies/Classic Hits format lives on as a HD-2 channel on WODS' subcarrier.[123] |
KOKO/Fresno shifts from Rhythmic Oldies to Oldies/Classic Hits, focusing on music from the 1960s to 1980s.[124] |
Univision makes format changes in the Dallas-Ft. Worth radio market. KESS drops Spanish Oldies for Bilingual Top 40/CHR, billing itself as "Radio H2O" with most of the presentation in English. At the same time, sister station KDXX goes from Spanish Oldies to Regional Mexican and KFZO goes from Regional Mexican to Spanish AC.[124] |
29 |
WWNU/Columbia, South Carolina flips from soft AC to Triple-A as "92.1 The Palm".[125] |
Date |
Event |
1 |
WBOW-FM/Terre Haute, Indiana drops AC for Country as "Q102.7" and changes call letters to WDWQ.[126] |
2 |
WLYT/Charoltte departs the AC format and becomes Adult Hits as "102.9 The Lake".[127] |
After spending a year with a Rhythmic Oldies direction, KJHM/Denver becomes the second outlet in three days to drop the approach as it shifts its direction to Rhythmic AC, focusing on current-based R&B and Old School songs.[128] |
3 |
After spending two years with a Gen-X format, KTGX/Tulsa becomes the second Clear Channel outlet in three weeks to drop the format for Country as "106.1 The Twister." This flip brings the number of Country outlets in Tulsa to four, joining the already established rivals KVOO, KXBL, and KWEN.[129] |
Just a year after making a return to morning drive, Rick Dees parts ways with KHHT/Los Angeles.[130] |
10 |
Cumulus Media spins off Classic Hits WRQQ/Nashville to Educational Media Foundation, giving Nashville its first K-LOVE outlet. The station flipped on July 15.[131] |
15 |
In a surprise move, Cumulus Media announced on July 9 that WABD/Mobile will relocate from 104.1 to 97.5 and move its sister station WDLT from 98.3 to 104.1 on this date, thus restoring Top 40/CHR and Urban AC formats back to their original frequencies. Educational Media Foundation would then relocate WLVM from 97.5 to 98.3.[132] |
16 |
CHLQ-FM Magic 93 Charlottetown flips to classic rock Q93 filling a void left in the market after Newcap's K-Rock 105.5 became CHR Hot 105.5 earlier this year |
17 |
Plagued by low ratings and uneven programming methods, Merlin Media ends the all-news formats of both WEMP/New York and WIQI/Chicago after less than a year, flipping them back to music-based formats. With the move, WEMP reverts to alternative rock as "New Rock 101.9" (exactly one year and two days after predecessor WRXP signed off) and WIQI takes an adult hits format as "i101." The format changes were sudden, and a vast majority of personnel for both stations were dismissed as a result.[133] |
Alternative outlet KHJK/Houston flips to Air1 upon its change of ownership from Cumulus to EMF via a LMA.[134] |
21 |
Randy Owen, lead singer of Alabama, takes over Country Gold, the long-running Saturday night classic country request program currently heard on Dial Global. In doing so, the new program mostly abandons its request format dating to its launch on Westwood One in the early 1990s.[135] |
27 |
WUTQ-AM and WRCK, a pair of daytime-only AM radio stations in the Mohawk Valley, are sold to new ownership. The two stations, the former of which is to change call signs to WUSP, will adopt a sports radio format with elements of the predecessor's full service trappings; the stations' previous adult contemporary format will continue on WUTQ-FM, which is not included in the sale. |
Date |
Event |
1 |
The HD2 and translator of Urban WQUE/New Orleans drops its Old School Hip-Hop format for Top 40/CHR as "96.3 KISS FM." This marks the second time in this market that Clear Channel has used the Top 40 "KISS-FM" brand, which was last used at KSTE.[136] |
2 |
CBS Radio flips WSJT/Tampa from Hot AC "Play 98.7" to Sports Talk as "98.7 The Fan".[127] |
8 |
The Montreal Canadiens file a request of intervention with the CRTC to oppose Bell Globemedia's plan to change the language of Sports Talk CKGM/Montreal from anglophone to Francophone. The NHL team are worried that the move will displace their English-language listeners and is asking that the station broadcast the games in both languages[137] |
13 |
WXKS-AM drops the Talk format for Comedy as "Matty's Comedy 1200."[138] Some of WXKS' existing programming, including The Rush Limbaugh Show and Coast to Coast AM were picked up by WRKO. |
Clear Channel acquires its first AM outlet in New York City with the purchase of News/Talk outlet WOR (AM) (as well as its associated specialty network) from Buckley Broadcasting. Clear Channel will take over the station via a LMA on August 15 until the sale is approved by the FCC.[139] |
WQJK/Knoxville flipped from Jack FM to Top 40/CHR as "95.7 Power FM."[140] |
16 |
Radio One announced that it has acquired Spanish Sports Talk WZZQ-AM (including its translator) and its Regional Mexican sister station WNOW-FM in Charlotte from Gaffney Broadcasting for $7.75 Million, but will hold on to the FM and will start programming the station via a LMA on September 4, 2012, ending Davidson Media Group's involvement with the station. The AM and translator will be spun off to a third party.[141] WNOW flipped to a Rhythmic Oldies format on August 27.[142] |
17 |
CIQM/London, Ontario drops Hot AC and the EZ Rock format for Top 40/CHR, adopting parent company Astral Media's "Virgin Radio" branding.[143] |
21 |
CHAM/Hamilton, Ontario abandons its country music format and joins Cumulus Media Networks's 24/7 Comedy Radio network. CHAM joins CKSL/London, Ontario, a corporate sister station, in programming the American network. (Because the network is entirely spoken word, it is not subject to Canadian content requirements.) |
24 |
Lincoln Financial Media announced that they will purchase WMSF/Miami from Palm Beach Radio for $13 Million and will flip the Smooth AC outlet to Sports, simulcasting sister AM WAXY under a LMA deal until the deal is approved by the FCC.[144] |
25 |
Salem Communications purchases WMUU-FM/Greenville from Gospel Fellowship Association, affiliated with Bob Jones University. The Christian/Beautiful Music outlet will move to online as the station flips to Conservative Talk programming from Salem Radio Network[145] |
27 |
WDXX/Montgomery flips from Country to broad-based Variety Hits, branded as "Fuzion 100.1."[146] |
28 |
Talk Radio Network files an antitrust lawsuit against Dial Global.[147] |
29 |
Springfield, Missouri picks up a Rhythmic Top 40 outlet, as KOSP exits Classic Hits to become "92.9 The Beat."[148] |
After 38 years as a Rock format, Clear Channel flips WKLS/Atlanta to Top 40/CHR as "Power 96.1."[149] To fill the void, Cumulus picked up the Active Rock format on WWWQ-HD2 a few days later, despite being on a 250-watt FM translator and HD2 subchannel.[150] |
31 |
Top 40/CHR CKMM/Winnipeg is the latest station in Canada to adopt parent company Astral Media's Virgin Radio branding.[151] |
Cumulus and EMF swap stations, with EMF exchanging K-LOVE outlet KXPC/Eugene, Oregon for Cumulus' Adult Top 40 KRUZ/Santa Barbara, California. Cumulus will hang on to the KRUZ call letters.[152] |
WJSE/Cape May, New Jersey drops Classic Hits in favor of Alternative Rock.[153] |
KMRJ/Palm Springs drops Classic Rock for Rhythmic Hot AC as "Jammin' 99.5."[154] |
Date |
Event |
1 |
MOViN' returned to Anchorage, as KNLT exits AC to pick the Rhythmic AC format that was dropped by KMVV back in November 2011. KMVV, which flipped to Christmas music after dropping the MOViN' brand, has been silent since February 2012 and has yet to return to the air.[155] |
KOLL/Little Rock flips from AC to Regional Mexican, bringing its first Spanish formatted outlet to the market.[156] |
2 |
Clear Channel flips KQBW/Omaha from Classic Rock for Top 40, setting up competition against KQCH.[157] |
4 |
WZKT/Lewes, Delaware drops Country for News/Talk with the branding "Delaware 105.9." and changes their call sign to WXDE[158] |
WCHY/Madison drops Adult Hits for Adult Top 40 as "Mix 105.1"[159] |
NBC Sports Radio launches, competing with ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio as a sports radio network.[160] |
7 |
For the first time since WLUM flipped to Alternative in 1994, the Rhythmic Top 40 format returned to Milwaukee, as WZBK-FM dropped Classic Country to become "Energy 106.9" and changes call letters to WNRG.[161] |
WQSH/Albany drops the 90's format for Adult Top 40 and rechristens the station as "Pop Crush 105.7"[162] |
KJAC/Fort Collins, Colorado, the first station to adopt the Jack FM format in the United States in 2004, flips to a simulcast of ESPN Radio affiliate KDSP/Denver[163] |
10 |
WOSW/Fulton, Oswego County, New York ends its simulcast of Radio Disney (which will remain heard on WOLF/WWLF) and adopts a classic country format, which has not been heard in Central New York since WSCP abandoned the format in 2007.[164] |
Florence, South Carolina picks up a R&B/Hip-Hop simulcast, as AC WRZE and Gospel combo WWRK & W290CD become "Swagga 94.1 & 105.9."[165] |
11 |
Abilene, Texas sees two sister stations owned by Doud Media Group switch signals and format flips, with Top 40/CHR KORQ moving from 95.1 to 96.1, replacing Fox News Radio affiliate KFNA due to lackluster ratings. The 95.1 signal will be replaced with Country, as it brings back "The Wolf" moniker that was last heard at the 96.1 signal in 2010.[166] |
12 |
WROO/Greenville drops its hybrid Christian/AC format for Classic Rock, branded as "96.7 The Road".[167] |
13 |
Mainestream Media takes control of WBQW/Kennebunkport, Maine (serving the Portland area), and drops its simulcast of WBACH for a stunt of Christmas music. The station adopted a CHR format the following day.[168] |
Radio One doubles the coverage of Urban Gospel in Charlotte, as Urban AC WQNC becomes a simulcast of sister station WPZS.[169] |
14 |
WIGX/Smithtown, New York departs the Gen-X format and becomes Mainstream Rock as "94.3 The Shark".[170] |
17 |
Hot AC KYYY/Bismarck, North Dakota is the latest Clear Channel outlet to make a return to its former Top 40/CHR format.[171] |
19 |
KRPT/San Antonio drops Conservative Talk for Rhythmic Top 40 as "WiLD 92.5 & 105.7," the latter being the former FM translator simulcast of AM News sister WOAI due to KRPT being signal challenged in San Antonio proper.[172] |
26 |
WGST/Atlanta announces it will drop its long-running news/talk format, firing morning hosts Dave Merlino and Rob Johnson, afternoon host Rusty Humphries, and its news department. At the same time, WSB/WSBB and WCFO announced they would pick up The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Glenn Beck Program, respectively, beginning October 1. The move came ahead of a format change to ESPN Deportes Radio two days later.[173] |
Date |
Event |
1 |
KDMX/Dallas returns to their heritage Hot AC format while maintaining its current "102.9 Now" branding. The switch is likely due to low ratings and overlapping Top 40/CHR sister station KHKS 106.1 Kiss FM. |
4 |
WERZ/Portsmouth, New Hampshire exits Adult Top 40 to return to its former Top 40/CHR format and reclaims the "Z107" moniker. As a result of this flip, sister station WSKX will flip from Top 40/CHR to AC and take the "95.3 The Coast" moniker October 10.[174] |
Florence, South Carolina sees another simulcast flip formats, as News/Talk/Sports trio WOLH/WHYM & W255BD become Rhythmic Oldies "Jammin' 98.9."[175] |
8 |
CBS Radio adds another FM to its New York City cluster by acquiring WRXP from Merlin Media for $75 million. CBS will flip the Alternative outlet to Sports, becoming a simulcast of AM sister WFAN. The station changed format on November 2.[176] |
11 |
Clear Channel expands the iHeartRadio platform to Australia and New Zealand, with a customized version being launched through part-owned Australian Radio Network[177] |
15 |
KRML/Monterey, California, the station made famous in the 1971 film "Play Misty for Me," drops its longtime Jazz format for Top 40/CHR as "Radio Yummi." Their slogan is "All the hits, over and over again." However, this is later revealed to be a stunt as KRML unveiled a Triple-A format that includes Jazz and Blues programming on October 29.[178] |
16 |
Family Radio sells WFME/New York City to Cumulus Media, giving them another station to add to its NYC cluster that includes WABC and WPLJ. Cumulus will announce a new format from WFME after the sale is approved at the end of the year.[179] |
18 |
The CRTC has denied Bell Media's proposed plan to merge with Astral Media, citing that the deal was "not in the public interest," and added that the merger would not provide "significant and unequivocal benefits to the Canadian broadcasting system and to Canadians sufficient to outweigh its concerns." In addition, the proposed plan that was tied to that deal, the conversion of CKGM/Montreal from anglophone to francophone, was also turned down due to lack of support.[180] |
19 |
KCAR/Joplin, Missouri drops All-Comedy for Adult Top 40 as "Star 104.3".[181] |
23 |
Radio One sells Adult Hits WJKR/Columbus to Salem Communications, which plans to flip the Jack FM-formatted station to a Conservative Talk format as "98.9 The Answer" November 1.[182] |
Mel Karmazin announces that he stepping down as CEO of Sirius XM Radio effective February 1, 2013. The decision comes as Liberty Media prepares to acquire the remaining 50.5% ownership of the satellite radio broadcaster.[183] |
24 |
WZGC/Atlanta drops Triple-A for Sports Talk as "92.9 The Game," utilizing a local and live airstaff.[184] |
25 |
Sports Talk WBNS-FM/Columbus fires morning host Scott Torgerson after he made a tweet on October 13 that he wished that ESPN personality Desmond Howard "get fired or die" so he can watch College GameDay again. The comments, which later went viral, resulted in WBNS suspending him on October 17.[185] |
25 |
Urban AC WEOA/Evansville adds an FM translator at 98.5 and changes its moniker from "AM 1400 The Pump" to "Magic 98.5."[186] |
Date |
Event |
1 |
Two stations mark their departures from low rated formats to Christmas Music: Variety Hits WCHK/Appleton, Wisconsin and Talk WLRS/Louisville. Both outlets returned with new format after the holidays: WCHK to Retro-based Hot AC as WKZG,[187] and WLRS to Light AC as "Easy 105.1."[188] |
2 |
Rhythmic Hot AC WMOV/Norfolk joined the latest list of outlets playing Christmas Music until the end of the Holidays. It returned to the same format December 26.[189] |
7 |
Clear Channel makes a surprise switch and format flip in St. Louis, with Urban AC KMJM moving from 104.9 to 100.3, displacing Classic Rock KBWX, who relocates to 104.9 and flips to Rhythmic Top 40 as "WiLD 104.9".[190] Ironically, later that evening, Radio One Urban AC rival WFUN make a surprise flip as well, this time to Rhythmic Oldies as "Old School 95.5."[191] |
8 |
After 27 years, CBS Radio retires the call letters of Top 40/CHR WXRK/New York City, replaces them with WNOW-FM to match the 92.3 NOW moniker[192] |
9 |
Sports Talk CFAC/Calgary suspends morning host Dean "Boomer" Molberg after he made comments that he hoped the Saskatchewan Roughriders' plane to Calgary for the November 11 CFL playoff against the Calgary Stampeders would crash and four players would die, a reference to a 1956 plane crash that took the lives of four Stampeders and a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, whose grandson happens to be a current player with the Stampeders. Molberg later apologized for the comments. CFAC also announced that it would make a donation to a charity of the Roughriders' choice and that Molberg's suspension will be lifted after the CFL season ends.[193] |
KPOJ/Portland drops Progressive Talk for Fox Sports Radio.[194] Days later, KPTK/Seattle announced it will drop the format in favor of CBS Sports Radio.[195] |
10 |
WPRF/New Orleans drops Gospel for Classic Country as "Gumbo 94.9" [196] |
15 |
CFWD/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan drops Top 40/CHR and released the airstaff from their jobs for Christmas music. On December 26, it flipped to a Classic Hits format as "96.3 Cruz FM".[197] |
Dial Global announces it has extended its exclusive agreement with the National Football League through the 2017 NFL season. The agreement was originally scheduled to expire in 2014.[198] |
21 |
WTDY-AM/FM/Madison, Wisconsin terminates their entire news and local talk staff and begins stunting Christmas music.[199][200] |
22 |
KXOS/Los Angeles flips from Spanish Contemporary to Bilingual Rhythmic Top 40 featuring English-language music and Spanish-speaking DJs. This type of direction is patterned after XHFAJ "Alfa Radio", Mexico City, whose owner Grupo Radio Centro has a partial ownership stake in KXOS.[201] |
Top 40/CHR WDCG/Raleigh-Durham issues an apology to the city of Raleigh, its mayor Nancy McFarlane, the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association and CBS affiliate WRAL after a float featuring an African-American man dressed as an angel hanging from a Christmas tree sponsored by WDCG was featured in WRAL's telecast of their annual Christmas Parade on November 17. The float, which also featured WDCG morning stars Bob and the Showgram, was blasted by officials and parade goers as a depiction of a lynching, and as a result of this incident the show's producer, who did not approve of the float's concept, was terminated.[202] |
30 |
After spending seven months in the Dance format, KDHT/Denver drops the format and begins stunting as "Pot 107.1," playing songs with drug references. KDHT would flip to Jack FM on December 2, bring the format back to the market after 4 months.[203] |
Date |
Event |
1 |
Suburban Los Angeles area rimshot AC trimulcasts KLST/KLSN/KLSI (serving Orange, Ventura and San Bernardino counties respectively) all flipped to the satellite feed of Air1 under a leasing agreement between owner Amaturo Group and Educational Media Foundation.[204] |
2 |
KRUZ/Santa Barbara drops Modern AC to begin carrying Air1 from Educational Media Foundation, who acquired the station in a trade deal with Cumulus Media in exchange for EMF's KXPC/Eugene.[205] |
14 |
Citing a lack of support from advertisers and the Ohio Democratic Party itself, WVKO/Columbus announced that it has ended its LMA with Gary Richards and it will flip the station back to Gospel after nearly 12 months in the Progressive Talk format.[206] |
18 |
The A.C. Nielsen Co. announces that they will acquire Arbitron, bringing together two of America's largest rating services. The deal, which has been approved by the boards of both companies, is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory review.[207] |
20 |
WHBA/Boston changes its format from Adult Hits "The Harbor" to Dance "Evolution 101.7".[208] |
21 |
KOSY-FM/Salt Lake City drops AC for Active Rock, which had previously been used on its FM translator.[209] |
26 |
After dropping its simulcast of its AM sister station's News/Talk format in November for Christmas music, KOGO-FM/San Diego flipped to Rhythmic Oldies as "95.7 Kiss FM," putting them in direct competition with XHRM, who originally started out on the same 95.7 frequency with the same format before migrating to the 92.5 signal in 1997.[210] |
After a year in Adult Top 40, WARM/York, Pennsylvania returns to its previous AC format and drops the "Wink 103" moniker.[211] |
Jelli comes to Paducah, Kentucky, as Adult Top 40 WRIK-FM adopts the interactive brand for its flip to Top 40/CHR.[212] |
28 |
Max Media replaces the Top 40/CHR format of KGKS/Cape Girardeau, Missouri at 93.9 with Classic Hits sister station KLSC, whose former frequency at 92.9 becomes part of a trimulcast with ESPN Radio AM sisters KGIR and KMAL.[213] |
Date |
Event |
January 3 |
Chris Plante, late-morning host at WMAL AM/FM in Washington, D.C., begins a temporary run in limited syndication via Cumulus Media Networks. The run ends in April, but Chris's WMAL show is eventually simulcast on WCOA-FM in Pensacola, Florida via a separate arrangement.[84] |
January 3 |
Fox News Channel personality Geraldo Rivera debuts a late-morning show at WABC (AM) in New York City, and then launches another late-morning show specifically for KABC (AM) in Los Angeles on January 30. The series is expected to go national in August.[111] |
January 12 |
National Latino Broadcasting teams up with Christina Saralegui to launch a new Spanish channel, Christina Radio, on Sirius XM 146, targeting multi-generational Hispanics[214] |
February 27 |
WJJF/Montauk, New York–New London, Connecticut signed on with a news/talk format. |
March 5 |
After intermittently operating for a number of years as a translator of WDMO, a station targeted at the larger Eau Claire-Menomonie market, WRDN relaunches as a locally programmed station based in Durand, Wisconsin. |
April 1 |
NBC News and Dial Global extend NBC News Radio into a 24-hour radio news operation. Established in 2003 by preceding syndicator Westwood One and NBC, the network features a mix of reports from NBC News anchors and correspondents, along with simulcasts of breaking news coverage from NBC and MSNBC.[215] It is NBC's first entry in a full-time radio news operation since then-majority owner General Electric sold off the original NBC Radio Network to Westwood One in 1987. The lone program from the original "NBC Radio" still in active production, First Light with Dirk Van, also concurrently resurrects the long-ago silenced "NBC" branding (it was primarily branded as either a Westwood One or Dial Global program throughout the 2000s). |
April 2 |
Talk Radio Network begins producing its own in-house hourly newscasts under the America's Radio News banner.[216] |
April 3 |
WZFT/Baltimore, Maryland The Kane Show gets added to the stations line up airing from 6 AM To 10AM which replaced Jackson Blue after he left the station on March 30, 2012 to work at WXKS/Boston, Massachusetts[217] |
April 4 |
KWXS/Bend, Oregon debuts with a Rhythmic contemporary format.[218] |
April 5 |
WDMO, formerly licensed to Durand, Wisconsin but operating from studios in Menomonie, relaunches as a country format station licensed to Baldwin, Wisconsin. |
April 9 |
Mike Huckabee begins in national syndication via Cumulus Media Networks, airing in the noon to 3 p.m. time slot, directly opposite market leader The Rush Limbaugh Show.[219] |
May 21 |
Perez Hilton begins a nightly program in national syndication via Cumulus Media Networks, airing in the 7 to 11 p.m. time slot. The program will air on Cumulus' Top 40 and Adult Top 40 outlets as the replacement for Billy Bush's syndicated program, which Cumulus dropped in February.[220] |
June 7 |
After seven days of testing out a Polka format, KJQY/Pueblo debuts with a Rhythmic/Dance Top 40 format, billed as "Power 103.3"[221] |
June 24 |
Premiere Networks soft-launches a satellite talk radio program hosted by convicted ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff.[222] |
August 17 |
WDDE/Dover, Delaware, a public radio formatted joint venture of Delaware State University and the University of Delaware, begins broadcasting. |
August 27 |
Premiere Networks launches Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis into national syndication. |
September 4 |
Two competing sports radio networks, NBC Sports Radio and CBS Sports Radio, launch limited programming at the same time; CBS is distributed through Cumulus Media Networks while NBC is distributed by Dial Global. The moves effectively sever CBS's sports ties to Dial Global, the new owner of former CBS subsidiary Westwood One's assets.[223][224] |
October 10 |
KYXE/Yakima, Washington signs on, carrying a stunt of Christmas music.[225] |
November 16 |
WEHP/Erie, Pennsylvania debuts with a Top 40/CHR format, billing themselves as "Happi 92.7"[226] |
December 20 |
Andrea Tantaros and Jason Mattera launch a daily program on Talk Radio Network. |
Date |
Event |
January 24 |
After 46 years of serving Milwaukee's African-American community, WNOV and its FM translator W273AT both went off the air. Although a filing have yet to be made with the FCC, both stations have gone silent for the time being.[227] |
February 1 |
Martz Communications Group shuts down the operations of their Detroit HD/FM translator outlets W284BQ and W232CA (WGPR-HD3) due to financial issues.[228] |
February 16 |
Nick Cannon announces that he will no longer do his morning show at Top 40/CHR WXRK/New York City effective immediately due to his ongoing health problems[229] |
February 17 |
After 18 years, The MJ Morning Show ended its run after its host announced on January 19 that he wanted to concentrate on his non-music talk program[230] |
February 29 |
Lou Dobbs ends his radio show.[231] |
March 1 |
WBFO/Buffalo, New York, the University at Buffalo's radio station, ceases operations and switches to a simulcast of WNED, following the sale of the station to WNED's ownership. The move marks the end of jazz on Buffalo radio. |
April 1 |
CNN will shut down its radio news division. Most of CNN Radio's affiliation roster will switch over to carry "NBC News Radio"; coincidentally, CNN Radio replaced most affiliates of the original NBC Radio Network, and that of the Mutual Broadcasting System, when both networks were absorbed into Westwood One in the late 1990s.[232] |
June 4 |
Neal Boortz announces his retirement, with Boortz's regular fill-in, former Presidential candidate Herman Cain, slated as his replacement. The change takes effect in January 2013.[233] |
June 8 |
Car Talk announces it will cease production and enter reruns in September 2012, due to the retirement of hosts Tom Magliozzi and Ray Magliozzi.[234] |
June 22 |
After 20 years as a morning host, Jack Murphy has stepped down from that position at Top 40/CHR WKZL/Greensboro-Winston-Salem [235] |
June 29 |
After 22 years as a morning co-host, Top 40/CHR WKRZ/Wilkes-Barre-Scranton air personality Sue Barre will retire from broadcasting to concentrate on her real estate business [236] |
July 2 |
Bates Technical College's KXOT/Tacoma goes silent after a deal to sell the station to LMA partner KUOW/Seattle through a loan deal falls through, resulting in the bank taking over the station until new owners are found. KUOW has moved KXOT's programming over to its HD2 channel.[237] |
July 4 |
CKIC/Winnipeg officially signs off the air and returns its license back to the CRTC after its owners decided not to challenge its decision that college run radio stations in Canada can no longer use students as airstaffers.[238] |
July 14 |
Fox All Access ends its run after 19 years and 938 episodes in syndication.[239] |
July 27 |
G. Gordon Liddy ends his nationally syndicated radio show after 20 years, with Peter Schiff designated as his successor.[240] |
August 17 |
After 25-year run, KLOS/Los Angeles' Mark and Brian Show airs its final broadcast. The decision to end the program came when co-host Mark Thompson announced on June 13 that he was retiring from radio and move to Charlotte with his wife and that co-host Brian Phelps would continue solo for the time being after Thompson leaves,[241] but on the same day of the final broadcast as a morning team, Phelps surprises listeners by announcing that he was also leaving KLOS on-air because he and KLOS' owner Cumulus Media couldn't come to terms on a new contract deal.[242] |
September 27 |
The Savage Nation abruptly ends its run after Savage wins a two-year-old lawsuit against syndicator Talk Radio Network over the terms of his contract. Host Michael Savage also gains control of his entire show archive (as a result TRN cannot air "best of" reruns) but also agrees to a non-compete clause, which will prevent him from doing radio for an undisclosed amount of time. At the time of the show's ending it was the fifth most-listened-to radio program in the United States, with nine million listeners.[243] A new incarnation of the show debuts four weeks later on Cumulus Media Networks. |
September 30 |
Quebec 800 (CHRC), the last AM radio station in Quebec City, ceases operations.[244] |
November 27 |
The Laura Ingraham Show ends its run after host Laura Ingraham's contract with Talk Radio Network expires without being renewed, marking the second major defection from the network's lineup this year. Ingraham later revives the show on Courtside Entertainment Group.[245] |
November 30 |
CJRN/Niagara Falls, Ontario has its licence revoked for failure to follow the terms of its licence.[246] |
December 1 |
Jim Santella, a longtime radio host associated with various Buffalo rock radio stations since 1969 (most recently as a weekend blues host at WBFO), retires.[247] |
December 10 |
WEAG/1490 at Starke, Florida surrenders its license to the F.C.C.. The license and callsign are deleted on December 17. |
December 20 |
WGN/Chicago cancels The World According to John Williams and Extension 720 with Milt Rosenberg, the latter of which had aired on WGN since 1973. Overnight hosts Steve and Johnnie had been dismissed nine days prior. |
Date |
Name |
Age |
Notability |
Source |
January 3 |
Bill Heywood |
75 |
Radio personality in the Phoenix, Arizona market. |
[248] |
January 22 |
Jim Irwin |
77 |
Former sportscaster for WTMJ/Milwaukee, WI and radio analyst for the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers football, and Milwaukee Brewers |
[249] |
February 1 |
Don Cornelius |
75 |
Radio host on WVON/Chicago, R&B music promoter, founder of the TV series Soul Train |
[250] |
February 9 |
Dave Maynard |
82 |
Radio host on WBZ-AM and television host on WBZ-TV |
[251] |
March 1 |
Andrew Breitbart |
43 |
American conservative radio, television and Internet pundit |
[252] |
April 7 |
Mike Wallace |
93 |
Radio actor and journalist, radio career spanned from 1939 to 2008 |
[253] |
April 16 |
Dick Clark |
82 |
Host of the nationally syndicated radio programs U.S. Music Survey (a top-40 countdown) and Rock, Roll and Remember (an oldies program); founder of United Stations Radio Networks; substitute on American Top 40; radio station owner and disc jockey; top-40 music promoter |
[254] |
April 23 |
Hal Jackson |
96 |
Pioneering urban radio host, involved in several New York City radio stations |
May 4 |
Bob Stewart |
91 |
Radio writer and host at WNEW and WNBC in New York; subsequently became known for his television work |
[255] |
May 8 |
Bruce Baker |
69 |
Country music radio personality at WKSN, WWSE and WHUG in Jamestown, New York |
[256] |
May 9 |
Carl Beane |
59 |
Radio host on WBZ-AM and public address announcer for the Boston Red Sox |
[257] |
May 10 |
April Kaufmann |
47 |
Talk show host on WOND/Atlantic City; shot dead |
[258] |
June 18 |
Jim Packard |
70 |
Wisconsin Public Radio producer/host and announcer for Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? |
[259] |
July 16 |
Kitty Wells |
92 |
Frequent guest on the Grand Ole Opry and the Louisiana Hayride, pioneering female country music singer |
[260] |
July 27 |
Joe "Butterball" Tamburro |
70 |
Air personality in the Philadelphia radio market (DJ/PD/MD at WDAS-AM & FM) |
[261] |
August 20 |
Phyllis Diller |
95 |
Comedian at KROW and KSFO in San Francisco, later known for her stand-up career and television appearances |
[262] |
August 24 |
Dale Sommers |
68 |
Pioneering truck-talk radio host known on air as "The Truckin' Bozo" |
[263] |
September 22 |
Tedi Thurman |
89 |
Model and actress best known for her role as "Miss Monitor" on the NBC Radio program Monitor |
[264] |
October 9 |
Budd Lynch |
95 |
Play-by-play voice of the Detroit Red Wings |
[265] |
November 16 |
Jefferson Kaye |
75 |
Radio and television announcer (stations include WBEN/Buffalo, WKBW/Buffalo, WBZ/Boston, WPVI-TV/Philadelphia) |
[266] |
November 21 |
Art Ginsburg |
81 |
American chef whose syndicated short-form program, Mr. Food, was broadcast on television and radio outlets throughout the United States |
[267] |
Dec. 8 |
Jenni Rivera |
43 |
Mexican-American singer-songwriter, actress, reality television personality/producer, and syndicated radio personality. |
[268] |
Dec. 8 |
Arnold Dean |
82 |
American radio host (credits include WKRT/Cortland, WAGE/Syracuse, WTIC/Hartford) |
[269] |